Two Maui Contestants Compete in Miss Aloha Hula Competition

The Merrie Monarch Festival is held each year to honor the legacy of King David Kalākaua, who inspired the perpetuation of Native Hawaiian traditions, language and the arts. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Two Maui contestants will compete in tonight’s Miss Aloha Hula Competition as part of the festivities associated with the week-long 51st Annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island.

A total of 13 women are competing as soloists this year.

The two Maui contenders include: Hulali Kaʻimiʻāina Ciera De Lima of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of kumu hula Nāpua Greig; and Kamalani Kaleimomi Ka-hale-poli Kawaʻa of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, under the direction of nā kumu hula ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes.

Last year, Maui’s Manalani Mili Hokoana English of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka won the coveted title of Miss Aloha Hula 2013 during the 50th anniversary year of the festival.  

Fellow Mauian, Sloane Makana West of Hālau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi, took the title of first runner-up last year.

The two Maui soloists this year will be performing toward the end of tonight’s program, with Kawaʻa listed 12th in the lineup, and De Lima scheduled 13th, or last.

Sloane Makana West of Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi earned first runner up honors in the 50th Merrie Monarch hula festival. 2013 file photo by Wendy Osher.

Earning the coveted title of Miss Aloha Hula 2013 was Manalani Mili Hokoana English of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka. File photo by Wendy Osher.

The competition begins at 5:45 tonight at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium, and will be broadcast live at 6 p.m. on KFVE, with live streaming at the KFVE website.

Tonight’s performances come ahead of the group kahiko (ancient style) competition on Friday, April 25, and the group ʻauana (modern style) competition on Saturday, April 26, 2014.

The rest of the lineup includes the following entries and the order they are scheduled to perform: (1) Kilioulaninuiamamaohoʻopiʻiwahinekapualokeokalaniakea Lai of Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka, under the direction of kumu hula Aloha Dalire; (2) Melia Kauʻikeonalani Carmen Taganas of Hālau Nā Lei Hiwahiwa ʻO Kuʻualoha, under the direction of kumu hula Sammye Ann Kuʻualoha Young; (3) Nicole Nalani Ishibashi of Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leināʻala, under the direction of kumu hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin; (4) Sarah Kapuahelani Sterling of Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima, under the direction of kumu hula Māpuana de Silva; (5) Leiomālama Tamasese Solomon of the Beamer-Solomon Hālau O Poʻohala, under the direction of kumu hula Hulali Solomon Covington; (6) Keʻalohilani Tara Eliga Serrao of Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, under the direciton of nā kumu hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes; (7) Tiana Makanaokealiʻimakamae Kuni of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, under the direction of nā kumu hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu and Lono Padilla; (8) Amber Kanoelani Rosenberg of Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, under the directin of nā kumu hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu “Sonny” Ching and Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera; (9) Jessica Hiʻiakaikalikoʻokeʻaʻaliʻi Osorio of Hālau O Lilinoe, under the direction of nā kumu hula Sissy Kaio and Lilinoe McCormack; (10) Alyssa Marie Kuʻulaniʻopuʻu Mitsuko Akiyama of Hālau Hula Olana, under the direction of nā kumu hula Olana and Howard Ai; and (11) Asia Leolani Haʻaheoʻoluaipo Makaʻawaʻawa of Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, under the direction of nā kumu hula Kauʻionalani Kamanaʻo and Kunewa Mook.