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Merrie Monarch Festival

Coordinates: 19°43′08″N 155°04′05″W / 19.719°N 155.068°W / 19.719; -155.068
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19°43′08″N 155°04′05″W / 19.719°N 155.068°W / 19.719; -155.068

Merrie Monarch Festival
Dates
  • Festival: Easter Sunday through the following Saturday
  • Competition: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday following Easter Sunday
Location(s)Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium at Hoʻolulu Park, Hilo, Hawaii
Years active1964–present
FoundersHelen Hale, Gene Wilhelm, George Naʻope
Websitewww.merriemonarch.com
Dancer with ʻulīʻulī, in the men's hula kahiko competition at the 2003 Merrie Monarch Festival
Hula Hālau O Kamuela under the direction of kumu hula Kauʻi Kamanaʻo and Kunewa Mook, overall winners of the 2019 Merrie Monarch Festival

The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural festival that takes place annually in Hilo, Hawaii during the week after Easter. It honors King David Kalākaua, who was called the "Merrie Monarch" for his patronage of the arts and is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including hula.[1] Many hālau hula (schools), including some from the U.S. mainland[2] and some international performers,[3] attend the festival each year to participate in exhibitions and competitions. The festival has received worldwide attention and is considered the most prestigious of all hula contests.[4]

Merrie Monarch week begins Easter Sunday every year.[5] The competitive hula events end the week, and occur on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday;[5] They are televised and live-streamed for free online by Hawaii News Now (formerly KHII-TV, KFVE/K5).

The 2020 Merrie Monarch festival was cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic concerns. The 2021 competition was held June 24–26, without a live audience, and was broadcast July 1–3 on KFVE.[6]

The 2023 Merrie Monarch hula competition began on April 13, 2023 at 6:00pm HST,[7] and was livestreamed free all three nights on the website of Hawaii News Now.[8]

History

[edit]

The festival is dedicated to the memory of King David Kalākaua, the last king of the Kingdom of Hawaii, who reigned from 1874 until his death in 1891.[1] Kalākaua was “a patron of the arts, especially music and dance,” and is credited with reviving many endangered native Hawaiian traditions such as mythology, medicine, and chant.[1] He was also a strong supporter of the hula, a traditional form of dance. Many of these cultural practices "had been suppressed for many years under missionary teachings."[1] The festival is named after Kalākaua's nickname “Merrie Monarch” because he was known to always be happy, fun, and loving towards his people. The structure of the festival takes after Kalākaua's Silver Jubilee. This was a two-week celebration of Hawaiian culture on his 50th birthday (1886) at ʻIolani Palace on the island of Oʻahu.[9]

The Merrie Monarch Festival began in 1963 when Helene Hale, then Executive Officer of Hawaii County, decided to create an event to increase tourism to the Island of Hawaii.[10] The island had suffered from economic problems after the collapse of the sugar industry, and it was hoped that a festival would boost the depressed economy.[10] Along with George Naʻope and Gene Wilhelm, Hale organized the first Merrie Monarch Festival in 1964.[10] This festival “consisted of a King Kalākaua beard look–alike contest, a barbershop quartet contest, a relay race, a re–creation of King Kalākaua's coronation, and a Holoku Ball among other events.”[10]

Kumu hula Napua Greig (right, in red) and her hālau, Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, backstage at the 2015 Merrie Monarch competition

George Naʻope was a well known Kumu Hula (teacher of Hawaiian dance) throughout the whole world. He studied hula from his great grandmother since he was three years old and established his own hula school, the George Naʻope Hula School, shortly after graduating high school. He taught hula in Japan, Guam, Australia, Germany, England, and both North and South America. His purpose in life was to preserve the Hawaiian culture, and he thought the festival was a perfect way of allowing the culture live on.[11]

By 1968, the festival had waned in popularity.[10] Dottie Thompson took over the festival as executive director, and transformed it into a private community organization.[10] Thompson “wanted to move the festival more toward a Hawaiian theme,” a goal that was accomplished by centering the festival events around hula.[10] In 1971 Thompson and Na’ope introduced a hula competition.[10] Nine wahine (female) hālau entered the competition in its first year, and in 1976 the festival opened the competition to kāne (male) hālau.[10]

