Kanui, whose full name was William Kanui, was part of the Hawaiian musical duo Kanui & Lula. Alongside his wife Lula, who played the ukulele and danced the hula, Kanui played the Hawaiian guitar. The duo was active primarily in the 1920s and 1930s, performing and recording in Germany in 1922 and in France in 1933. They were known for blending traditional Hawaiian music with vaudeville acts, which made them quite influential during their time. Their music captured the authentic Hawaiian style, contributing to the popularity of Hawaiian music outside of the United States.