Leinaʻala Kalama Heine

Rebecca Leina'ala Kalama Heine (c. 1940 – September 9, 2015) was a kumu hula and hula instructor. In 1976, Heine established Na Pualei O Likolehua, a nonprofit hālau which trains girls and young women in both hula and Hawaiian cultural traditions.[1][2][3]

Heine was raised by her mother, Rebecca Beke Paiaina, a lei maker.[2] She initially attended the Kamehameha Schools, but graduated from President William McKinley High School in 1958.[2] Her first job was at the Waikiki eatery called Woody's Restaurant.[2] She married her husband, Samuel Ladd Heine, in 1963, with whom she had four children.[2]

She studied hula under several well-known teachers, including Ruby Ahakuelo, Leilani Alama, Puanani Alama, Tom Hiona, Joseph Kahaulelio and Rose Maunakea.[2] Heine was a student of Ma'iki Aiu Lake, an influential kumu hula, graduating from Lake's school in 1973.[1][2] She was one of a notable group of hula students, also including Robert Cazimero and Wayne Chang, who attended Lake's hālau during the early 1970s.[1]

In addition to establishing the Na Pualei O Likolehua hālau, Heine was a co-founder of Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Halauaola, a major hula conference which was first held in Hilo.[1] Heine was a regular performer at the Prince Lot Hula Festival, held at the Moanalua Gardens in Honolulu.[1] She was also a judge and participant at the Merrie Monarch Festival, a week-long festival held in Hilo, and a mentor to hula dancers at the Queen Lili'uokalani Keiki Hula Competition.[1]

Heine performed hula solo with The Brothers Cazimero, the Hawaiian musical duo composed of Robert and Roland Cazimero, earning her the nickname, "the third brother."[1] Their professional relationship dates to 1976.[2]

In 2010, Heine chose the theme song for the Prince Lot Festival, "Na Punawai O Moanalua," which translates to "The Wellspring of Moanalua".[1] She explained the choice of the song in an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, telling the newspaper, "All of life is water. Without water, there is no life."[1]

She made a cameo appearance in a 2013 episode of Hawaii Five-0 called "Ola Na Iwi: Haloa."[1]

Leina'ala Kalama Heine died on September 9, 2015, at the age of 75.[1]