List of people from Hawaii

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Hawai`i has been home to many notable people that have become well-known beyond the shores of the islands. Listed below are celebrities that have called Hawai`i home during some significant part of their lives.

See also:

• A list of notable people of Native Hawaiian ancestry
• A list of notable politicians of Hawai`i

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A

• Brian Adams (born 1964) in Kona, Hawaii, professional wrestler
• Benny Agbayani, professional baseball player, born in Honolulu.
• Keiko Agena, actress, Gilmore Girls, born in Honolulu.
• Josh Agle, a.k.a. Shag, artist
• Daniel K. Akaka, first native Hawaiian US Senator
• Akebono Tarō (born Chad Rowan), sumo wrestler born in Waimanalo Hawaii.
• AkuA (born 1981) in Honolulu, Hawaii, professional wrestler for AZW
• Renee Alway (born 1986 in Maui, Hawaii) (model) Second runner-up of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 8.
• Wally Amos founder and owner of Famous Amos Cookies, lives in Hawaii.
• Naveen Andrews actor in Lost (TV series), current resident of Hawaii.
• Alfred Aholo Apaka (1919-1960), known as The Golden Voice of Hawaii.
• Chang Apana, folk figure who inspired Charlie Chan; worked for the Honolulu Police Department
• S. Haunani Apoliona, Office of Hawaiian Affairs Trustee; Chairperson of OHA Board of Trustees
• George Ariyoshi, first Japanese-American elected governor
• Samuel C. Armstrong, American Civil War general and founder of Hampton University

B

• Raymond Bailey actor from The Beverly Hillbillies television show. He worked on a plantation before becoming an actor.
• Buck Baker or Dr. William Baker conductor
• Bob Ballard, discoverer of Titanic wreck, received degree from the University of Hawaii.
• Gabe Baltazar, a jazz alto saxophonist of Philippine descent.
• Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss America 2001
• Danny Barcelona, Filipino-American jazz-band drummer for Louis Armstrong.
• Donn Beach restauranteer of Don the Beachcomber tiki restaurant. He died in Honolulu.
• Larry Beil Journalist, graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a Bachelor's degree in journalism.
• Barbi Benton model/actress, has a home in Hawaii.
• Greg Beeman, director-producer
• Henri Berger, composer and royal bandmaster of the Kingdom of Hawaii.
• Hiram Bingham I, missionary
• Hiram Bingham II, missionary
• Hiram Bingham III, US Senator from Connecticut, discovered Macchu Picchu
• Bernice Pauahi Bishop, Hawaiian princess and philanthropist
• Charles Reed Bishop, banker, philanthropist, husband of Bernice Pauahi Bishop
• Bill Bixby actor/director
• Don Blanding, poet.
• Richard Blood, professional wrestler also known as Ricky The Dragon Steamboat or Ricky Steamboat or Rick Steamboat born in Honolulu.
• Daryl Bonilla Hawaii based actor, born in Honolulu.
• Richard Boone actor, who lived in Hawaii for seven years.
• Robert Sidney Bowen, an author, died of cancer in Honolulu in 1977.
• Beau Bridges actor, attended University of Hawaii at Manoa.
• Solomon Kekipi Bright (1909-1992) songwriter, performer of The Hawaiian Cowboy.
• Darin Brooks actor on Days of Our Lives born in
• Jason Brooks actor, splits time between Hawaii and Los Angeles.
• Jeremy Broomfield self-made stockbroker
• Ron Brown Hapa-Hawaiian Radio Personality Krater 96. Kakalia Ohana
• Bulldog Hawaii based actor.
• Andy Bumatai Hawaii based comedian and actor.
• Ray Bumatai Hawaii based actor and producer. He died in Honolulu.
• John A. Burns, Second Governor of Hawaii from 1962 to 1974; interred at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
• Brian Burton aka 'Danger Mouse', actor, born in Honolulu.
• Eric Byler director, charlotte sometimes, Americanese; attended Moanalua High School Honolulu.