Today, the Merrie Monarch Festival is an annual week–long event culminating in three days of prestigious hula competition.[12] It is now a non–profit organization registered with the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.[4] Proceeds from the festival support educational scholarships, workshops, seminars, symposiums and the continuation of the event itself.[4]

Festival activities

[edit]

The Merrie Monarch Festival occurs annually in the spring. It runs from Easter Sunday morning to Saturday evening.[3]

The Royal Court

[edit]

For the festival, a Royal Court is created to represent King David Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani and their family. The Royal Court is coordinated by Uʻilani Peralto and Luana Kawelu, who each year search for a male and female to portray the king and queen. Peralto says, “the selection committee looks to find two individuals who exemplify maturity, humility, and pride in the Hawaiian culture.” The court consists of 22 members total, typically represented by the friends and family of the chosen king and queen. The rest of the royal court includes a counselor, kahu (caretaker), ladies-in-waiting, kahili bearers, chanters, and pu kane (conch shell blowers). Each person in the royal court is educated about their roles and Kalākaua's mission. These people who make up the Royal Court represent more than just Hawaiian history, but the Hawaiian spirit that continuously flows throughout the islands.[13] The procession of the Royal Court precedes and ends each night of the Merrie Monarch hula competition, and they sit in state during the performances.

Non-competition events

[edit]

The first four days of the festival consist of free, non–competition events. These include performances by local and international halau at many venues around Hilo, as well as an arts and crafts fair.[3] The Wednesday Ho'ike Night Free exhibition is very popular, and often features international hālau from other Pacific islands and Japan,[14] and native or indigenous dancers and dances from locations such as Alaska and New Zealand. A final non–competition event, the Merrie Monarch Parade, takes place on Saturday morning.[3]

Hula competition

[edit]
dancer in white dress
Competitor in the Miss Aloha Hula competition dancing her hula 'auana segment at the 2003 Merrie Monarch festival

The festivities culminate in the annual competitions held at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multipurpose Stadium in Hoʻolulu Park.[3] Dancers perform individually and in groups, with seven minutes allowed for each performance.[15]

Miss Aloha Hula

[edit]

Thursday night is the first competition event. Individual female dancers compete for the title of Miss Aloha Hula.[3] Dancers perform in both modern (hula ʻauana) and traditional (hula kahiko) forms of hula, as well as chant (oli).[3]

Miss Aloha Hula is hula's top solo wahine, or women's, honor.[16] Originally known as Miss Hula, the title was later changed to Miss Aloha Hula.[16] Aloha Dalire, a kumu hula and hula dancer, won the first Miss Aloha Hula under her maiden name, Aloha Wong, in 1971.[16][17]

The Miss Aloha Hula competition began in 1971. Each hālau may submit one contestant who is 18 to 25 years old and unmarried. Each contestant performs a hula kahiko and hula 'auana. For kahiko, they must perform an oli, ka'i, mele, and ho'i in the 7 minute time limit. No microphones are used for the oli and minimal makeup is applied. They are also judged on their costuming and leis.

Group hula kahiko

[edit]

There are two divisions of group competition, the male (kāne) division and the female (wahine) division.[18] Friday night features hālau performing ancient style hula.[3]

Group hula ʻauana

[edit]
Dancers in the men's hula 'auana competition at the 2003 Merrie Monarch Festival

Saturday night features hālau performing modern style hula. Awards are also announced on Saturday night.[3]

Judging criteria

[edit]
A solo dancer practices for the Miss Aloha Hula kahiko competition on the stage of the Edith Kanakaole Stadium (2019)

During their performances hālau and individuals are judged in a variety of categories. First, there is the entrance (kaʻi).[19] During their chant (oli) and dance (hula), judges look for interpretation of the song being performed, expression of the hula, chant, or song, posture, precision, hand gestures, feet and body movement, grooming, and authenticity of costume and adornments.[19] Finally there is the exit off stage (hoʻi).[19] Performers are scored on each aspect of the performance.

