I have an idea that the family she heard was just singing some of the old pre-Hawaii Calls material, probably paniolo, as M Ted suggests. I have heard a little of it on Molokai and elsewhere but now it exists mostly on old records and tapes.
I have been trying to find the origin of "Whoo (Who)" or the Owl's Lullaby sung on the Big Island by some of the old timers and recorded in Na Mele Paniolo (two-tape album), issued by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Kindy Sproat was the vocalist, and although well-along in years, could still hit the high notes and do the voice breaks in text lines of a song (not just "yodels").
Sproat's rendition of "O Pu'ulani" in this album is a gem of leo ki'eki'e, or male falsetto singing, which seems to have originated with the Mexican Vaqueros who were brought to Hawai'i. The Hawaiians took to this kind of singing and made it their own, with new variations.
This album, Na Mele Paniolo, may still be available through the Bishop Museum, although my last noted release date for it was with a revised booklet in 1992.

I would guess that any resemblance to the singing of Laos, or old time Chamoro (most now sing in current styles, including reggae), is just coincidental.