Dennis Pavao, born on July 11, 1951, in Kalapana on the Big Island of Hawaii, was a musician. He began his musical journey by forming the group Hui ʻOhana with his cousins Ledward and Nedward Kaʻapana, which became renowned for its falsetto singing style. After Hui ʻOhana disbanded, Pavao embarked on a solo career, released several notable albums, including Ka Leo Kiʻekiʻe (1986), which earned him the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for top male vocalist of the year in 1987, followed by Hawaiian Soul (1988), which won traditional Hawaiian album of the year, Nā Mele Henoheno (1992), and All Hawaiʻi Stand Together (1994). Pavao died on January 19, 2002, from a brain aneurysm. Posthumous releases such as Keiki Kupuna (2004) have showcased his musical legacy.
