Hula’s grandest event
takes center stage
The 42nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival arrives early this year, traditionally following the week after Easter.
Every year, a crowd of 5,000 converges inside the Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium in Hilo, for what might be considered the Olympics of hula. The event attracts halau from Hawaii, the mainland and Japan, who come to win or at least be seen by a television and Internet audience that no one could have imagined when the fest started as a small community festival. Watch the competition from 6 p.m. tonight, tomorrow and Saturday on KITV/ABC.
In addition to the highlighted competitions, tourists and kamaaina are bombarded with things to do and see, including fairs, crafts, quilt exhibitions, concerts and a parade through downtown Hilo beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Several things to look out for this year:
» Will another wahine from Sonny Ching's Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu take home the Miss Aloha Hula title? Maile Emily Kau'ilaniona'opuaehi 'poiokeanuenueokeola Francisco will try to make it three years in a row for Ching's hula halau, following the triumphs of Miss Aloha Hula 2003 Jennifer Keahulani Oyama and 2004's Natasha Mahealani Akau.
» How will Robert Cazimero's Halau Na Kamalei fare after many years away from the competition?
» Can the wahine of the Big Island's Halau Na Lei O Kaholoku keep the strong Hula Halau O Kamuela of Oahu at bay for a second consecutive year for the overall title?
Below is the competition schedule.
Miss Aloha Hula
Today, from 6:30 p.m.
| Participant | Halau | Hometown | Kahiko | 'Auana |
| Lara Ke'alaonaona Imai | Halau Hula 'O Napunaheleonapua | Kaneohe | "Eia Mai Ka Makani" | "Ka Pua O Ku'u 'I'ini" |
| Maya Kawailanaokeawaiki Saffrey | Halau Mohala 'Ilima | Ka'ohao, O'ahu | "He Inoa no Ka'iulani" | "Ka U'i o Maunawili" |
| Rashanti Kiana 'A'ali'i Ka'awaloa | Halau O Ke 'Anuenue | Hilo | "He 'Olelo Ho'oiki Aloha Na Pele" | "Mahai'ula" |
| Shanena Ku'uipookalani Lino | Halau Ke Kia 'i A'o Hula | Honolulu | "A Ka Luna O Kilauea" | "Kaulana 'O Hilo Hanakahi" |
| Jona Makaonaona Scott | Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani | Hanapepe, Kauai | " 'O Ka Wai Halau I Wailua La" | " 'Anini I ka Malie" |
| Kaiwipuikauikawekiu Punihei Anthony | Halau o ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani | Kaneohe | "Aloha Wale 'Oe E Nanahuki E" | "Aloha 'Oe" |
| Jasmine Orlando | Hula Halau 'O Kamuela | Waimanalo / Kalihi | "He Inoa Nou I Ka Lani Hanohano" | "Na Hala O Naue" |
| Jeri-Lynn Kealolahilahi Koko | Ka Leo o Laka i Ka Hikina o Ka La | Honolulu | "Hanau 'o Keopuolani" | "Ke Aloha" |
| Pohaikau'ilani Nu'uhiwa | Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka | He'eia, Kaneohe | "Keaomelemele" | "Laua'e o Nu'uanu" |
| Oramanuitaumaitera'i Brault | Halau Na Lei Kaumaka o Uka | Kula, Maui | "Aia I Lihau Ko Lei Nani" | "Waika" |
| Cherish Kahiwiokalani Kama | Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua | Honolulu | "He mele no Kukaniloko" | "Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani" |
| Maile Emily Kau'ilanionapuaehi'i- poiokeanuenueokeola Francisco |
Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu | Honolulu | "Aia I Kohala Ka'u Aloha" | '"Medley of Kohala Songs" |
Hula Kahiko and 'Auana
Kane and wahine competition -- an asterick * denotes kane only -- from 6:30 p.m., with kahiko competition tomorrow and 'auana competition Saturday:
| Halau | Kumu Hula | Hometown | Kahiko | 'Auana |
| Ka Pa Nani 'O Lilinoe | Lilinoe Lindsey | 'Aiea | "Hoe Puna" | "Moanike'alaona- puamakahikina" |
| Halau O Lilinoe | Sissy Ka'io | Carson, Calif. | "Hulihia ke au Pe'e i Lalo" | "Mai Italia Kou Lei Nani" |
| Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka | Aloha Dalire | He'eia, Kaneohe | "Maika'i Kaua'i" * | "Hanohano Kalihi" * |
| Beamer-Solomon Halau O Po'ohala | Huiali Solomon Covington | Kamuela, Hawaii | "Hole Waimea" | "Aia La 'O Pele" |
| Halau Ke Kia'i A'o Hula | Kapi'olani Ha'o | Kapalama, Oahu | "Ka Pali 'O Ha'i" * | "Waiomina" |