C

• William Robert Caddy World War II Medal of Honor recipient; interred at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
• Daryl Cagle, editorial cartoonist
• Sarah Wayne Callies, actress
• James Campbell, founder of the Estate of James Campbell, a major landowner in Hawaii.
• Joseph Campbell author, lived and died in Honolulu
• Glenn Cannon actor, Co-director of the Cinematic and Digital Arts Program at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
• George Ham Cannon World War II Medal of Honor recipient
• Steve Carlson musician, lived in Maui for 2 years.
• Tia Carrere, singer, actress
• Alexander Cartwright, father of American baseball
• Josh Casaubon actor, stationed in Hawaii for four years with the United States Army.
• Steve Case, former Chairman and CEO of America Online
• Benjamin J. Cayetano, first Filipino American governor
• Cedric Ceballos basketball player/rap artist
• Byron Chamberlain athlete, born in Honolulu.
• Michael Chamberlain film director, current resident of Honolulu.
• Richard Chamberlain actor, current resident of Hawaii.
• Wah Chang Hollywood designer
• Ben Chapman actor, longtime resident of Oahu, Hawaii.
• Duane "DOG" Chapman, bounty hunter, lived in Hawaii since 1989.
• Leland Chapman bounty hunter, son of Duane "DOG" Chapman lives in Hawaii.
• Tim Chapman bounty hunter, lived in Hawaii since 1992; works with Duane "DOG" Chapman.
• Charo entertainer, longtime resident.
• Tom Cheney, cartoonist
• Brian Ching, professional soccer (football) player for the US Men's National Team and Houston Dynamo of Major League Soccer.
• Elliott Cho actor, born in Honolulu.
• Kam Fong Chun, actor
• Herbert Choy, first Asian-American federal judge in U.S. history
• Sam Choy, chef
• Bryan Clay, Olympic athlete
• Archibald Cleghorn, father of Princess Victoria Kaiulani, and husband of Princess Miriam K. Likelike
• Harlan Cleveland, DIKW
• Ed Cobb singer, member of the group The Four Preps
• Scott Coffey actor, born in Hawaii studied in Honolulu.
• Francis Judd Cooke, composer
• Captain James Cook British explorer; originally buried in Kealakekua Bay.
• Mother Marianne Cope the successor to Father Damien; nicknamed
• David Copperfield, illusionist, early career at Pagoda Hotel
• Matt Corboy actor, born and raised in Honolulu.
• Ed Corney, IFBB Hall of Fame Bodybuilder.
• John P. Craven PhD, JD ocean engineering scientist, developer of OTEC and law professor
• Buster Crabbe, athlete and actor, studied at the Punahou School in Honolulu.
• Princess Victoria Kaiulani Cleghorn, last Hawaiian princess
• Richard E. Cunha cinematographer

D

• Mark Dacascos, actor & martial artist, born in Honolulu.
• Anthony Peter Damato World War II Medal of Honor recipient
• Father Damien, Priest, Missionary to the Lepers of Molokai, Beatified
• Ron Darling, baseball player, born and raised in Honolulu.
• Gavan Daws, Shoal of Time author, Hawaiiana historian.
• Frank Delima, comedian
• Richard Denning actor
• Martin Denny composer
• Benjamin Dillingham, businessman
• Walter F. Dillingham, industrialist
• Jimmie Dodd actor, died in Honolulu.
• James Drummond Dole, pineapple magnate
• Sanford B. Dole, territorial governor
• Richard Donner director, owns a beach house in Hawaii.
• David Douglas botanist; namesake for Douglas-fir tree
• Doris Duke, heiress, owner of "Shangri-La" residence on Black Point.
• Joseph Dodd Famous Missionary to Mississippi, Mexico and all of North America

E

• Aaron Eckhart actor, lived in Hawaii after high school.
• Walter Edwards silent film director, died in Honolulu.
• Yvonne Elliman, singer
• Kate Elliott, science fiction-fantasy writer
• Georgia Engel, actress in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Coach, and Everybody Loves Raymond.
• Jean Erdman, dancer, choreographer
• Brian Evans, actor/musician/politician, lives in Wailea, Hawaii.
• Neil Everett, ESPN sportcaster

