HILO — The 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s group hula kahiko (ancient hula) competition featured 29 performances — 19 wahine and 10 kane — Friday night at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.
The evening of hula continued beyond press time for today’s edition.
In tonight’s final evening of competition, all competing halau will perform hula ‘auana (modern hula), starting at 6 p.m. with the entrance of the Merrie Monarch Royal Court.
Kahiko, ‘auana and overall (combined) scores will be tabulated, and winners will be announced following tonight’s performances. Visit www.hawaiitribune-herald.com after tonight’s competition for a list of winners and see Monday’s print edition for a recap of which halau took home the top prizes.
Three Big Island halau are among the competitors. They are: Halau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani, kumu hula Nahokuokalani Gaspang, of Hilo; Beamer-Solomon Halau O Po‘ohala, kumu hula Hulali Solomon Covington, of Waimea; and Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu, kumu hula Kenneth Dean Alohampumehanaokala Victor, of Kailua-Kona.
On Thursday evening, Taizha Keakealani Hughes-Kaluhiokalani from Hi‘iakainamakalehua, a halau in the Kalihi Kai neighborhood of Honolulu, took home the prestigious title of Miss Aloha Hula, besting 12 other solo competitors, including two from the Big Island.
Her 1,130 points after dancing hula kahiko and hula ‘auana was good for an 11-point win over first runner-up, Lindsey Kahiehielauna‘ole Miwa Ching of Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e, who scored 1,119 points.