Gilbert Lani Kauhi

American actor

Gilbert Lani Kauhi
Born	Gilbert Francis Lani Damian Kauhi (1937-10-17)October 17, 1937 Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii, Territory of Hawaii
Died	May 3, 2004(2004-05-03) (aged 66) Hilo, Hawaii, U.S.
Other names	Zulu/Zoulou
Occupation(s)	Actor, musician, comedian
Years active	1968–1997

Gilbert Francis Lani Damian Kauhi (October 17, 1937 – May 3, 2004), also known by the stage names monumously as Zulu^[1] and Zoulou, was an American actor and comedian. He is remembered largely for his portrayal of Kono Kalakaua on the long-running television program Hawaii Five-O.

Career

Kauhi was born in Hilo on the "Big Island" of Hawaii. He served in the United States Coast Guard. He began his career in Honolulu as a stand-up comedian, mimic, and singer, described by one journalist as "part Godfrey Cambridge, part Zero Mostel".^[2] His nightly live show was a popular attraction at C'est Si Bon Supper Club in the Waikiki section of Honolulu before, during, and after his brief television career. Kauhi was an accomplished surfer; he was known in Hawaii by the honorific "Waikiki Beach Boy." In the late 1960s, Kauhi was a member of the band Sons of Hawaii and referred to it as his "schooling in Hawaiian music".^[3]

In 1968, Kauhi landed the role of the burly state police detective Kono on Hawaii Five-O. He was fired from the show after four seasons after disagreements with the show's publicist.^{[citation needed]} Zulu would go on to eight more television roles including a reprise role of Kono in the 1997 pilot for the revival series Hawaii Five-O.^{[citation needed]}

After ending his business relationship with his manager, Kauhi discovered that she had registered the name "Zulu" and he could not perform as Zulu without her permission. For the rest of his career he performed as "Zoulou", saying it was the French Tahitian spelling.^{[citation needed]}

Death

Kauhi died in Hilo at the age of 66 from complications due to diabetes. Per his wishes, his ashes were scattered off Waikiki.^[4]

Filmography

Rampage (1963) – guard to the tribal leader
Hawaii Five-O (1968–1972) (95 episodes) – Kono

Uncredited

I Sailed to Tahiti with an All Girl Crew (1968) – Jail guard
The Brian Keith Show (1972–1973) (3 episodes) – Chief Hanamakii / Zulu
Code Name: Diamond Head (1977) – Zulu
The Paradise Connection (1979) – Rudy
Charlie's Angels (1981) – Kono (uncredited)
Magnum, P.I. (1982) – Hotel Doorman
Hawaii Five-O (1997 pilot for revival series) – Kono (final film role)

References

^ Mike Gordon (6 May 2004). "Zulu, of Hawaii Five-0, is dead at 66". The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved 2008-05-19.
^ Whitney, Dwight (September 4, 1971): Jack Lord, Superstar. TV Guide archive Archived 2011-09-07 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved April 29, 2011.
^ Jacobs, Ron (February 1993). "FIVE-O FOREVER: Jack Lord and Company Continue to Bring Hawaii Fame". Hawaii Magazine.
^ "Zulu's ashes scattered after Waikiki beachboy funeral". KPUA am 670. 6 June 2004. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2010.