Lani Kai

Hawaiian actor, composer, and musician (vocalist, drummer, bassist). Born: August 15, 1936 Honolulu, Hawaii Died: August 24, 1999 (age 63) Oahu, Hawaii.
Born on the Polynesian island of Oahu, he studied music in campus shows while attending Punahou School in Honolulu. After a hitch in the Marine Corps, he landed his first professional break on "The Don Sherwood Show" in San Francisco. Then he went to Las Vegas with Lionel Hampton, playing the conga drums, followed by numerous appearances with small Hawaiian groups and progressive jazz combos as a singer, drummer, and bass player.
At 24, Lani Kai became an actor in one of Hollywood's more familiar traditions--by accident, when a casting director spotted him and signed him for the "Adventures In Paradise" series in 1960. He continued to record, tour, and act following the shows cancellation in 1962.
His composition "Puka Shells" which was recorded by Rod Young made it to #2 in the Hawaiian music charts in the mid-1970s. He also co-composed "The Poor People" with Cliff Muller. Another composition "Shells" was recorded by Keola Beamer and included on his album for George Winston's Dancing Cat Records, Wooden Boat album.