Cultural impact

[edit]

Many believe that the Merrie Monarch Festival “brought about a renaissance of Hawaiian culture.”[15] The festival identifies four goals related to Hawaiian culture: “1) Perpetuating the traditional culture of the Hawaiian people; 2) Developing and augmenting a living knowledge of Hawaiian arts and crafts through workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions and performances of the highest quality and authenticity; 3) Reaching those who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate; and, 4) Enriching the future lives of all of Hawaii's children,” and claims that through the festival “thousands of people in Hawaii and throughout the world are learning about the history and culture of Hawaii.” [4] The Merrie Monarch Festival “has received worldwide recognition for its historic and cultural significance.” [4]

Television coverage and web livestream

[edit]

The festival was first broadcast on local TV in 1981, when KITV brought the festival to homes across Hawaii. Coverage began as taped and edited highlight segments and eventually went live.[20] KITV broadcast the festival for 29 years; in 2009, Luana Kawelu, who had recently taken over the job of president of the Merrie Monarch Festival, signed a deal with competitor KFVE to broadcast the festival in 2010 and beyond.[21]

The hula competition is livestreamed for free all three nights on the website of Hawaii News Now, so that persons not living in Hawaii may enjoy it.[22]

Nā Hiwahiwa O Hawai'i festival, Japan

[edit]

For some hālau, the festival does not end after the competition is over. Those who place in the competition are then invited to attend the Nā Hiwahiwa Festival in Tokyo, Japan. This festival includes Merrie Monarch Festival winners and Nā Hōku Hanohano winners. This festival is a celebration of the Hawaiian dancers and singers who received award-winning recognition in these competitions. Japan is one of the biggest supporters in the world of hula and the Hawaiian culture. Japanese hula schools do not compete in the Merrie Monarch Festival, but most of the schools travel to Hilo every year to support the hula hālau and experience the festivities Merrie Monarch has to offer.[23]

Participants, winners, and judges

[edit]

Miss Aloha Hula

[edit]

Key:

