Hawaiian music icon widely known as Aunty Genoa passed away at her Papakolea home early Monday morning, after struggling with health problems for years. She was 89.

"Aunty Genoa has lived a full life and is very happy with all the blessings of family and her self-taught career as an entertainer and businesswoman," her family said in a prepared statement. "She was a very simple person. She loved the people of Hawaii and her many fans throughout the world for their support through her experiences and travels."

Service arrangements will be by Borthwick Mortuary.  Services will be conducted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for which she has served as a faithful member.

Born Genoa Leilani Adolpho on Halloween, Oct. 31, 1918, Genoa began her career when she was just a child, performing at the church with her sister Annie. In 1935 she married Edward P. Keawe-Aiko. She started her professional career in 1939, and performed as "Genoa Keawe," when singing for bandstand shows in Kailua, Oahu and the Officers Club before the World War II.

Keawe made her first recordings for 49th State Hawaii Records in 1946. She subsequently recorded for Hula Records before she founded her own label, Genoa Keawe Records in the mid-1960s.

Her signature falsetto earned her recognition as the Hawaiian Lady of Song. Many people said that she was a huge influence on Hawaiian music and on themselves personally.

"She was a teacher, she was a student, she was Hawai'i," said Jon de Mello, CEO of Mountain Apple Company.

"She gave us anything we needed in music. She lived it," de Mello said. "And I was fortunate to visit her a week ago at Queen's Hospital. When I walked in the door, she looked like a little angel and she smiled; she motioned to Eric (her son, Eric Keawe) for her 'ukulele and she grabbed it, sing "Ho'onanea."

"She was always magical, the power of living that long, we see how far we have come, what is happening to Hawai'i now."

De Mello called her "an amazing person, with a heart. If anyone was going to meet their maker, she was totally prepared; totally in balance."

"If anyone was going to meet their maker, she was totally prepared, toally in balance of it all."

"We will miss the gentleness (of those forgotten times) with the passing of Aunty Genoa," said Robert Cazimero of The Brothers Cazimero.