Leina‘ala Haili - biography

 Leina‘ala Haili is a great one. She has to be considered one of the best singers in Hawai‘i ever. Not only could she sing, she could dance and was the consummate entertainer. Jessie Leina‘ala Haili died April 15, 2005 at the age of eighty-two but her musical impact and influence she had on countless singers did not. Her vocal style was uniquely her own. Influenced by her early love for Hawaiian church choral music, opera, traditional Hawaiian and popular music, Leina‘ala absorbed all styles of music like a sponge. She never had a voice or music lesson.

Blessed with perfect pitch, Leina‘ala learned to play the ‘ukulele and guitar without lessons. No one mastered "ha‘i", the female equivalent of falsetto singing like Leina‘ala. Each note, phrase and inflection mattered so she could capture every emotion in the song. Her vocal skill is unmatched, jumping octaves effortlessly, "cracking" her voice, shaping vocal emotions to perfectly interpret the mood of the song.

In a 1973 interview with Wayne Harada in the Honolulu Advertiser, Leina‘ala said, "Singing is something I put my heart and soul into. I find that if I enjoy singing, the audience will enjoy listening." Leina‘ala Haili was not just a recording artist, entertaining live was her passion. The old Niumalu Hotel, Yoko’s in Kapahulu, Don the Beachcomber’s the Waikiki Lau Yee Chai, The Clouds and the Barefoot Bar were filled with never to be forgotten memories of Leina‘ala performing with passion.

She recorded six albums for Lehua Records. Until now only her fourth "No Ka Oi", was available on CD. Rediscover "the voice" with the "Best of Leina‘ala Haili". It features fourteen songs, ten of which are available for the first time on CD. Fortunately the greatness and legacy of Leina‘ala Haili will be remembered by generations to come.