  1st Place
  2nd Place
  3rd Place
  4th Place
  5th Place

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Hālau Kumu 2024 2023 2022 2021
Hālau Hi'iakaināmakalehua Robert Ke'ano Ka'upu IV & Lono Padilla Lilia Asayo Mccabe Takahashi — Marina La'akea Choi —
Hālau Hula 'O Nāpunaheleonāpua Rich Pedrina  — Kaleikaumaka Destiny Kaimanaimolii Bartolome Cruz
Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval Kayla Sachi Celades Tayla-Nohealeimamo Kamaehukauikapono Taʻuhere Vaughan-Darval —
Hālau I Ka Wēkiu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casupang Līhau ʻĪmaikalani Ichinose —
Hālau Ka Lehua Pua Kamaehu Kasie Puahala Kaleohano & Brandi Nohelani Barrett Chianti Kamailekaluhea Motta Tehani Kaleohoneonālani Barrett —
Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leināʻala Leināʻala Pavao Jardin Heleolanimaināmakaohāʻena Hailee Jo Yokotake Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao —
Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea Kapua Dalire-Moe — Jazmine Nohealani Adams-Clarke Manaia Kawaipua-makanakau'ikawēkiume-kanoeu'iokeolamaikalaniākea Dalire-Moe Ashley Kilioulaninuiamamao-hoopiiwahinekapualoke-okalaniakea Lai
Hālau Kala'akeakauikawēkiu Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor — Pōlaʻa Kalaniʻelima Yim Shyla Hehāli'aalohapūlamakeolalani Victor —
Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes Amedée Kauakohemālamalama Conley-Kapoi Karlee Pōhaikealoha Rita Chong Kee Kyleigh Hōkūao Manuel-Sagon —
Hālau Lilia Makanoe Shelsea Lilia Ai Ke‘ala Kaleinaniho‘opulakaumakamauloa Cabison-Kaho‘onei — Renee Maile Eveliga Kaikaina Tataipu —
Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka Nāpua Greig Silva Shayla Angeline Kamalei Ballesteros Pōhaikealoha Olikolani Artates —
Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu Sonny Ching/Lōpaka Igarta-DeVera Caly Ann Kamō‘īwahineokaimana Ragonton Domingo Meleana Kamalani Mirafuentes* —
Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua Carlson Kamaka Kukona III — Jill-Lyan Makanaokalani Mae-Ling Mamizuka Riann Nālani Michiko Fujihara Cierra Mei-Ling Hau'olimaikalani Pagaduan Chow
Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o Nāhaku‘elua ‘Āpuakēhau Kekauoha Je’ani-Jade Kalamaolaikapohakea Pavao Auli'ionāpualokekūonaona Jon-Marie Hisayo Faurot —
Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha'eha'e Tracie & Keawe Lopes Ka‘ōnohikaumakaakeawe Kananiokeakua Holokai Lopes* Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwai-kapolionāmakua Thronas Brown Pi'ikea Kekīhenelehuawewehiikekau'ōnohi Lopes* Rosemary Ka'imilei Keamoai-Strickland
Kawai‘ulaokalā Keli'iho'omalu Puchalski  — Hi‘ilei Lanikauakapukapuokeānuenue Puchalski Crishelle Kaleiohōkū Young
Kawaili‘ulā Chinky Māhoe — Moanike'ala Fiafia Irene Silva Moanike'ala Fiafia Irene Silva
Ke Kai O Kahiki La‘akea Perry — Maka'ala Kahikinaokalālani Victoria Perry*
Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka Keola Dalire — Eva Rose Keaoʻōpuaikalaʻi Espinoza —
Nā Pualei O Likolehua Niuli‘i Heine Kapālama Kamalupawehi Abad —
Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima Vicky Holt Takamine & Jeff Takamine Nicole Mei Lan Kaleihiwaokeali‘iokaloa Takamine —

Notes:

  • * denotes Winner of the Hawaiian Language Award
  • ** denotes winner that was later disqualified because she was too young

[24]

Hālau

[edit]

Hālau may participate in the Wahine or Kāne divisions, or both. For each division, they must perform a group kahiko and 'auana.

Color key
  Competed in Wahine & Miss Aloha Hula
  Competed in Kāne & Miss Aloha Hula
  Competed in Wahine & Kāne & Miss Aloha Hula
  Competed in Wahine
  Competed in Kāne
  Competed in Wahine & Kāne
  Competed in Miss Aloha Hula

