Career
Born in Honolulu, Hawai"i and of Hawaiian-Chinese heritage. The San Francisco Chronicle refers to Marlene Sai as one of the true icons of the islands. The Santa Cruz Centennial refers to Sai as a living legend of Hawaiian music
Public Broadcasting Service Hawaii"s Leslie Wilcox says of Sai "There are only a handful of true divas in Hawaiian music, women who wrap their powerful voices with grace, elegance and beauty.
You can add to the list Marlene Sai." Sai is from Kaimuki, Hawaii and a product of the Kamehameha school system. She released her first record in 1959.
"Kainoa" went on to become Sai"s first hit and title for her debut album. Sai was discovered by Hawaiian entertainer Don Ho before he was famous while managing his mother"s restaurant lounge Honey"s in Kaneohe on the island of Oahu.
In 1986, Sai played Makua Wahine Luka in the television series Magnum Principal Investigator. In 1987, Sai starred in a one-actress play called Hear Maine, O My People.
In it she portrayed Queen Lili"uokalani. Sai also portrayed Queen Lili"uokalani, Hawaii"s last monarch in the Public Broadcasting Service documentary Betrayal. The made for television film premiered in Hawaii on January 17, 1993, on the 100th anniversary of the overthrow it depicted.
Sai portrayed Bloody Mary in the 2007-2008 Hawaii Opera Theatre"s production of South Pacific in Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu, Hawai"i.
In 2008 Sai starred in the dinner show This Is Hawai"i at the Hale Koa Hotel. Sai is currently president of the Hawai"i Academy of Recording Arts and on the board of the Honolulu Boys Choir and the Mayor’ General’ s Office of Culture and the Arts.
