Kuiokalani Lee, known as Kui Lee, was an influential American singer-songwriter born on July 31, 1932, in Shanghai, China. His parents, both performers, were touring China at the time of his birth. Lee was of native Hawaiian, Chinese, and Scottish descent. After his mother's death when he was five, Lee and his father returned to Hawaii due to rising tensions in Shanghai. He attended Kamehameha Schools and Roosevelt High School but was expelled due to his frequent absences for surfing. Lee served two years in the United States Coast Guard before pursuing a career as a knife dancer in the mainland United States, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In 1961, Lee returned to Hawaii, where he met his wife, Rose Frances Naone Leinani, and began performing at local clubs. His collaboration with Don Ho, whom he met at Honey's club, led to the popularization of Lee's songs, including "I'll Remember You." Diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in 1965, Lee continued to perform and record music until his death on December 3, 1966, in Tijuana, Mexico. Posthumously, he was recognized as part of the Hawaiian Renaissance and inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. His ashes were scattered off Waikiki Beach, and his legacy continues through his music, which bridged generational gaps in Hawaiian music.