Nani Alapai Nani Alapaʻi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Postcard c. 1900s | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Julita Nani Malina |
| Also known as | Madame Alapai |
| Born | December 1, 1874 Līhuʻe, Kauaʻi, Kingdom of Hawaii |
| Died | October 1, 1928 (aged 53) Territory of Hawaii, US |
| Genres | Hawaiian |
| Occupation(s) | Vocalist, soprano |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | Royal Hawaiian Band |
Nani Alapai (December 1, 1874 – October 1, 1928) was a Hawaiian soprano singer during the early 1900s. Despite not receiving any formal musical training, she was hired as a vocalist of the Royal Hawaiian Band by bandmaster Henri Berger. She became the leading prima donna of the early era of Hawaiian music through her traveling performances with the Royal Hawaiian Band in Hawaii and on the mainland United States. Recording a number of songs, she helped popularize "Aloha ʻOe" by Queen Liliʻuokalani with one of the earliest recordings of the song. She directly and indirectly influenced many later Hawaiian musicians including Lena Machado and her adoptive grandson Kahauanu Lake.