List of Native Hawaiians

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

This is a list of notable Native Hawaiians . To be included on this list, they must be notable and be of the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands, or their descendants.

Academia and science

• Isabella Abbott (1919–2010), educator, phycologist, and ethnobotanist; she was the first native Hawaiian woman to receive a PhD in science
• Cliff Kapono, scientist, surfer, journalist; his work is focused on researching ocean conservation and sustainability at University of Hawai'i at Hilo
• Samuel Kamakau, historian and scholar of Hawaiian culture and language, author
• John S. K. Kauwe III (born 1980), geneticist and 11th president of Brigham Young University–Hawaii (BYU–Hawaii)
• David Malo (1795–1853), Native Hawaiian historian of the Kingdom of Hawaii
• Mary Kawena Pukui (1895–1986), Hawaiian scholar, author, composer, hula expert and educator
• Nainoa Thompson, Polynesian navigator, Trustee for Kamehameha Schools
• Haunani-Kay Trask (1949–2021), Hawaiian nationalist, educator, political scientist, author, and professor emeritus at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

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Arts and entertainment

• Sam Choy, chef, restaurateur, and Food Network television personality
• Marcus Coloma (born 1978), television and film actor
• Sasha Colby (born 1985), drag queen, beauty pageant winner, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race
• Auliʻi Cravalho, actress and singer ^[1]
• Frank De Lima (born 1949), comedian and Catholic deacon
• William De Los Santos (born 1965), author, poet, screenwriter, film director and film producer
• Brian Haberlin (born 1963), comic book artist, writer, editor and producer
• Kelly Hu (born 1968), actress, former fashion model and beauty pageant queen
• Maren Jensen (born 1956), former model and actress; known for starring in the 1970s television series Battlestar Galactica
• Kaliko Kauahi, television actress
• Gilbert Lani Kauhi (1937–2004), often credited as Zulu, actor who starred in the television series Hawaii Five-O
• Al Kikume (1894–1972), actor and stuntman
• Brook Mahealani Lee (born 1971), actress, television host, model, Miss Universe 1997
• Jason Scott Lee (born November 19, 1966), actor and martial artist ^[2]
• Steve Leialoha (born 1952), comic book artist
• Agnes Lum (born 1956), gravure idol, bikini model, actor, and singer
• Jarah Mariano (born 1984), model
• Maxine (born 1986), model and professional WWE wrestler
• Janet Mock (born 1983), television host, director, producer, writer, and transgender rights activist
• Jason Momoa (born 1979), actor ^[3]
• Kellye Nakahara (1948–2020), actress, starred in the television show M*A*S*H
• Cheryl Moana Marie Nunes (born 1971), former Oakland Raiderette, television presenter
• Adrienne Keahi Pao (born 1975), photographer and artist
• Keanu Reeves (born 1964), actor; Canadian born
• Rap Reiplinger, Emmy-award winning comedian ^[4]
• Nicole Scherzinger (born 1978), singer-songwriter and television personality
• Wini Shaw (1907–1982), actress, singer ^[5]
• Shannyn Sossamon (born 1978), actress ^[6]
• David Strathairn (born 1949), actor
• Napua Stevens (1918–1990), entertainer, singer, hula dancer, musician, teacher, radio-television personality, event producer and author
• Kiana Tom (born 1965), television host, fitness expert, author, actress, and businesswoman
• Brendon Urie (born 1987), lead singer of Panic! At The Disco, one quarter native Hawaiian
• Ed Parker (1931–1990), martial artist, actor, grandmaster, and founder of American Kenpo karati
• Herman Wedemeyer (1924–1999), actor, football player, and politician; starred in Hawaii Five-O (1972–1980)

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Business

• William Heath Davis (1822–1909), merchant and trader; early pioneer of the city of San Diego, California

Literature

• Kaui Hart Hemmings, novelist, author of The Descendants (2007)
• George Kanahele (1930–2000), author of books about Native Hawaiians, activist
• Kirby Wright, novelist and poet

