A special exhibit featuring the life and legacy of renowned musician, composer and Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero has been extended at Gallery ‘Iolani, which is located on Windward Community College’s campus in Kāneʻohe.
Cazimero is kumu hula of Hālau Na Kamalei o Lililehua, which competed in the Merrie Monarch Festival of 1976 — the first year men were allowed to participate — and won the overall men’s award, as previously reported by Honolulu Star-Advertiser. He is also well known for being part of The Brothers Cazimero a Grammy-nominated group honored with more than two dozen Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, which included his older brother, the late Roland Cazimero. The group was known for its decades of May Day is Lei Day concerts at Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell.
The Gallery ‘Iolani exhibit, “Ke Kilo Lani,” was originally set to close on May 15, but now will remain open through Saturday, May 30.
“The exhibit was supposed to close on the 15th — on Friday — but because there's been such an outpouring of people wanting to come and see it, we extended it another two weeks,” Kapulani Landgraf, the director of Gallery ʻIolani, told Aloha State Daily.
The gallery is open from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. daily, except Sunday and Memorial Day.
“At the gallery, I'm working on a series of exhibitions looking at mentorship and how things get passed down traditionally, so one of them was Robert Cazimero,” Landgraf said. “Robert Cazimero is both a well-known musician with The Brothers Cazimero, as well as he's the Kumu Hula for Hālau Nā Kamalei o Līlīlehua.”
The exhibit, which opened Jan. 23, was curated by Cazimero’s nephews Martin Heirakuji and Richard Heirakuji as well as his niece, Sky Yim.
“I am deeply honored to be the subject of this exhibit,” said Cazimero, in a written statement. “It is both very humbling and awkward at the same time as I never thought about building a lasting legacy while simply living my life. I hope that gallery visitors will learn that my success came from having a little luck, favorable timing and through the love and support of my family, hālau and friends.”
This Thursday, May 21, there will be a special talk story event featuring Kyle Atabay, Daniel Nāhoʻopiʻi, and Kaleopa'a Vares of Hālau Nā Kamalei o Līlīlehua, who will share perspectives on the exhibition as part of a panel conversation led by moderator Zach Lum, who is the cofounder and executive director of the nonprofit Kāhuli Leo Le'a. Cazimero will also add to the conversation. The event starts at 6 p.m. and is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for admission. Get tickets.
Cazimero recently celebrated 50 years of teaching hula. He reflected on his decades of experience with the Merrie Monarch Festival here in 2025:
Established in 1985, Gallery ʻIolani shares the work of artists across the world from Alaska to New Zealand. Each year, it welcomes at least 5,000 visitors, according to its website. The 1,700-square-foot gallery is located on campus, adjacent to Palikū Theatre. For more information, go to gallery.windward.hawaii.edu.
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Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
