Jean Clare "Kini" Sullivan

JEAN CLARE
"KINI" SULLIVAN
June 23, 2008

On Monday, June 23, Hawai`i lost another kupuna - a Hawaiian resource person and scholar. Jean Clare "Kini" Sullivan was born and raised in Des Moines Iowa and came to Hawaii in 1959 after winning a radio contest. She never left. She was a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, class of 1947, and had always dreamed of being a dancer. When Kini arrived in Hawai'i, she immediately took a hula class from Hula Master Lokalia Montgomery, who gave her the name "Kini" and who later sent her to her own student; the esteemed kumu hula Maiki Aiu Lake. In 1973, she and 26 other graduates became Auntie Maiki's first graduating class of kumu hula.

Back when most radio stations in Hawai'i played only a few Hawaiian songs, Kini personally selected the songs that were heard on KPOA, KPOI, KLEI, KULA and KCCN. Kini worked as freelance writer and was the assistant to Don McDiarmid Jr. of Hula Records; she was a writer and creator of Hawaiian liner notes for recordings as she persuaded Hawaiian composers such as Mary Kawena Pukui, Vicky Ii, and Alice Namakelua to publish their songs on back of albums during the early 1960's. The results were accurate lyrics, translations and solidly researched information for many singers, musicians and hula dancers to enjoy and use today.

She is survived by her hanai ohana: Michael Pili Pang and Lily Nalani Kahoano, hula sisters: Vangie Kealoha Wong, Mae Kamamalu Klein, Darlene Ulalia Berman, April Chock, Momi Aarona Kepilinio, Dani Hanohano, and Wendy Uluwehi Nakanishi; and numerous cousins though out the United States.

Services will be on Saturday, July 12, at St. Augustine Church in Waikiki: 9:00 AM Visitation; 10:30 AM Services and 11:00 AM Mass.