F

• Nuu Faaola, former NFL running back
• Mary Elizabeth Pruett Farrington Republican congressional representative
• Scott Feldman, baseball pitcher
• Sid Fernandez, baseball pitcher, born in Honolulu.
• Hiram Leong Fong first Chinese-American United States Senator from Hawaii; interred at Nuuanu Cemetery in Honolulu.
• Kam Fong police officer/actor
• Leo Ford ,actor, operated Pacific Paradise Tours
• Patricia Ford, model
• Herman Frazier, 1976 Olympic gold medalist, head of 2004 U.S. Olympic team.
• Harry Fujiwara, professional wrestler, born in Hawaii.

G

• David Gallaher, writer, born in Honolulu.
• Brickwood Galuteria politician, elected chair of the Hawaii Democratic Party in 2004.
• Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, restauranteur of Don the Beachcomber tiki restaurant/bar phenomenon
• Loyal Garner, singer
• Brian Gaskill actor, born in Honolulu.
• Thomas Gill, lieutenant governor and US Representative.
• Henry G. Ginaca, engineer and inventor of the machine that peeled and cored pineapples being prepared for canning.
• Jeffrey Gold film director, former resident of Honolulu.
• Gary Goldman producer; graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Life Drawing and Art History from the University of Hawaii in December 1971.
• Ah Chew Goo former coach of the University of Hawaii men's basketball team and a star high school basketball player
• Lauren Graham, TV Actress
• Glen Grant, folklorist and author
• Larry Grant actor, died in Honolulu.
• Erin Gray, actress
• Joseph Grimes, linguist, project leader for Hawaiian Pidgin Bible
• Dave Guard, singer with Kingston Trio; born in Hawaii.

H

• Bethany Hamilton, shark attack survivor, surfer
• Laird Hamilton, surfer, monster wave rider, inventor of tow-in surfing.
• Lance Hahn, musician, formerly of the band Beck born in Honolulu.
• Kayo Hatta, film director
• Hilo Hattie also known as Clara H. Nelson; Hawaiian entertainer; interred at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu; born in Honolulu.
• Dick Haymes actor, lived in Hawaii in 1953.
• Michael Haynes III, professional wrestler, born in Honolulu.
• Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema author, resident of Hawaii.
• Cecil Heftel, United States Representative and businessman.
• George Helm, Kahoolawe Ohana activist
• Marie Helvin, top model of the 1970s and 1980s
• George Herbig, astronomer
• John Hillerman, actor, best known for his role in Magnum P.I.
• Barron Hilton, heir of Hilton Hotel chain, was stationed in HI in WW II.
• Don Ho, entertainer; born in Kakaako and died near Waikiki Beach.
• Hoku Ho, singer
• Joe Hoffman, Musician, Jazz Pioneers,Dixieland Jazz band.
• Michael Hoffman film director, born in Hawaii.
• Josh Holloway actor on the television show Lost (TV series) in Hawaii Kai, Honolulu.
• Garrett Hongo, Japanese-American poet
• Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu, singer featured in Lilo & Stitch
• Robert T. Hoshibata, Bishop of the United Methodist Church .
• Christian Hosoi professional skateboarder of Hawaiian descent.
• Victor Stewart Kaleoaloha Houston, United States Representative from the Territory of Hawaii
• Kelly Hu, actress, Miss Teen USA 1985
• Matthias Hues actor, moved to Hawaii.
• Kathryn Hulme, author of The Nun's Story

I

• Curtis Iaukea, Secretary of Foreign Affairs for the Kingdom of Hawaii
• Carrie Ann Inaba, actress and choreographer
• Daniel K. Inouye, United States Senator from 1963 for Hawaii.
• Andy Irons, surfer
• Yuna Ito, Japanese pop singer from Honolulu.

