By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Miss Aloha Hula 1998, Lokalia Kahele, performs a sitting hula,
above, that honors Queen Ka'ahumanu and refers to places on Niihau
and Kauai. Below, she hears she has won and rushes to the stage
with her competition trainer, Tracie Farias,
Miss Aloha Hula 1994, left.

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin

Accountant wins
festival’s hula crown

Waianae's Lokalia Kahele
dances off with the coveted
Miss Aloha Hula title

By Kekoa Catherine Enomoto
Star-Bulletin

HILO -- A 25-year-old accountant named after the late hula master, Lokalia Montgomery, has won the coveted Miss Aloha Hula crown with a pair of dances performed in regal gold and red costumes.

Lokalia Rosalie Montgomery Kahele scored 1,038 points last night to capture the title at the 35th annual Merrie Monarch Festival. Kahele belongs to Na Wai 'Eha O Puna in Waianae, directed by na kumu hula O'Brian Eselu and Thaddius Wilson.

Kahele performed a hula noho, or sitting hula, that honored Queen Ka'ahumanu. She wore swaths of gold-colored pelon and gold-and-red feather lei. She performed a hula 'auana (modern) to the love song "Pua 'Ahihi," sung stirringly by Eselu, from his Na Hoku Hanohano-nominated CD. For the performance, she wore a gold eyelet holomu with bustle, plus lei of red akulikuli, deep-red lehua and 'ohai ali'i to simulate the ahihi blossom.

"I struggled with getting the spirituality of both dances," said Kahele, a graduate of Moanalua High School and Hawaii Pacific University in accounting.

"But when I came here Wednesday and stood on stage, I realized this is the time for me to perform."

Kahele said she was thinking of her grandmother -- Aunty Agnes Cope, executive director of the Waianae Culture and Arts Program -- and her competition trainer, 1994 Miss Aloha Hula Tracie Farias, for the performance. "If anything would happen -- emotionally, whatever -- those two people were there," she said.

A third party was involved, also.

"I think 'Grandma' Lokalia waved her hand," said the winner's mom, Georgeana Kanahele Kahele. "I am ecstatic."

By Ken Ige, Star-Bulletin
Lokalia Kahele performs a modern hula
to the love song "Pua 'Ahihi."

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How other dancers placed Here are the runners-up from last night's hula competition of the Merrie Monarch Festival held at Edith Kanaka'ole Tennis Stadium in Hilo: Kealohapau'ole Ho'omana: of Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka in Kaneohe, 1,036 points. Joselyn Leialoha Robins: former University of Hawaii volleyball standout, of Hula Halau O Kamuela in Kalihi and Waimanalo, 1,017 points. Kapi'olani Lanchenko: of Halau Hula Olana, 1,016 points. Alexandra Makaonaona Obra: of Halau Kealakapawa in Honolulu, 973 points. Language award: Ho'omana also captured the Hawaiian-language award sponsored by the state Office of Hawaiian Affairs.

By Dennis Oda, Star-Bulletin
Kahele celebrates her victory with
her grandmother, Agnes Cope.

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Merrie Monarch schedule of events