Media and journalism

• Jeff Chang, journalist, author and music critic; of Hawaiian-Chinese ancestry

Music

• Kealii Blaisdell (born 1972), musician of Native Hawaiian music
• Don Ho (1930–2007), entertainer, musician, best known for the song "Tiny Bubbles"
• Hoku Ho (born 1981), Bubblegum pop singer
• Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu (born 1959), musician, contemporary Hawaiian chanter and kumu hula
• Anuhea Jenkins (born 1985), singer-songwriter, musician
• Dick Jensen (1942–2006), Rhythm and Blues, Soul, and Gospel singer and actor
• Israel Kamakawiwoʻole (1959–1997), musician, singer-songwriter, and Hawaiian sovereignty activist
• Irmgard Farden Aluli (1911-2001), prominent composer
• Keali'i Reichel (born 1962), singer-songwriter, musician
• Mary Kaye (1924–2007), musician, guitarist, singer
• Kūkahi (born 1999), musician, singer-songwriter, record producer
• Eric Lee, musician, singer-songwriter, and record producer
• Joey Moe (born 1985), hip hop and pop singer and producer; Danish-Hawaiian descent
• Ruban Nielson (born 1980), musician, New Zealand singer-songwriter and musician
• Dennis Pavao (1951–2002), Hawaiian falsetto singer and musician; one of several Hawaiian musicians who during the 1970s, led the Hawaiian music renaissance
• Marlene Sai (born 1941), Hawaiian classic-style female solo singer, actress
• Brendon Urie (born 1987), lead singer of Panic! at the Disco

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Politics, military, and civil service

• Duke Aiona (born 1955), politician, 10th Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii from 2002 to 2010
• Daniel K. Akaka, (1924–2018), politician, United States Senator from Hawaii from 1990 to 2013
• D. G. Anderson (born 1930), politician, real estate developer and businessman; Hawai'i State House of Representatives from 1962 to 1966; Hawai'i State Senate from 1967 to 1983
• S. Haunani Apoliona, banker, activist for the Hawaiian sovereignty movement
• Gordon Chung-Hoon (1910–1979), first Native Hawaiian flag officer in the US Navy and Director of the Hawaii Department of Agriculture
• Faith Evans (1937–2014), Hawaii state legislator and one of the first women to serve as a United States Marshal
• Brickwood Galuteria, politician, former member of the Hawaii Senate from the 12th district from 2008 to 2018; former radio host and actor
• Clayton Hee (born 1953), politician, Member of the Hawaii Senate from the 23rd district
• Victor Stewart Kaleoaloha Houston (1876–1959), politician, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii Territory's At-large district from 1927 until 1933
• Curtis P. Iaukea (1855–1940), politician, court official, army officer and diplomat of the Kingdom of Hawaii
• Kaialiʻi Kahele (born 1974), politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's 2nd district from 2021
• Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole (1871–1922), politician, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii Territory's At-large district from 1903 to 1922
• Quentin Kawananakoa (born 1961), politician, Member of the Hawaii House of Representatives from the 26th district, great-grandson of Prince David Kawānanakoa
• James Kealoha (1908–1983), politician, first Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii
• Esther Kia'aina (born 1963), politician, United States Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas from 2014 to 2017; Member of the Honolulu City Council from the 3rd district from 2021
• Samuel Wilder King (1886–1959), politician, Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Hawaii's at-large district from 1935 to 1943; 11th Territorial Governor of Hawaii from 1953 to 1957
• Joseph Nawahi (1842–1896), politician, Native Hawaiian nationalist leader, legislator, lawyer, newspaper publisher, and painter
• Herbert K. Pililaau (1928–1951), United States Army soldier and a recipient of the Medal of Honor
• Henry Hoʻolulu Pitman (1845–1863), Union Army soldier, one of the "Hawaiʻi Sons of the Civil War"
• William S. Richardson (1919–2010), attorney, political figure, and chief justice of the Hawaii State Supreme Court from 1966 to 1982
• Myron "Pinky" Thompson (1924–2001), Native Hawaiian community leader and trustee of Bishop Estate
• Suzanne Vares-Lum (born 1967), first female Native Hawaiian General officer, and first Native Hawaiian president of East–West Center
• John D. Waiheʻe III (born 1946), politician, fourth governor of Hawaii from 1986 to 1994
• Robert William Kalanihiapo Wilcox ("Iron Duke of Hawaiʻi"; 1855–1903), politician, delegate to Congress