# = Nth Place Wahine # = Nth Place Kāne O = Overall K = Kahiko A = 'Auana M = Miss Aloha Hula

Hālau Kumu Location 2024 2023 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Academy of Hawaiian Arts Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu Oakland, CA — —
Beamer-Solomon Hālau O Po'ohala Hulali Solomon-Covington Kohala, Hawai'i — — — —
Hālau 'O Lilinoe Sissy Kaio & Lilinoe Kaio Carson, California — —
Hālau Hi'iakaināmakalehua Robert Ke'ano Ka'upu IV & Lono Padilla Kalihi Kai, O'ahu 1O 1K 2A 1A 1A 5K 4A 2O 2K 3A 3M 1K 3O 2K 3A 1M 1K 3M 1O 1K 1M 3K 1M 2M —
Hālau Hula 'O Hōkūlani Hōkūlani & Larry De Rego — — —
Hālau Hula 'O Kahikilaulani Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang Hilo, Hawai'i — — 1A — 2K 1K 2A 3K** 2A 2A 4A 3O 4K 3A — —
Hālau Hula 'O Nāpunaheleonāpua Rich Pedrina Kāne'ohe, O'ahu & Hilo, Hawai'i — — —
Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine Ka'ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval* Mānoa, O'ahu 4K 5A 3K 5A 5A — 1A —
Hālau Hula Kauluokalā Uluwehi Guerrero —
Hālau Hula Ke 'Olu Makani O Mauna Loa Meleana Manuel Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai'i — —
Hālau Hula Lani Ola Puanani Jung Laguna Hills, CA — — —
Hālau Hula Nā Pua U'i O Hawai'i Etua Lopes — —
Hālau Hula O Kaleimomi Sheldeen Kaleimomi Haleamau* — — —
Hālau Hula O Kauhionāmauna Theresa Kauhionāmauna Ramento Tehiva Waipahu, O'ahu — — —
Hālau Hula O Keola-Ali'iokekai Iola Balubar —
Hālau Hula O Pukaikapuaokalani Ellen Castillo —
Hālau Hula Olana Howard & Olana Ai, and Shelsea Ai Apana Pu'uloa, O'ahu — 5A 5K
Hālau I Ka Wēkiu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casupang Pauoa, O'ahu — 5A 4O 3K 3A 4A 5A 4K 4A 1A — 5K 4K 2A 5M 1O 1K 1A —
Hālau Ka Lehua Pua Kamaehu Kasie Puahala Kaleohano & Brandi Nohelani Barrett Hilo, Hawai'i —
Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinā'ala Leinā'ala Pavao Jardin Kalāheo, Kaua'i 2O 2O 2K 2A 4M 3O 3O 5K 2A 2M 1O 1O 1K 1A 4O 5K 3A 5A 3K 2A 3K 4M 2M 4M 4A 5M 3K —
Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea Kapua Dalire-Moe* Kāne'ohe, O'ahu 3O 2O 2K 2A 2M 5K —
Hālau Kala'akeakauikawēkiu Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor Kona, Hawai'i — —
Hālau Kawaihoa Greg Lontayao —
Hālau Ke Kia'i A 'O Hula Kapi'olani Ha'o — —
Hālau Keali'i O Nālani Keali'i Ceballos Los Angeles, CA — — —
Hālau Ke'alaokamaile Keali'i Reichel — 1O 1K 1M 1O 1K 1A 1M — ku
Hālau Kekuaokalā'au'ala'iliahi Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes Wailuku, Maui 3O 3K 3A 2M 1O 1K 4A 2K 1O 1K 1A 2O 1O 3K 1A 2O 2A 3O 3O 4K 1A 3M 2K 2A 4A 2K 4A 2M —
Hālau Keolakapuokalani Drake Keolakapu Dudoit Delaforcé Āliamanu & Nānākuli, O'ahu —
Hālau Kiawekūpono O Ka Ua Ulukoa Duhaylonsod Honokai Hale, Pukaua, Honouliuli, O'ahu — —
Hālau Lilia Makanoe Shelsea Lilia Ai 'Aiea, O'ahu —
Hālau Manaola Nani Lim Yap Kohala, Hawai'i — 4M 2K —
Hālau Mōhala 'Ilima Māpuana de Silva Ka'ohao, O'ahu 5K** 3A — 3K 4K 4K 2A 4K 3M 1O 1K 3A 1A 1M
Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero Honolulu, O'ahu — 1O 2K 1A —
