Portal:Hawaii/Selected biography/9

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[edit] Kealiʻi Reichel

Carleton Lewis Kealiʻinaniaimokuokalani Reichel (born 1962) popularly known as Kealiʻi Reichel, is a popular and bestselling singer, songwriter, choreographer, dancer, chanter, scholar, teacher, and personality from the State of Hawaiʻi. He has spent his life educating the world about Hawaiian culture through music and dance.

Kealiʻi (pronounced Kay-ah-LEE-ee) Reichel was born and raised on the island of Maui. Reichel grew up in the town of Lāhainā where he attended Lāhaināluna High School, however he spent weekends and summers with his maternal grandmother in the plantation town of Pāʻia. At the age of 24, Reichel was convicted of theft, and was sentenced to community service, which involved a study of Hawaiian culture. This marked a turning point in his life, as he decided to devote the rest of his life to the study and promotion of Hawaiian culture.