Born in Hawai‘i, Lorraine “Lani” Keaoulilani Rodrigues Custino (1931-1998) was the daughter of singer, musician, composer and song archivist Victoria Keali‘ika‘apunihonua Ii and Clarence L. Rodrigues.
All of her parents’ five children became entertainers: Lani herself, Rachel Kaneikolia “Mackie” Rodrigues, Lawrence Kaihi‘ihikapuokalani “Boyce” Rodrigues, Katherine “Nina” Keali‘iwahamana Rapozo and John James Ioane Rodrigues.
Lani Custino was trained as a dancer by the esteemed Hawaiian teacher, dancer and chanter of ancient hula Iolani Luahine (1915-1978), considered to be the foremost hula dancer of the 20th century.
And, Lani Custino was the only hula dancer to study under Hawaiian hula dancer, musician, and singer Kini Kapahu Wilson, who danced at the court of King David Kalakaua when she was 16 at the request of Queen Kapi‘olani.
After years of study under these kumu hula, Lani became the quintessential “classical hula dancer.”
It was once said of her that, as if by magic, “Lani Custino sculpted artistic images of this mystical land of aloha. Her graceful hands told the classic story of the song.”
Her elegant hula poses seemed to appear everywhere in the media, from record album covers and travel magazines to show posters for hotels in Waikiki.
Among the many venues where she performed were Don the Beachcomber’s, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Hilton Hawaiian.
She also entertained on the “Hawai‘i Calls” radio broadcast for more than 20 years. beginning in 1951.
“Hawai‘i Calls” — created by Webley Edwards in 1935 and hosted by him until 1972 — broadcast free, live Hawaiian music for a half-hour every Saturday afternoon, usually from under the old banyan tree in the courtyard of Waikiki’s Moana Hotel.
The cheerful broadcaster also took “Hawai‘i Calls” on the road each year to one of the outer islands.
On Sunday, March 28, 1971, beginning at 2 p.m., when Webley Edwards broadcast a musical salute to Kaua‘i-born Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole at the Kaua‘i Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e, Lani Custino was one of the performers.
Lani’s Kaua‘i connection also included stints as a legislative aide and secretary of Kaua‘i Mayor Tony Kunimura from 1982 to 1988.
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Hank Soboleski has been a resident of Kauai since the 1960s. Hank’s love of the island and its history has inspired him, in conjunction with The Garden Island Newspaper, to share the island’s history weekly. The collection of these articles can be found here: https://bit.ly/2IfbxL9 and here https://bit.ly/2STw9gi Hank can be reached at hssgms@gmail.com