| Na Hula 'O Kaohikukapulani | Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza | Hanapepe, Kauai | "Nani Wale no 'O Pele I ka Lua" | "Ha'aheo 'O Makana I ke alaula" |
| Halau Keali'i O Nalani | Keali'i Ceballos | Los Angeles, Calif. | "Makani o Kona" | "Kane'ohe" |
| Ka Pa Hula O ka Lei Lehua | Snowbird Bento | Honolulu | "Na Ali'i o 'Ewa" * | "Kaua I Ka Huahua'i" |
| Halau Hula O Hokulani | Hokulani De Rego | Waipahu | "He Lei no Lunalilo I Ho'oili 'ia no Kalakaua" | "Ku'uipo I Ka He'e Pu'e One" |
| Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka | Napua Greig and Kahulu Maluo-Huber | Kula, Maui | "Kahiko Ka Nani i Lihau" | "Ku'u Ipo Pua Rose" |
| Na Pua Me Kealoha | Sissy Ka'io | Carson, Calif. | "He Mele no Kua" * | "Ko Ma'i Ho'eu'eu" * |
| Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua | Snowbird Bento | Honolulu | " 'O Ka'ala Kuahiwi Mauna Kehau" | "Ku'uipo Onaona" |
| Halau I Ka Wekiu | Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang | Honolulu | "Ku'u Wahine o Na Lehua" | "Popohe ka pua" |
| Halau Hula 'O Napunaheleonapua | Rich Pedrina | Kalihi/Kaneohe | "He Mele No Wilikoki" * | "Aerobacise Hula" * |
| Intermission | ||||
| Halau Na Kamalei | Robert Cazimero | Honolulu | "Kahikilani" * | "Kona Kai 'Opua" * |
| Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La | Kaleo Trinidad | Honolulu | " 'Ike I Ke One Kani A'o Nohili" | "Ka 'Ano'i" |
| Halau O Ke Anuenue | Glenn Vasconcellos | Hilo | "Pau Puna" | "Ke 'Ala Beauty" |
| Halau Keali'i O Nalani | Keali'i Ceballos | Los Angeles, Calif. | "Mai Italia Ko Lei Nani" * | "Na 'Ono o Ka 'Aina" * |
| Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu | William Sonny Ching | Honolulu | "He Mele Inoa No Ahu'enaikama- kahonu Taylor" |
"Songs of Bill Ali'iloa Lincoln" |
| Halau Mohala 'Ilima | Mapuana de Silva | Ka'ohao | "Alekoki" | "Alekoki" (same song) |
| Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La | Kaleo Trinidad | Honolulu | " 'O 'oe Ia e Kekuhaupi'o" * | "Nakulukulu Ka Nalu" * |
| Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka | Aloha Dalire | He'eia, Kaneohe | "Poli'ahu" | "Poli'ahu" (different song) |
| Halau o ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani | Manu Boyd | Kaneohe | " 'Ula Noweo Ka La I Ka Pua 'Ilima" | "Moanalua" |
| Halau I Ka Wekiu | Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang | Honolulu | "Ko Ma'i Ho'eu'eu" * | 'Auana: "Ipo Lei Momi" * |
| Halau Hula Olana | Howard and Olana Ai | Pu'uloa | "Maika'i Lili Hemolele I Ka La Lena" | "Ka Ipo Lei Manu" |
| Hula Halau O Kamuela | Kau'i Kamana'o and Kunewa Mook | Waimanalo/Kalihi | "He Oho No Kapi'olani" | "Ka Nohona Pili Kai" |
| Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu | William Sonny Ching | Honolulu | "Lele Poahi Puna" * | "Medley of Waikiki Songs" * |
| Na Lei O Kaholoku | Nani Lim Yap and Leialoha Amina | Kohala, Hawaii | "He mele No Lauka'ie'ie" | 'O Ko'u Aloha Ia 'Oe" |
Around Hilo
Tomorrow» 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Hawaiian arts and crafts show at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, and beginning at 9 a.m. at Hawaii Naniloa Hotel, Prince Kuhio Plaza, Wal-Mart, Hilo Shopping Center and Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.
» 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Hawaiian Quilt Show at Wailoa Visitor Center
» 11 a.m.: Navy Ship greeting at Hilo Harbor, Pier 1
» 6 p.m.: Merrie Monarch festival hula kahiko competition begins at the Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium with entrance of the Royal Court.
Saturday
» 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Moku O Keawe Culture Fair at Mo'oheau Park Center
» 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.: Hawaiian arts and crafts show at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, and beginning at 9 a.m. at Hawaii Naniloa Hotel, Prince Kuhio Plaza, Wal-Mart, Hilo Shopping Center and Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.
» 10:30 a.m.: Royal Parade through downtown Hilo
» 6 p.m.: Merrie Monarch festival hula 'auana competition begins at the Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium with entrance of the Royal Court.
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