Lani Kai (born George Clarence Dennis James Von Ruckleman Woodd III; August 15, 1936 – August 29, 1999) was a Hawaiian singer and actor. He had a role in the

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

film ''

Blue Hawaii ''Blue Hawaii'' is a 1961 American musical romantic comedy drama film directed by Norman Taurog and starring Elvis Presley. The screenplay by Hal Kanter was nominated by the Writers Guild of America in 1962 in the category of Best Written Amer ...

'' and was a regular cast member of the television series ''

Adventures in Paradise Adventures in Paradise may refer to: * ''Adventures in Paradise'' (TV series) * "Adventures in Paradise", aka "Theme from Adventures in Paradise", composed by Lionel Newman, recorded by many inc. Arthur Lyman, Santo & Johnny, Rob E. G., and (word ...

''.

Background

Kai was born in

Honolulu, Hawaii Honolulu ( ; ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii, located in the Pacific Ocean. It is the county seat of the Consolidated city-county, consolidated City and County of Honol ...

. He was brother of Lee Woodd, and the half brother of

Kalai Strode Woodrow Wilson Kalaeloa Strode (December 16, 1946 – November 27, 2014) was a native Hawaiian assistant director in film and television from the early 1970s to around 2010. In film he worked on '' North Dallas Forty''. In television he wo ...

and Junelehua Robertson. His mother Lukia Luana, a Hawaiian princess, was married to actor

Woody Strode Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode (July 25, 1914 – December 31, 1994) was an American athlete, actor, and author. He was a decathlon, decathlete and American football, football star who was one of the first Black American players in the National ...

. His brother Lee Woodd, who was also an actor, died on 19 September 2002.

Death

He died on August 29, 1999, at a North Shore home of a friend, two weeks after his 63rd birthday.

Music career

Kai got an early break on the Don Sherwood Show in San Francisco, California. In late 1959, his single "Now There Are None" / "Isle Of No Aloha" was released. In 1963, his album ''Island Love Songs'' was released. In November 1968, he was appearing live at the Hawaii-Five-O club with Al Lopaka and

Nephi Hannemann Nephi Hannemann (February 6, 1945 – March 31, 2018) was an actor and singer of Samoan, German and English descent who appeared numerous times on '' Hawaii Five-O'' and ''One West Waikiki''. Biography Nephi Hannemann was born in American Samoa ...

. In 1968, he had a single released on Don Ho's Hana Ho label. In the late 1990s, he was working on an album with actor / singer Nephi Hannemann which was to be a follow-up to Hannemann's album ''The Polynesian Man'' but Kai died before it could come together.

Compositions

His composition "Puka Shells" which was recorded by Rod Young made it to no 2 in the Hawaiian music charts in the mid-1970s. He also co-composed "The Poor People" with Cliff Muller. Another composition "Shells" was recorded by

Keola Beamer Keola Beamer (born Keolamaikalani Breckenridge Beamer February 18, 1951) is a Hawaiian slack-key guitar player, best known as the composer of "Honolulu City Lights" and an innovative musician who fused Hawaiian roots and contemporary music. Keola ...

and included on his album for George Winston's Dancing Cat Records, ''Wooden Boat'' album.

Lani Kai discography

Film and television career

When he was 24 years old, he was picked for the television series Adventures in Paradise. He ended up with a role as Kelly the series from 1960 to 1962. He had also played the part of Carl Tanami in the 1961 film ''Blue Hawaii''. Between the late 60s and early 70s, he appeared in a few ''Hawaii Five-O'' episodes. In one the episode ''The Joker's Wild, Man, Wild!'', he played the part of Billy Hona. It also starred

Beverlee McKinsey Beverlee McKinsey (born Beverlee Magruder; August 9, 1935 – May 2, 2008) was an American actress. She is best known for her roles on daytime serials, including Iris Cory Carrington on '' Another World'' and the spin-off series ''Texas'' from ...

Filmography

Feature film

* ''Blue Hawaii'' (1961) - Carl Tanami * ''

The Late Liz ''The Late Liz'' is a 1971 American drama film directed by Dick Ross and written by Bill Rega. It is based on the 1957 book ''The Late Liz'' by Gertrude Behanna (pen name Elizabeth Burns). The film stars Anne Baxter, Steve Forrest, James Gregory ...

'' (1971) - Manu (final film role)

Television

* ''Adventures in Paradise'' - Episode: '' The Forbidden Sea'' - Khobu - (1 episode) (1960) * ''Adventures in Paradise'' - Episodes: Various - Kelly Katimakaka, Kelly Kelimanaha, Kelly (26 episodes) (1960–1962) * ''Hawaiian Eye'' - Episode: ''Go for Baroque'' - Johnny (1 episode) (1963) * ''Hawaii Five-O'' - Episode: ''Yesterday Died and Tomorrow Won't Be Born'' - M.K. (1968) * ''Hawaii Five-O'' - Episode: ''The Joker's Wild, Man, Wild!'' - Billy (1969) * ''Hawaii Five-O'' - Episode: ''Most Likely to Murder'' - Lonnie Kahekili (1970)Imd
Lani Kai (1936–1999)
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References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kai, Lani Male actors from Hawaii Songwriters from Hawaii Male actors from Honolulu Hawaiian songwriters Musicians from Honolulu Native Hawaiian musicians 20th-century American singers Native Hawaiian people 1936 births 1999 deaths 20th-century American songwriters