Lani Kai

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 film Blue Hawaii and was a regular cast member of the television series Adventures in Paradise. Kai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was brother of Lee Woodd, and the half brother of Kalai Strode and Junelehua Robertson. His mother Lukia Luana, a Hawaiian princess, was married to actor Woody Strode. His brother Lee Woodd, who was also an actor, died on 19 September 2002. He died on August 29, 1999, at a North Shore home of a friend, two weeks after his 63rd birthday. 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. In 1968, he had a single released on Don Ho's Hana Hou 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. 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 and included on his album for George Winston's Dancing Cat Records, Wooden Boat album. 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. Blue Hawaii (1961) - Carl Tanami The Late Liz (1971) - Manu (final film role) 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) From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950 - 2000 By Bob Leszczak Page 171 K, Lani Kai Honolulu Star-Bulletin Thursday, August 26, 1999 Entertainer Lani Kai dies at 63 American Sports: A History of Icons, Idols, and Ideas By Murry R. Nelson Page 1293 Strode, Woody (1914 - 1994) Honolulu Star-Bulletin Thursday, August 26, 1999 Entertainer Lani Kai dies at 63 Moviefone Lee Woodd Aveleyman.com Lee Woodd The Chicago Tribune August 29, 1999 Page 2 of 2, Deaths last week Honolulu Star-Bulletin Thursday, August 26, 1999 Entertainer Lani Kai dies at 63 MTV Artists Lani Kai, Biography The Billboard December 7, 1959 Page 54 Pop Records *** Good Sales Potential Billboard August 3, 1963 Page 31 Just Released! From Decca - Coral For A Profitable Fall Billboard November 2, 1968 Page 68 International News Reports, From the Music Capitals of the World, Honolulu Billboard November 16, 1968 Page 84 Cap Releases 3 Ho Singles Honolulu Star-Bulletin Saturday, January 19, 2002 Whatever Happened... Entertainer Hannemann a ‘believer in human race’ By Pat Gee Billboard November 30, 1974 Page 45 General News, Island Madness, Puka Shell Craze Leading To Local Song, Disk Hit Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third series Page 585 Current Registrations Dancing Cat Records Liner Notes, Wooden Boat MTV Artists Lani Kai, Biography Fifties Web Adventures in Paradise Classic TV Archive Adventures In Paradise (1959-62) Elvis in Hawaii Blue Hawaii, Cast & Crew Digitallyobsessed.com Hawaii Five-O: The Second Season (1969/1970) Booking Hawaii Five-O: An Episode Guide and Critical History of the 1968 - 1970 Television Series By Karen Rhodes Page 65 The Joker's Wild, Man, Wild (#36) Imdb Lani Kai (1936–1999) Lani Kai at IMDb