Hālau Nā Lei Hiwahiwa 'O Ku'ualoha Sammye Ku'ualoha Young — —
Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka Nāpua Greig Waiohuli, Maui 5K** — 1O 1O 2K 1A 1M 5K 5M 2K 2A 5M 2O 2K 3A 1M —
Hālau Nā Mamo O Ka'ala Tiare Noelani Chang — —
Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu'uanahulu William Kahakuleilehua Haunu'u Sonny Ching/Lōpaka Igarta-DeVera Kapahulu, O'ahu 2O 2K 1A 5M 2O 2O 2K 3A 2O 2K 3A 3M 3K 4A — 2K 3K 2A 4M 3K 3A — 1O 4K 5A 1O 3K 1A 4K 3A 5K 4A 3O 3K 3A 4M — 1O 1K 1A 1K 1A
Hālau Nā Pua 'O Waiolama Emery Li'ili'iokalani Aceret Hilo, Hawai'i — — —
Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua Carlson Kamaka Kukona III Waikapū, Maui 4A —
Hālau O Ka Ua Kanilehua Johnny Lum Ho Hilo, Hawai'i — — 1O 1K 1A 5M — — —
Hālau O Ke Ānuenue Glenn Kelena Vasconcellos Hilo, Hawai'i — — — —
Hālau o ke 'A'ali'i Kū Makani Manu'aikohana Boyd — 1O 1K —
Hālau O Nā Pua Kukui Ed Collier — —
Healani's Hula Hālau & Music Academy Beverly Healani Sun Lan Apana Muraoka — —
Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela Kunewa Mook & Kau'ionālani Kamana'o Kalihi & Waimānalo, O'ahu 3O 3O 1K 4A 3M 4K 3O 3K 3A 2M — 1O 1K 2A 5M 5K 3A 2M 4A 4M 1O 1K 4A 1M 3O 3K 1A 2O 2K 2A 3M 1A 1M 1A 1K 1A
Hula Hālau O Kou Lima Nani Iwalani Kalima Keaukaha, Hawai'i — —
'Ilima Hula Studio Lani-Girl Kaleiki-Ahlo — —
Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha'eha'e Tracie* & Keawe Lopes Pu'ahu'ula, Ko'olaupoko, O'ahu 1O 1O 3K 1A 4K 4A 1M 1O 1O 1K 4A 3K 1M 2O 4K 2A 1M 4O 3O 4K 4A 1M 5K 2M 2M 1O 1O 2K 1A 5K 3A 3M 3K 5A 3M 1O 1K 1A 1M 4K 4A 4M —
Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā Kaleo Trinidad Honolulu, O'ahu — 3O 4K 2A — 1O 1K 1O 1K 1A — 1K 3A 1O 2K 1A 1A —
Ka Pā Hula O Ka Lei Lehua Snowbird Puananiopaoakalani Bento — — —
Ka Pā Hula O Kauanoe O Wa'ahila Maelia Loebenstein Carter* — — —
Ka Pā Nani 'O Lilinoe Lilinoe Lindsey — —
Kawai'ulaokalā Keli'iho'omalu Puchalski Kalaepōhaku, O'ahu 4K 4K 4K 3A 4K —
Kawaili'ulā Chinky Māhoe Kailua & Mānoa, O'ahu — 3O 2A 1O 1O 1K 1A 2O 2K 4A 5M 1O 1K 3M 4K 4A 3K** 1K 1O 1K 1A
Ke Kai O Kahiki La'akea Perry Wai'anae, O'ahu — 4A 3M 3K 2K 3A 3K — 1O 1K 1O 1K 1A 1O 1K
Ke'ena A'o Hula Leimomi Ho Pālolo, O'ahu — — — —
Ke'ala 'O Kamailelauli'ili'i H. Kamaile Hamada Federal Way, WA — — —
Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka Aloha Dalire* & Keola Dalire* He'eia, Kāne'ohe, O'ahu — — — 2M 1A 1M
Moana's Hula Hālau Raquel Dudoit & Valerie Dudoit-Teaga Kaunakakai, Moloka'i — —
Nā Hula O Kaohikukapulani Kapu Kinimaka Alquiza — — —
Nā Lei O Kaholokū Leialoha Lim Amina & Nani Lim Yap — —
Nā Mea Hula O Kahikinaokalālani Karla Keali'iho'omalu-Akiona —
Nā Pua Me Kealoha Sissy Kaio & Lilinoe McCormack Carson, California — — — —
Nā Pualei O Likolehua Niuli'i Heine Kalihi, O'ahu — — —
Nani Ola Hawaiian Dance Company Kanani Pharr-Cadaoas —
Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima Vicky Hanakaʻulaniokamāmalu Holt Takamine & Jeff Kānekaiwilani Takamine Honolulu, Oʻahu —
Pukalani Hula Hale Hi'ilei Maxwell-Juan Pukalani & Kahului, Maui — —

