Ed Kenney
Edward Kamanaloha Kenney, Jr. (August 8, 1933 – October 5, 2018) was a Hawaiian-American singer and actor best known for his role as Wang Ta in the original Broadway production of Flower Drum Song. In retirement, he lived on Kaua‘i and occasionally made public appearances.
He was born in Honolulu on Oahu to a Hawaiian-Chinese mother and a Swedish-Irish father. He married Judy Bailey and lived on Kauai. Kenney was married to hula dancer Beverly Noa and was the father of Honolulu restaurateur Edward Kenney III.
Kenney and Noa headlined shows at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Halekulani Hotel for years. They reunited for a Honolulu television show on KGMB-TV in the 1980s.
He also co-wrote music with Eaton “Bob” Magoon, Jr. (composer of 13 Daughters) and Gordon Phelps.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 05:08 (CET).