She began teaching at Waipahu Elementary School[2] in 1923, entertaining her students with what would become her comedy hula routines.

By 1936, she had joined Louise Akeo's Royal Hawaiian Girls Glee Club[3] singing at venues around Oahu.

Hattie joined the Webley Edwards-hosted Hawaii Calls[7] broadcasts that went out to 600 radio stations around the world.

From that point on, she became a global household name, touring the world and performing in movies and on television, with a recurring role in Hawaii Five-O as Mrs. Pruitt.

In 1945, she was referred to as "the Polynesian Sophie Tucker"[8] when she entertained at the Holland Supper Club in Eugene, Oregon.

Hilo Hattie and her Hawaiian Revue played the Peabody Auditorium[1] in Daytona Beach, Florida in January 1959.