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Sports

• Travis Browne (born 1982), mixed martial artist (MMA) and heavyweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
• Madison Chock (born 1992), ice dancer
• Ron Darling (born 1960), former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher
• Adriano Directo Emperado (1926–2009), co-founder of Kajukenbo self-defense system
• Russell Doane (born 1986), mixed martial artist (MMA) and Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
• Max Holloway (born 1991), mixed martial artist (MMA)
• Natasha Kai (born 1983), Olympic gold medalist, professional soccer player
• Charles Kalani Jr. (Professor Tanaka; 1930–2000), professional athlete including professional wrestler, professional boxer, actor
• Jason Kapono (born 1981), basketball player, former NBA forward
• Takamiyama Daigorō (Jesse Kuhaulua; June 16, 1944), former sumo wrestler
• Kevin Mawae (born 1971), former president of the NFL Players Association
• Yancy Medeiros (born 1987), mixed martial artist (MMA)
• Leilani Munter (born 1974), race car driver and environmental activist
• Don Muraco (born 1949), professional wrestler, World Wrestling Federation
• K. J. Noons, mixed martial artist (MMA)
• Kealia Ohai, soccer player
• Danny Ongais (born 1942), former race car driver
• B. J. Penn (born 1978), mixed martial artist (MMA) and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Ray Schoenke (born 1941), former NFL player
• Akebono Tarō (born Chadwick Haheo Rowan; 1969–2024), former professional sumo wrestler and professional wrestler
• Logan Tom (born 1981), indoor volleyball and beach volleyball player; four-time Olympian
• Shane Victorino (born 1980), professional baseball player for the Boston Red Sox
• Kimo von Oelhoffen, former NFL player
• Charlie Wedemeyer (1946–2010), high school coach and author; subject of a PBS documentary and a made-for-TV movie.
• Jerome Williams, baseball player
• Kailee Wong, professional football player

Surfers

• Eddie Aikau (1946–1978), professional surfer, lifeguard, and winner of the1977 Duke Kahanamoku Invitational Surfing Championship
• Sunny Garcia (born 1970), professional surfer
• Duke Paoa Kahanamoku (1890–1968), Olympian and World Ambassador of Surfing, he popularized the ancient Hawaiian sport of surfing
• Montgomery Kaluhiokalani ("Buttons"; 1958–2013), surfer, innovator of modern surfing maneuvers
• David Nuuhiwa (born 1948), professional surfer

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Royalty and nobles

• Bernice Pauahi Bishop (1831–1884), aliʻi (nobility) of the royal family of the Kingdom of Hawaii and a well known philanthropist
• John Papa ʻĪʻī (1800–1870), ali'i (nobility), 19th-century educator, politician and historian in the Kingdom of Hawaii
• King Kalākaua (1836–1891), known as The Merrie Monarch, last king of Hawaiʻi
• Kamehameha the Great (1782–1819), first king of Hawaii
• Kaumualiʻi (c. 1778–1824), last independent aliʻi nui of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau before joining with Kamehameha I
• Princess Abigail Kawananakoa (1926–2022), descendant of aliʻi, a member of the House of Kawānanakoa
• Princess Kaʻiulani (1875–1899), daughter of Likelike, and the last heir apparent to the Hawaiian Kingdom
• Princess Likelike (1851–1887), mother of Kaʻiulani and 2nd in line of succession after her sister Liliʻuokalani
• Queen Liliʻuokalani (1838–1917), last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi

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Others

• Charles Kekumano (1919–1998), Roman Catholic priest and first papal chamberlain of native Hawaiian ancestry
• Helio Koaʻeloa (ca. 1815–1846), Hawaiian Catholic lay missionary, called as the "Apostle of Maui"
• Harry Maitey (1807–1872), first Hawaiian person to travel to Prussia
• Freddie Tavares (1913–1990), inventor, helped design the Fender Stratocaster and other Fender products, steel guitarist ^[7]
• Mililani Trask (born 1951), leader of the Hawaiian sovereignty movement and a political speaker and attorney

See also

• List of Hawaii suffragists

References

1. Daniel, Diane (November 17, 2016). "What to See in Hawaii? Ask Auli'i Cravalho of Disney's 'Moana'". The New York Times. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
2. Jason Scott Lee Interview - IGN, August 29, 2005, retrieved May 13, 2021
3. Garvey, Marianne (August 15, 2019). "Inside Jason Momoa's fight for a sacred Hawaiian mountain". CNN. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
4. "Rap: Hawaii's Comic Genius". HawaiiNewsNow.com. April 10, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
5. "Wini Shaw". Oxford Reference. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
6. Nepales, Ruben V. (August 11, 2017). "A Fil-Am actor's life: Shannyn Sossamon". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
7. "All About… Freddie Tavares". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. May 16, 2018. Retrieved May 13, 2021.