Clarissa Haile, later to become Hilo Hattie, was born in Honolulu, HI in 1901. Known as one of the Golden People of Hawaii, Clara was born into a musical family, and always had the desire to make people laugh and mimic personalities. Setting out to be a teacher, Clara began teaching at Waipahu Elementary in 1923. While still teaching she performed at the Waialae Country Club and become a hit. Clara then joined the Hawaiian Girls Glee Club which took part in the Kodak Hula Show. Clara participated in the summer shows from 1937 through 1940. While traveling to Portland, OR for a teachers’ convention, Clara was part of the entertainment on the ship and did her own rendition of the song When Hilo Hattie Does the Hilo Hop. She became such a huge hit with the passengers, she changed her name, and the performer Hilo Hattie was born. What followed was a long successful career in song, radio, dance and movies. Hilo was the first recipient of “No Ka oi” Entertainers Award in 1971; The Distinguished American Award by Radio Station KABC Los Angeles and was inducted into the Hawaiian Entertainment Hall of Fame in 1974. Hilo passed away in 1979.
Singletary, Milly. Hilo Hattie: A legend in our Time. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing, 2006.
Todaro, Tony. Golden Years of Hawaiian Entertainment. Honolulu: Tony Todaro Publishing Co, 1974. (Pages 134-135).