George Naope

Hula Preservation Society had the great honor to meet and work with Uncle George Naope during the twilight years of his life. It was through our founder Auntie Nona Beamer that we first got to know Uncle when auntie convinced him to participate in the very first HPS kūpuna panel held at Halauaola: World Conference on Hula in Hilo, Hawaiʻi in 2001. Auntie Puluelo Naipo Park joined Auntie Nona & Uncle George that day. Both Auntie Nona and Uncle George knew of each other through the hula world and through their work in the Waikīkī entertainment industry during the 1950s. The time HPS spent with Uncle George was an unforgettable experience and we got to know a different side of him as he shared his experiences in hula and in life. His collection at HPS consists of oral history materials including photos, video, and transcripts.