Nani Lee Meadows, widow of songwriter Kui Lee and an entertainer in her own right, died Saturday following a battle with cancer. She was 76.

Meadows made a name for herself in the 1950s and 1960s performing on television shows and in the Lexington Hotel's Hawaiian Room in New York City with her husband.

"She will be most remembered in the Hawaiian community as an entertainer with her husband Kui Lee," said her daughter, Maile Lee-Tolentino. "She had an incredible voice that complemented our father's voice and music."

Meadows began singing and dancing in 1952. She appeared with Hank Loui's Kalia Garden and performed with Don Ho. She performed regularly at the Queen's Surf in Waikiki and with Tommy Sands' show at the Outrigger Waikiki until 1969.

"She was one of the old-time entertainers," said Lani McIntire, a singer and dancer. "We met in New York and we remained friends over the years.

"She was vivacious, a very giving person."

She presented the first Hawaiian lu'au on television with the Steve Allen show and later opened with Don Ho at Honey's in Kane'ohe and was featured on Don Ho's Greatest Hits album.

After Kui Lee died in 1966, Meadows moved to Ka'u with her daughters and married Barney Meadows.

There she continued her hula dancing and singing by forming the Polynesian Paradise show at the Kona Surf hotel, which had a 20-year run.

"She was known by her grandchildren as Puna," Lee-Tolentino said. "She was a humble, humble person, so giving of herself. She was all about family."

Meadows is survived by her daughters, Wailana Lee, Mahealani Lee and Maile Lee-Tolentino; son, Kimo Lee; sister, Elizabeth Libby Naone Bailey; brother, William "Billy" Naone; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Services are pending.