Mystery as Hawaii pageant queen who was famous for her hula dancing dies in hospital aged just 45

Published: 16:57 EDT, 26 October 2026 | Updated: 16:57 EDT, 26 October 2026 A renowned hula dancer, who won the prestigious Miss Aloha Hula title in 2005, has tragically died at a hospital in Hawaii.Maile Emily Francisco, 45, died Sunday morning at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center on Oahu, her family said in a statement.The cause of death was not immediately released.Her brother, Kapua Francisco, described her as the ‘most beautiful person, soul, and hula dancer.’He said Francisco began learning the art of hula at a traditional hula school when she was a young girl, according to Hawaii News Now.She trained with Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho at the Kealiʻikaʻapunihonua Keʻena Aʻo Hula school.She later continued her studies with Kumu Hula Sonny Ching at Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, her brother said.The mother of two went on to represent the halau (Hawaiian word for school) and won the Miss Aloha Hula crown at the Merrie Monarch Festival in 2005. Miss Aloha Hula 2005, Maile Emily Francisco, died mysteriously at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center on Oahu, her family said in a statement The champion (pictured here, second from left) trained with Kumu Hula Leimomi Ho of Kealiʻikaʻapunihonua Keʻena Aʻo Hula and went on to represent the hālau when she won the Miss Aloha Hula crown Francisco is survived by her two sons, Exodus Kekiaʻiokeānuenueokeola Nuʻa Francisco and Ezra Kiona Kekahualiʻionaʻiwikuamoʻo Nuʻa FranciscoShe grew up in a family deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture and hula, according to a 2004 profile published by the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.She took up hula at age four and joined the halau at 13, the outlet reported.‘I've been dancing hula since I was four, so pretty much it's my life,’ she told the outlet, adding that she also enjoys cooking and singing 'socially.'Following her Miss Aloha Hula victory, Francisco continued her hula journey alongside her brother at Hālau Nā Mamo O Ka Liko Maile O Kohala.Friends and family paid tribute to Francisco as they remembered her as a devoted mother, beloved sister and gifted hula dancer whose legacy will continue to resonate throughout the community.'I'm so glad to have met an amazing person with such a beautiful soul and heart, such a humble and happy person like you. My heart breaks now that you are gone but heaven gained a wonderful angel,’ Leilani Campos, a friend, wrote on Facebook.‘I couldn’t hold back my tears. Just last week, I had asked him how you were doing, hoping and praying that we would have another opportunity to spend time together,’ Dion'e Di said on social media.Francisco is survived by her two sons, Exodus Kekiaʻiokeānuenueokeola Nuʻa Francisco and Ezra Kiona Kekahualiʻionaʻiwikuamoʻo Nuʻa Francisco.