Park, who was born in 1924 in Ho'ea, North Kohala, had her first lesson at age 3. Her kumu included Caroline Tuck and Katie Nakaula; she completed her 'uniki (graduation) requirements under the famous hula master Lokalia Montgomery.

Park, who is survived by her husband, Thomas, named her halau Puamana Hula Studio after one of their eight children.

The school opened in 1952, and Park decided to celebrate its golden anniversary two years ago by entering the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition in Hilo. Her students also have competed in the Keiki Hula, Kamehameha, Hula 'Oni E and World Invitational hula competitions.

Since 2001, Park's hula style has been documented on digital video as part of the Hula Preservation Society. Led by kumu hula Maile Beamer Loo, the preservation society is dedicated to archiving the knowledge of hula's kupuna, or elders.

"Although she would continually thank us for the work we were doing, we always knew that we were the lucky ones for having the chance to be in her presence," Loo said in a written tribute. "We loved her HPS rallying cry to other kupuna, 'Let's get documented!'

"Auntie held her final 'uniki in October 2002 at Ke'e, Kaua'i, and she requested the HPS Preservation Team be there to document the entire proceedings," Loo added. "Auntie understood from the very beginning that the work of HPS, in documenting the hula lives of this precious group of elders born in 1930 or before, was a gift to the Hawaiian community, the larger hula 'ohana and, most especially, her own family."

Park was teaching until the end, according to daughter Soo Whan Featheran, who said the hula master addressed a gathering of her students in her final weeks.

"She said, 'You folks always remember to teach with love,' " Featheran recounted. " 'Love will take care of a multitude of things.' "

In addition to her husband and Featheran, she is survived by her sons, Robert, Russell, Radford and Kaulana Park; daughters, Puamana Park and Soonie Park-Ledbetter; sister, Leina'ala Naipo-Akamine; brothers, the Rev. George Naipo and Rodgers Naipo; hanai sons, Henry Naipo, Joey Kumukoa and Alex Monios; 15 grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary, with the service to follow; aloha attire is requested.