J

• Thomas Jaggar, geologist and founder of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
• William Paul Jarrett, United States Representative from the Territory of Hawaii.
• William Jefferson actor, died in Honolulu.
• Dwayne Johnson, professional wrestler and actor known as "The Rock"
• Jack Johnson, singer, musician, songwriter, and documentary filmmaker, born in Oahu.
• Cris Judd actor, partly raised in Hawaii.
• Gerrit P. Judd, missionary and advisor

K

• Ka‘ahumanu, Hawaiian queen
• Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, Olympic swimmer and ambassador of surfing, born and died in Honolulu; interred at Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu.
• Carole Kai, singer and philanthropist.
• Henry J. Kaiser, industrialist
• Victoria Kaiulani, Hawaiian princess; interred at Royal Mausoleum in Honolulu.
• David Kalākaua, king, interred at Royal Mausoleum in Honolulu.
• Harry Kalas, sportcaster
• Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, Prince of Hawaii
• Daniel Kaleikini Jr., entertainer, named Hawaii's Ambassador of Aloha by Gov John Waihee in 1988.
• Emma Kaleleonalani Hawaiian monarch
• Israel Kamakawiwo‘ole, entertainer and singer
• Stacy Kamano, actress
• Kamehameha I, monarch that united the Hawaiian islands; interred at Royal Mausoleum in Honolulu.
• Kamehameha V, last of the Hawaiian ali'i dynasty.
• Gilbert Lani Kauhi, actor
• Kaumualii; last king of Kauai
• Guy Kawasaki, official Apple Computer evangelist
• Princess Ruth Keelikolani, Princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and in her lifetime, the largest landowner in Hawaii, whose lands would later become the Bishop Estate
• Klaus Keil, geologist, known for mineral keilite
• Rabbit Kekai professional surfer, mentor was Duke Kahanamoku, born in Honolulu. He teaches surfing in Waikiki Beach.
• Douglas Kennedy actor, died in Honolulu; interred at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
• Douglas Kenney actor, died in Kauai.
• Ed Kenney, actor and singer
• Keopuolani; Hawaiian queen
• Isaac C. Kidd; World War II Medal of Honor recipient; died in Pearl Harbor; interred at USS Arizona Memorial.
• Nicole Kidman, actress, born in Honolulu, Hawaii.
• Harry Kim, first Korean-American elected mayor in US
• Samuel Wilder King, Governor of the Territory of Hawaii and United States Representative from the Territory of Hawaii.
• Robert Kiyosaki, author of financial books
• Terence Knapp, actor and director, lives in Honolulu.
• Adney Y. Komatsu, General Authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Konishiki (born Salevaa Atisanoe), sumo wrestler
• Shogo Kubo professional skater, lives with his family in Oahu.
• Clyde Kusatsu actor, born in Honolulu and graduated Iolani High School.

L

• Bu Laia, comedian
• Mike Lambert, USA national volleyball team, AVP mvp
• George Parsons Lathrop, journalist, poet
• Brook Mahealani Lee, Miss Universe 1997
• Christopher Lee, former president of production for TriStar Pictures; is now Chairman of the new Academy for Creative Media for the University of Hawaii.
• Vicki Lawrence actress, entertainer, (she lived in Maui after the Carol Burnett Show and returned to California.)
• George Lazenby actor, owns a home in Hawaii.
• Jason Scott Lee, actor of Hawaiian descent; graduate of Pearl City High School.
• Freddie Letuli also known as Father of the Knife Dance and Paramount Chief in American Samoa
• Rob Levin, founder of the freenode IRC network and Executive Director of the PDPC
• Lili‘uokalani, Queen, last Hawaiian monarch, interred at Royal Mausoleum in Honolulu.
• John C. Lilly, dolphin scientist
• Charles A. Lindbergh aviator, died in Kipahulu, Maui.
• Oren Ethelbirt Long first governor of Hawaii; interred at Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu.
• Tai Sing Loo Photographer, Born in Hawaii.
• Gerry López, professional surfer, born in Hawaii.
• Jack Lord actor, star of Hawaii Five-O. He died in Honolulu.
• Edward Tsang Lu, astronaut.
• Agnes Lum, bikini supermodel popular in Japan, born in Honolulu.
• King Lunalilo, King of Hawaii from January 8, 1873 until February 3, 1874
• Rod Lurie film director, spent part of his childhood in Hawaii.
• Arthur Lyman musician
• Ben Lyon actor, died in Honolulu.
• Lorenzo Lyons, minister and author of the beloved hymn "Hawai`i Aloha."

