Maile Francisco, Miss Aloha Hula 2005, dies at 45

Maile Emily Kau’ilanionapuaehi’ipoiokeanuenueokeola Francisco died Sunday morning at Kaiser Moanalua Hospital. Her brother, Kumu Kapua Francisco, confirmed the death and identified the cause as heart failure resulting from an unexpected illness. Francisco was 45 years old. She is survived by two teenage sons.

Francisco held the Miss Aloha Hula title for the year 2005. She earned the honor while performing with Halau Na Mamo o Pu’uanahulu. Her victory marked the third consecutive soloist win for her halau. Kumu Sonny Ching and Kumu Lopaka Igarta-De Vera led her instruction during that period.

Ching recalled discovering Francisco’s talent early in her training. "Right from the get-go, we saw that spark. We saw that there was something special about that girl. She could dance," Ching said. He described her as one of the finest students he had ever taught, noting her deep love for the art form.

Francisco’s journey with the halau began in 1994. She joined the group as a young girl after originally studying under Kumu Leimomi Ho. Her instructors remembered her personality as much as her dancing ability. "She was full of life. She was vivacious and she had a great personality. She always made us laugh," Igarta-De Vera said.

Kapua Francisco described his sister as a natural performer who brought hula to life through motion and emotion. He highlighted her positive outlook on people. "She never judged people. She always found the best in everyone," he said. He recalled their last conversation, where she reminded him how much she loved him.

Igarta-De Vera said Francisco viewed the world with light rather than doom and gloom. The kumu noted that while Francisco was not a saint, her ability to snap back out of difficult moments made her real. "With Maile, she’s seeing the world differently. It was never about doom and gloom. It was about laughter, light," Igarta-De Vera said.

Family members are planning a celebration of life on Oahu. A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help cover the costs of the event. Kapua Francisco said the loss serves as a reminder to embrace life and love one's family hard because circumstances can change without warning.