DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Friends and family of Na Lei O Kaholoku hugged Saturday when the announcement was made that halau had won the overall title in the wahine division of the Merrie Monarch Festival. Lorna Lim, left, Ka'ea Alapa A'i, Kahikilani Akana and Healani Kimitete-Ahmow shared the moment.

Hula lessons

Musings and observations from an elated first-time festival-goer: » With all due respect to the excellent job KITV does in telecasting the Merrie Monarch Festival each year -- and now simulcasting it to a worldwide audience on the Internet -- hula of this magnitude should be experienced at least once in person.

It might be a local cliché, but to see top-notch groups of women and men chant and move in perfect unison -- right in front of you on a large, bare-lit stage, with nothing to distract you -- is truly chicken skin. And what they express in dance is nothing less than the human condition steeped in the rich culture of our islands. While it helps to have a passing knowledge of the ways of hula, it's enough to glance at the synopses in the festival program to get a basic understanding of what's being conveyed. It's your choice afterward whether to dig deeper into hula's rich loam.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM The overall competition ended late Saturday night with the classy hula 'auana " 'O Ko'u Aloha Ia 'Oe," from Na Lei O Kaholoku (dancing in heels, no less). The performance, featuring the love songs of John Kameaaloha Almeida, placed the halau fourth in the division.

» As Keola Dalire of Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka told me, "Age is nothing but a number." Proof positive was seeing the growing maturity and confidence in 18-year-old Pohaikau'iulani Nu'uhiwa, who placed fourth in this year's Miss Aloha Hula contest. She's been dancing since 5, always with veteran Aloha Dalire's halau, and this was her sixth Merrie Monarch.

But there's another side to her that is equally important to her upbringing. Nu'uhiwa was the Punahou School setter who won the Star-Bulletin's 2004 State Girls' Volleyball Player of the Year accolade. And she'll continue her game (and step away from hula temporarily) while at the College of Southern Idaho starting in the fall on a full volleyball scholarship.

I know she was disappointed that, as Keola's "little sister," she didn't win the title as Dalire and her two sisters did in previous years, but hula as the art will always be part of her life. May her muse, the goddess Keaomelemele, continue to inspire and guide her.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Kumu Hula William "Sonny" Ching selected a medley of old-time favorite Waikiki songs for his kane of Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu. Their lively performance won them second place in the hula 'auana division.

» There were a couple of instances of unexpected drama on Friday and Saturday nights. On Friday, right after Halau Mohala 'Ilima's hula kahiko, a group of Maori men rose in one section of the bleachers to give a rousing war haka in appreciation of their sisters-in-spirit and festival hosts, halting their exit through the stadium.

The young women of Mapuana de Silva chanted, in return, their aloha and thanks to the Maori, then continued on their way out.

And late Saturday evening, one of those infamous Hilo rain squalls hit, accompanied by enough wind to send a fine mist swirling from the back of the auditorium to near the front row, "blessing" the audience on an already chill night.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Hula Halau O Kamuela captured the top spot in the wahine 'auana division with a precise and exquisite performance of "Ka Nohona Pili Kai," a sweet-natured remembrance of a particular seaside home in Paia, Maui. The kumu hula for the Waimanalo/Kalihi-based halau are Kau'i Kamana'o and Kunewa Mook.

» Man, I'm glad I packed an umbrella at the last moment.

» While group halau portraits in this year's program were fairly standard, the frat-boy pix of Halau I Ka Wekiu hinted at what kolohe things were going to occur during their performances. I will now always associate the smell of fresh-mown grass with their lascivious hula kahiko "Ko Ma'i Ho'eu'eu."

That smell, mixed with the testosterone emanating from their, um, loins, made you forget about any kind of kaona (deeper meaning) with this hula. It was an explicitly expressed mele ma'i -- originally created to help ensure the continued flourishing of the royal bloodlines through procreative activities -- that brought forth heated screams and knowing chuckles from the Friday night audience.

The next night, kumu hula Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang's hula 'auana was a playful and slightly goofy "Ipo Lei Momi," with their handsome kane playing up a swinging '60s playboy-Elvis image, done up local style, that wouldn't look out of place in a Waikiki hotel showroom revue.

DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Halau Hula Olana from Aiea, performed "Maika'i Lili Hemolele I Ka La Lena," winning third place in the wahine kahiko.

» While the best hula halau are saved for the second portion of each night's competition, some of the earlier groups might distinguish themselves enough one year to move to the latter portion of the evening.

These would include Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza's Na Hula 'O Kaohikukapulani from Hanapepe, Kauai; Keali'i Ceballos' Halau Keali'i O Nalani from Los Angeles; and Snowbird Bento's Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua from Honolulu.

Both Bento and up-and-comer Kaleo Trinidad share a common history as hula siblings in Holoua Stender's halau. Trinidad's kane made such an impressive debut last year that they were scheduled right after Cazimero's halau this year. (Cazimero's kane were given the showcase position at the top of the second half of the competition.)

Bento and her halau were always warmly received by the audience. If she can translate that warmth to her choreography, both she and Trinidad will represent the next generation of kumu hula masters.

Merrie Monarch results

Kumu hula in parentheses

Overall Winner
Ha lau Na Kamalei (Robert Cazimero)

Wahine Kahiko
1. Na Lei O Kaholoku (Nani Lim Yap and Leialoha Amina)
2. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu (William "Sonny" Kahakuleilehua Haunu'u Ching)
3. Halau Hula Olana (Howard and Olana Ai)
4. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La (Kaleo Trindad)
5. Halau o ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani (Manu Boyd)

Wahine 'Auana
1. Hula Halau O Kamuela (Kau'i Kamana'o and Kunewa Mook)
2. Halau Hula O Hokulani (Hokulani De Rego)
3. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu
4. Na Lei O Kaholoku
5. Halau o ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani

Wahine Overall
1. Na Lei O Kaholoku
2. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu
3. Halau Hula Olana

Kane Kahiko
1. Halau Na Kamalei
2. Halau I Ka Wekiu (Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang)
3. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La
4. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu

Kane 'Auana
1. Halau Na Kamalei
2. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu
3. Halau Ke Kia'i A'o Hula (Kapi'olani Ha'o)
4. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La

Kane Overall
1. Halau Na Kamalei
2. Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu
3. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La

Miss Aloha Hula
1. Maile Emily Kau'ilaniona'puaehi'ipoiokeanuenueokeola Francisco, Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu
2. Jeri-Lynn Kealolahilahi Koko, Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La
3. Kaiwipuikauikawekiu Punihei Anthony, Halau o ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani
4. Pohaikau'ilani Nu'uhiwa, Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka (Aloha Dalire)
5. Jasmine Orlando, Hula Halau O Kamuela