M

• Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, football player.
• Kenneth MacDonald British actor
• Peter Maivia professional wrestler
• Eduardo Malapit (1933–2007), first U.S. mayor of Filipino ancestry.
• Larry Manetti actor, best known for his role in Magnum P.I.
• Ferdinand Marcos, former Philippine president, lived and died in exile in Honolulu.
• Francis A. Marzen, religious leader
• Thalia Massie, wife of a Navy lieutenant, from the publicized September, 1931 rape case.
• Vince Manuwai, football player.
• Danny McBride actor, lived in Hawaii.
• Kevin McCollum producer, graduated from Punahou School in Honolulu.
• Gardner McKay actor/writer, died in Honolulu.
• Alika Medeiros, motivational speaker, fitness guru , born on Oahu, partly lives in Hawaii and Woodside, California.
• Glenn Medeiros, singer, songwriter
• melody. (Melody Miyuki Ishikawa), singer of J-pop music
• James Mercer, lead singer and guitarist of indie rock band The Shins
• W.S. Merwin, Poet, longtime resident of Maui.
• Stein Metzger, beach vollyball player and olympian
• James A. Michener, novelist
• Al Michaels sports broadcaster, began his sports broadcasting career in Hawaii in 1968.
• Bette Midler, actress and entertainer
• Patsy Takemoto Mink, United States Congresswoman and author of the Title IX Amendment to the Higher Education Act
• Tau Moe singer, died in Laie, Hawaii.
• Jason Momoa, actor and model, born in Honolulu.
• Dominic Monaghan, actor in Lost (TV series), currently based in Hawaii.
• Tom Moffatt, entertainment producer, former dj with KPOI.
• Joe Moore, actor and journalist based in Honolulu.
• Jon Moritsugu film director, born in Honolulu.
• Jim Morrison lawyer/helicopter pilot lived in Hawaii.
• Roger E. Mosley actor, best known for his role in Magnum P.I.
• Tahj Mowry, actor, born in Honolulu.
• Don Muraco, professional wrestler, born in Sunset Beach, Hawaii.
• Arthur Murray entertainer, died in Honolulu.
• Dave Murray musician with Iron Maiden; has a second home in Hawaii.
• Musashimaru (born Fiamalu Penitani), sumo wrestler

N

• Jim Nabors, entertainer and long time resident; splits his time in Honolulu or in Hana, Maui on his macadamian nut farm.
• Linda Nagata, novelist
• Lane Nishikawa, actor, director, performance artist
• Al Noga, (American) football player
• Blaise J. Noto, Former Executive Vice President of Worldwide Publicity for Paramount Pictures

O

• Barack Obama, US senator
• Kimo von Oelhoffen, football player
• Bobo Olson, World champion boxer, hall of famer
• Eileen Olszewski, Professional female boxer
• Timothy Olyphant, actor
• Danny Ongais, racecar driver
• Ellison Onizuka, astronaut

P

• Gabby Pahinui, musician
• Richard Parsons, Time-Warner CEO
• William A. Patterson, United Airlines president, 1934-1966
• B.J. Penn, professional mixed martial artist, current UFC Lightweight Champion, former UFC Welterweight Champion, former Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion.
• Jeff Peterson, slack key guitarist
• Rick Pitino, basketball coach
• Gregory Poirier, Writer, Director, Producer
• Kawaipuna Prejean, Hawaiian activist
• Kelly Preston, actress
• Karen Pryor, behavioral psychologist & animal trainer

Q

• Maggie Q, (born Maggie Denise Quigley), actress-model (Hong Kong cinema)

