By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
The women of Ka Pa Hula 'O Kauanoe O Wa'ahila dance
during the kahiko competition at the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival.
This year's festival was dedicated to the halau's late kumu hula Mae
Ulalia Long Loebenstein. This performance earned the
halau third place in kahiko.

A Celebration of
Life and Dance
MERRIE MONARCH HULA FESTIVAL

Those who are best at hula don't practice it, they live it. Mae Loebenstein knew. Sonny Ching knows. Whether it's a dancer alone at Kilauea Crater or in the midst of music and lights during the heat of competition at Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium, the spirit is the same. The dance is life and life is the dance. That's why Mae Loebenstein lives on. That's why the old ways come to life each year in Hilo and why we look forward to next year's kahiko, auana, hula.

Complete Results and More Photos in Features

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
A dancer from Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka pays
her respects to Pele at crater's edge before the competition.