Kehaulani Enos, representing Halau Mohala 'Ilima, of Kailua, Oahu, scored 1,040 points to win the prestigious title during the 34th annual Merrie Monarch Festival's solo competition at Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium.
Enos also tied for the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Hawaiian language award, which she shared with the competition's first runner-up, Kealohapau'ole Ho'omana, who scored 1,021 points representing Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka, of Kaneohe.
Enos chanted and danced a charming hula kahiko (traditional) about the 'o'o bird of Kauai; the name chant honors Queen Emma. But it was Enos' swirling, rollicking hula 'auana (modern) about a verdant Valley Isle community on the way to Hana that made audience members clap along.
"I felt like I was having a lot of fun," said Enos, who wore a full ti leaf skirt made of Huelo greenery, with a pink underskirt reflecting the lokelani (rose), the flower of Maui.
"I just pictured Huelo and the people that live there. The people that we met, Moke and Pua Kahiamoe, opened their hearts and they just showed us all their love when we went to visit. And that's all I needed, that's who I was dancing for."
Her kumu hula, Mapuana de Silva, said the halau visited Huelo and the Kahiamoe family during spring break.
Enos holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Hawaii-Manoa and is a 1991 graduate of the Kamehameha Schools. She is the first from her halau to win the Miss Aloha Hula title.
"What makes me happy is that not just the judges, but the audience enjoyed what we presented, and that's the winning trophy for us," de Silva said.
The Merrie Monarch Festival continues today with group competition in hula kahiko at 6 p.m., and winds up tomorrow with group competition in hula 'auana at 5:30 p.m. Both nights are sold out, but KITV-4 televises the contests live.