R

• Dominic Raiola, football player
• Kealii Reichel (born 1961), Hawaiian singer, dancer, chanter and scholar
• Syngman Rhee, first president of South Korea, later exiled to Hawaii.
• James O. Richardson, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet 1940-1941 at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
• Eric Roberts actor, resident
• Robinson family, owner of Ni'ihau Island, originally purchased by Elizabeth Sinclair (later Sinclair-Robinson)
• Red Rocha, basketball player. Best known as the head coach of the University of Hawaii men's basketball team, coaching the famous "Fabulous Five" era from 1970 to 1972.
• George Rodiek, gardener Walker Estate, diplomat and Hindu-German conspirator
• Peggy Ryan, dancer and choreographer

S

• Buffy Sainte-Marie, singer, Academy Award winning songwriter, Native American educator and activist lives on Kauai.
• Stan Sakai, comic book creator
• Harold Sakata, actor
• Lenn Sakata, baseball player
• Carolyn Sapp, Miss America 1992
• Bronson Sardinha, baseball player
• Nicole Scherzinger, dancer-singer (The Pussycat Dolls)
• Amanda Schull, ballerina and actress
• Tom Selleck, actor
• Bob Shane, singer with Kingston Trio
• James Shigeta, actor
• Jake Shimabukuro, Ukulele musician
• Eric Shinseki, US Army general and 34th Chief of Staff
• Beth Smith, bounty hunter, professional and personal partner to Duane "Dog" Chapman has lived in Hawaii since 1989.
• Shannyn Sossamon, actress and musician
• Claus Spreckels, developer
• Mike Starr, bassist (Alice in Chains)
• Ricky Steamboat, professional wrestler, born in Honolulu.
• Jake Steinfeld, fitness host of Body by Jake which was taped in Hawaii.
• Tom Stone, Professor at the University of Hawaii and surfer-waterman.
• Don Stroud, actor
• Sun Yat-sen, Qing dynasty revolutionary
• Irwin Santos "Hawaiian Superman" Talent Coordinator for Hawaii's "Night Time"

T

• Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, actor
• Yuta Tabuse, basketball player
• Takamiyama (born Jesse Kuhaulua, 1944), sumo wrestler
• Lily Thai, adult actress
• Paul Theroux, travel writer & novelist
• Nainoa Thompson, native Hawaiian nagivator
• Lorrin A. Thurston, son of missionaries, leader in 1893 monarchy overthrow and leader of the Provisional Government of Hawaii.
• Lee Tonouchi, pidgin author
• Haunani-Kay Trask, native Hawaiian professor of Hawaiian Studies at the University of Hawaii, and political activist
• Jasmine Trias, singer, American Idol finalist
• Esera Tuaolo, football player
• Mosi Tatupu, football player
• Mark Tuinei, football player
• Bill Turner, Farrell Manager
• Merlin Tuttle, mammalogist, Honolulu

V

• Charles L. Veach (1944–1995), astronaut
• Camile Velasco, singer, American Idol finalist
• Shane Victorino, baseball player
• Brian Viloria, boxer and Olympic athlete

Tom Vendetti, director/producer, "Bhutan: Finding the Middle Path to Happiness"

W

• Scott Waddle, commander of the USS Greeneville submarine during the Ehime Maru incident
• Megan Ward, actress
• John Waihee, first Native Hawaiian governor
• Justin Wayne, baseball player
• Charlie Wedemeyer, prep player of the decade: football, basketball, baseball
• Adam West, actor on Batman and the Kini Popo Show
• Jeff Widener, journalistic photographer (esp. noted for Tiananmen Square photo)
• Michelle Wie, golf prodigy
• Robert William Wilcox (born 1855), native Hawaiian revolutionary, soldier and l ater United States Representative from the Territory of Hawaii
• Jerome Williams baseball player for the San Francisco Giants
• Charles F. Winslow 19th century physician and atomic theorist
• Alan Wong, chef
• Kirby Wright, novelist and poet born in Honolulu and raised on Oahu and Moloka'i
• Robert Wyland, artist

Y

• Roy Yamaguchi, chef
• Lois-Ann Yamanaka, novelist
• Ryuzo Yanagimachi, cloning pioneer
• Keone Young, actor
• John Young, first European to become "Hawaiian ali'i" and buried in the Royal Mausoleum
• Wally Kaname Yonamine, former Japanese baseball player
• Maka'ala Yates, Hawaiian Medicine Specialist