Remembering country music icon Dolly Parton’s deep connections to Hawaii
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Beloved country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80. A spokesperson says Parton was surrounded by loved ones when she passed away in Nashville after a brief battle with cancer.
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Over her decades-long career, Parton made it clear that Hawaiʻi held a unique and lasting place in her heart, from owning a Portlock estate to recording wildfire relief music.
In a 1987 interview during a visit to Waikīkī, Parton expressed her deep affection for the islands and their residents.
“I love Hawaiian people,” Parton said. “I’ve always said Hawaii is like heaven to me and the local people are like angels.”
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A home and business in East Oʻahu
Parton’s connection to Oʻahu included both business ventures and real estate.
The singer owned a home on Portlock Beach, a property widely known in the community as the “Dolly Parton Estate.”
During a 1985 interview, Parton recalled that her childhood visions of heaven matched the landscapes of Hawaiʻi.
“When I came here I thought that I thought I had found it,” Parton said. “It looked exactly the way I imagined heaven to look and I joked and kidded this is the closest I’d ever get to heaven so I figured I better buy me a house here.”
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In 1987, she opened a restaurant in Hawaii Kai called Dockside Plantation. Although reservations were initially highly sought after, the restaurant closed after about a year of operation.
Musical collaborations and television segments
Parton frequently featured Hawaiʻi in her television variety series, Dolly. In 1988, she partnered with legendary Hawaiʻi entertainer Melveen Leed to perform the song “Paniolo Country.”
The segment was filmed on horseback at Kualoa Ranch, a memorable experience for both artists.
“We did the filming over there on horses,” Leed said. “She said, ‘I never rode a horse before.’ I said, ‘What? We’re just walking the horse.’ While we’re doing it, we’re laughing. I remember laughing so much because it was so cute.”
Philanthropy and wildfire relief
Parton’s legacy in the islands also included extensive philanthropic work. In 2005, she expanded her signature Imagination Library program to Hawaiʻi to provide free books to local children.
Following the August 2023 Maui wildfires, Parton recorded a new duet version of the song “My Hawaii.” All proceeds from the recording were donated directly to the Maui United Way’s “Maui Fire Disaster Relief Fund” to support recovery efforts.
The country music legend is expected to be laid to rest in Nashville in the coming days.
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