Written by Julia Matias
In this Black and white photo, Kaena is posed regally beside a large Greek pillar. Her arm is outstretch to hold up a beautiful headpiece with two long mutli-coloured feathered pieces cascading down both sides. She stands in profile, her right arm on her hip, her head turned toward the camera so that she is proudly facing forward with her eyes cast to the side. She is wearing a beige bodycon dress decorated with sequined multi-colored flames lapping upward from the ground and up the sides of her arm.
PhD Candidate Julia Matias speaks with "Living Legend" of burlesque Ka'ena! They discuss her storied career, moving from Hawaii to New York City in the 1960s to pursue her dream of becoming professional Polynesian and Tahitian dancer, and her transition into an international burlesque headliner and producer!
BIO: Dramatic and diverse are the islands of Hawaii, born of fire and water, when the volcanoes burst from the sea. Rich and varied is the land itself…and from the people who live upon it…comes the beautiful Ka'ena! Ka'ena began her burlesque career in Hawaii in the 1950s, quickly becoming an international marquee performer, working throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, the Caribbean and Japan. She captured audiences with her performances and dances of the traditional past and stimulated them with those of the present. An exciting highlight of her performances was her dangerous knife and fire dance, a feat performed by few. However, Ka'ena’s performance skills exceed burlesque alone. She also maintains her practice as a traditional Polynesian performer to this day! Impossible to duplicate, get excited to meet the beautiful Ka'ena!
Ka’ena interviewed by Julia Matias
[click on an image to enlarge]
3 black and white photo panels of Kaena in various stages of her costume reveal. In each photo, she has long straight black hair teased out at her crown, kohl liner around herr eyes, and pale lips. On the left, she is leaning on a plush stool and wearing a white triangle bra and g-string that are ornamented with tassels, her hands on her supporting hip. She looks over to her right, slightly smirking and cocking her eyebrow. In the centre photo, Ka'ena stands beside a tall Greek pillar, her arms outstretched by her hips. She is wearing a pleated metallic dress which is heavily beaded around her chest, a light embordered shall, and a chunky rhinestone necklace around her collar. In the last photo, Ka'ena is undressed, save a pair of metallic gold heels. Her body is in profile, and she holds a white feather boa up to her chest which drapes down to the floor. She looks over her shoulder and smiles playfully.
One of Ka'ena promotional materials from her mid-century burlesque career, with two photos of Kaena in performance nestle around a copy of her bio. She is dressed in a Polynesian performance costume in each photo, her right hand stretched upward holding a prop.
Ka'ena's "walk of fame" during the 2019 Burlesque Hall of Hame Weekender. One arm is outstretch to her side, the other is held regally up in the air. She is wearing a form-filling evening gown of bdazzeled blue, orang, and black flames which face into a beige bodycon centre. She wears a fabulous feather headdress, its long green feathers cascade down the side of her face. Photo courtesy of Kidd Gloves
In this photo, Kaena performs a Tahitian dance. She is wearing a hot pink grass skirt, white, a lai and bone necklace. She wears a wreath of flowers on the top of her long dark hear. She is mid-dance and holds to matching pick grass fans in each hand.