Notes:

  • * denotes Former Miss Aloha Hula Winner
  • ** denotes a tie

Judges

[edit]
Judge Years 2024 2023 2022 2021 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008
Ainsley Halemanu 5
Alicia Keawekane Smith 4
Cy Bridges 7
Ed Collier 3
Etua Lopes 4
Hōkūlani Holt Padilla 2
Holoua Stender 1
Joan S. Lindsey 5
Kalena Silva 8
Karl Veto Baker 1
Kawaikapuokalani Hewett 3
Kealiʻi Reichel 6
Kehaulani Kekua 1
Keith Awai 1
Kimo Alama Keaulana 1
Leiana Woodside 1
Leimomi Ho 1
Mae Kamāmalu Klein 6
Maelia Loebenstein Carter 4
Nālani Kanaka‘ole Zane 13
Nani Lim Yap 4
Nathan Napoka 3
Noenoelani Zuttermeister Lewis 10
Pat Namaka Bacon 2
Piʻilani Lua 5
Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele 1
Rachel Lahela Kaʻaihue 3
Vicky Holt Takamine 5
Wayne Chang 2
William Kahakuleilehua Haunu'u "Sonny" Ching 2
[edit]

Jasmin Iolani Hakes' 2023 book Hula: A Novel, which won Honolulu magazine's award for Book of the Year About Hawaii, revolves around the Merrie Monarch competition.[25][26]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "King David Kalākaua". Merrie Monarch Festival official site. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  2. ^ "Hālau and Kumu Hula - 2012". Merrie Monarch Festival official site. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "2012 Festival Events". Merrie Monarch Festival official site. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e "The Merrie Monarch Festival". Merrie Monarch Festival official site. Archived from the original on March 15, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Merrie Monarch Festival | Kalena.com". www.kalena.com. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
  6. ^ Fujimori, Leila. "Merrie Monarch Festival will be held in June with strict safety measures". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. March 26, 2021.
  7. ^ "StackPath".
  8. ^ "Merrie Monarch Festival".
  9. ^ "History of the Merrie Monarch Festival | Merrie Monarch". www.merriemonarch.com. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i "History of the Merrie Monarch Festival". Merrie Monarch Festival official site. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  11. ^ "George Na'ope – Masters of Traditional Arts". www.mastersoftraditionalarts.org. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  12. ^ "Merrie Monarch Festival". Hawaii Tribune Herald. August 29, 2012. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  13. ^ "Royal Court will make appearances throughout Merrie Monarch Festival". West Hawaii Today. March 29, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  14. ^ Sur, Peter. "Ho'ike dazzles crowd and wows". Hawaii Tribune Herald. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2012.
  15. ^ a b Dudley, Malika. "History of the Merrie Monarch". KFVE: The Home Team. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  16. ^ a b c Burnett, John (August 7, 2014). "Kumu hula Aloha Dalire, first Miss Hula, dies at 64". West Hawaii Today. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  17. ^ Wu, Nina (August 6, 2014). "Aloha Dalire, first Miss Aloha Hula, dies at age 64". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  18. ^ "Merrie Monarch Festival 2013 Schedule of Events". KFVE: The Home Team. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  19. ^ a b c Collier, Ed. "Merrie Monarch: Judging Criteria". KFVE: The Home Team. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  20. ^ Andrew Gomes (May 3, 1998). "Merrie Monarch Festival shuns a bigger budget". Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  21. ^ "Merrie Monarch telecast moves to KFVE in 2010". Honolulu Advertiser. October 1, 2009. Retrieved September 28, 2015.
  22. ^ "Merrie Monarch Festival".
  23. ^ "イベント概要 | Nahiwa2016". Nahiwa2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  24. ^ "Merrie Monarch Festival Hula Competition". Kalena.com.
  25. ^ Wallace, Don (2024). "Honolulu Book Awards". Honolulu magazine. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
  26. ^ Cruz, Catherine (June 4, 2024). "Honolulu Magazine celebrates Hawaiʻi authors rising on national stage". Hawaii Public Radio. Retrieved August 13, 2024.
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