Maui Halau Earns Honors at Merrie Monarch

Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Maui’s lone hālau entry in the Merrie Monarch Festival over the weekend earned several awards at the 49^th annual event.

Hālau Kekuaokalā`au`ala`iliahi, of Wailuku, Maui, placed fourth in both the kane `auana (modern) and kane kahiko (ancient) divisions.

The Hālau’s solo performer, Tiana-Lynn Nālani Manuel, also earned a fifth place finish in the Miss Aloha Hula competition.

Hālau Kekuaokalā`au`ala`iliahi. Photo by Wendy Osher.

This was the first year that the group competed in the event.  They were led by Nā Kumu hula ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes.

We are extremely proud of all of our participants this year,” said Haunani Paredes.

“Our Miss Aloha Hula contestant–she just exuded what we wanted her to for that stage. She is a beautiful person inside and out, and that’s exactly what she portrayed on that stage,” said Paredes.

Our boys have accomplished so much,” said Paredes, who explained that they ranged in age from 13 to 17.  “Although young, they really carried themselves and brought our hula to that stage,” she said.

Fellow kumu, ‘Iliahi Paredes said, “The most important thing is we are so proud of our students and how they took on the challenge of our very first Merrie Monarch, and put their love for the hula on the stage.”

Their kahiko, or ancient hula performance, was to “Mele No Kalākaua,” a mele inoa that honors Kind David Kālakalu, also known as the Merrie Monarch, for whom the festival was named.

Their ʻauana, or modern hula performance, was to “E Ho`i Ke Aloha I Maunawili,” a song composed by their kumu, ʻIliahi, as a gift to his tūtū wahine. The event program states that the song reflects upon fond childhood memories that were shared about growing up in verdant Maunawili.

Final results from the 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival include the following.

Hālau Kekuaokalā`au`ala`iliahi. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Overall Winner: Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casumpang, Pauoa, O`ahu (1,147)

Overall Kane:

1. Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casumpang, Pauoa, O`ahu (1,147)
2. Kawaili`ulā, Kumu Chinky Māhoe, Kailua, O`ahu (1133)
3. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, Kumu Kaleo Trinidad, Honolulu, O`ahu (1117)

Overall Wahine: 

1. Hālau o ke A`ali`i Kū Makani, Kumu Manu`aikohana Boyd, Kānewai, O`ahu (1,139)
2. Hālau Mōhala `Ilima, Kumu Māpuana de Silva, Ka`ōhao, O`ahu (1136)
3. Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casumpang, Pauoa, O`ahu (1125)

Kane Kahiko

1. Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casumpang, Pauoa, O`ahu
2. Kawaili`ulā, Kumu Chinky Māhoe, Kailua, O`ahu
3. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, Kumu Kaleo Trinidad, Honolulu, O`ahu
4. Hālau Kekuaokalā`au`ala`iliahi, Nā Kumu hula `Iliahi and Haunani Paredes

Hālau Kekuaokalā`au`ala`iliahi. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Kane ‘Auana

1. Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casumpang, Pauoa, O`ahu
2. Kawaili`ulā, Kumu Chinky Māhoe, Kailua, O`ahu
3. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, Kumu Kaleo Trinidad, Honolulu, O`ahu
4. Hālau Kekuaokalā`au`ala`iliahi, Nā Kumu hula `Iliahi and Haunani Paredes

Wahine Kahiko

1. Hālau o ke A`ali`i Kū Makani, Kumu Manu‘aikohana Boyd, Kānewai, O`ahu
2. Hālau Mōhala `Ilima, Kumu Māpuana de Silva, Ka`ōhao, O`ahu
3. Hālau Hula Olana, Nā Kumu Olana & Howard Ai, Pu`uloa, O`ahu
4. Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea, Kumu Kapua Dalire-Moe, Kāne`ohe, O`ahu
5. Ka Lā `ōnohi Mai O Ha`eha`e, Nā Kumu Tracie & Keawe Lopes, Kahauiki, O`ahu

Wahine ‘Auana

1. Hālau Mōhala `Ilima, Kumu Māpuana de Silva, Ka`ōhao, O`ahu
2. Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casumpang, Pauoa, O`ahu
3. Ka Lā ‘ōnohi Mai O Ha`eha`e, Nā Kumu Tracie & Keawe Lopes, Kahauiki, O`ahu
4. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihanaa O Leinā‘ala, Kumu Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin, Kalāheo, Kaua`i
5. Hālau o ke A`ali`i Kū Makani, Kumu Manu`aikohana Boyd, Kānewai, O`ahu