George Na’ope, 81, dies

Uncle George Na'ope was one of the Big Island's premier kumu hula who maintained close ties with avid hula students in Japan. Here he assists as a visiting troupe from Japan rehearses an auana number at Edith Kanakaole Multipurpose Stadium for their Ho'ike performance during the 2005 Merrie Monarch Festival

Cultural icon was co-founder of Merrie Monarch Festival

George Na’ope was small in stature — an early nickname was “Menehune” — but a giant of hula and Hawaiian culture.

“Uncle George,” a revered kumu hula, singer, dancer, chanter, and a co-founder of the Merrie Monarch Festival, died Monday of cancer in his Waiakea Uka home.
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