Maile Emily Francisco, 2005 Miss Aloha Hula, dies at 45

Hula dancer Maile Emily Francisco, who won the Miss Aloha Hula title in 2005, has died. She died Sunday morning, Oct. 25, at age 45 at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center on the island of Oahu, her family said in a statement. The family did not initially give a cause of death.

Her brother Kapua Francisco, himself a kumu hula, or hula teacher, told Hawaii News Now she was "the most beautiful person, the most beautiful soul and the most beautiful hula dancer." Francisco is survived by two sons.

Winning at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo

Francisco won the Miss Aloha Hula title in 2005 at the 42nd Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. She competed for the hula school Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, led by kumu hula Sonny Ching. She is also listed that way in the festival's official list of winners. The festival on the island of Hawaii is considered the most important hula competition, and Miss Aloha Hula is the title of its women's solo division.

According to her brother, Francisco began learning hula as a girl at a traditional school under kumu hula Leimomi Ho, at Kealiʻikaʻapunihonua Keʻena Aʻo Hula. She later continued her training with Ching. After her win, she danced alongside her brother at Hālau Nā Mamo O Ka Liko Maile O Kohala.

"Pretty much my life"

Francisco grew up in a family deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture and hula, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin wrote in a 2004 profile. According to the paper, she joined her hula school at age 13.

"I've been dancing hula since I was 4, so it's pretty much my life," she told the newspaper at the time. She also said she enjoyed cooking and singing with friends.

Friends and relatives paid tribute to her as a devoted mother, beloved sister and gifted dancer. "My heart is breaking now that you're gone," a friend wrote on Facebook.