Betty Jane Pa, beloved Hawaii Island hula, Tahitian dancer dies at 83 Aunty BJ, seen here with flowers in her hair and a pikake lei, was a beloved hula dancer on Hawaii Island. (Source: Hawai‘i Care Choices / Facebook) By HNN Staff | December 14, 2020 at 8:55 PM HST - Updated December 14 at 8:57 PM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Legendary Big Island dancer Betty Jane Pa has died.
Known affectionately as “Aunty BJ,” she was Hilo’s first professional Tahitian dancer learning from Kaui Brandt in the 1950s.
Aunty BJ later danced hula under George Na’ope and Iolani Luahine. And she was also a perennial front row guest at the Merrie Monarch Festival, always dressing to the nines with the freshest lei.