Hālau From Maui Win Big at 2018 Queen Lili‘uokalani Keiki Hula Competition
The 43rd Annual Queen Lili’uokalani Keiki Hula competition concluded Saturday after three nights of Hula. Maui’s Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi walked off with 1st place finishes for their Kaikamahine ‘Auana and Keiki Kāne Kahiko performances, as well as taking the Wendell Kalanikapuaenui Silva Overall Perpetual Trophy for their Keiki Kane.
On Thursday night, the 2018 Miss & Master Keiki Hula were crowned after an evening that featured 24 soloists. Rachel Kimura from Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela became the 2018 Miss Keiki Hula with her performance of Lei Nani Kalaunu. T
he title of Master Keiki Hula went to 7-year old Justin Paredes of Maui’s Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi. Paredes’ performance of Henehene Kou ‘Aka adds the third Keiki Hula trophy to their family’s collection. Justin’s sister Faith Paredes won the title of Miss Keiki Hula 2015 and his father Brandon Paredes was Master Keiki Hula in 1987. “It felt like I was doing my best and showing the judges that I am master Keiki Hula,” said Justin Paredes.
The Keiki Kane of Maui’s Hālau Hula ‘O Hōkūlani scored 2nd place finishes for both their Kahiko and ‘Auana performances.
One of the highlights of the weekend was the inaugural presentation of the Miriam Likelike Kekauluohi Achievement Award to Kumu Hula Olana Ai, the founder of Hālau Hula Olana. Ai was joined on stage and in the audience by dozen’s of her former students in a remarkable display of her hula legacy. “She is so wonderful and to have my name associated with her is another thing that I didn’t do for Keiki Hula, Keiki Hula did for me,” said Ai. “My life is so blessed, I have a special life and you saw all the children who grew up and dancing and I remembered every one when I looked right into their faces.”
The 43rd Annual Queen Lili’uokalani Keiki Hula competition will be rebroadcast on KFVE Television on July 28th. The annual competition is supported by the Hawai’i Tourism Authority, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the State Foundation on Culture & the Arts and the City & County of Honolulu.
43RD ANNUAL QUEEN LILI’UOKALANI KEIKI HULA COMPETITION RESULTS:
MISS KEIKI HULA:
4th Runner Up – Hailey Symonds – Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi (Maui)
3rd Runner Up – Meiya-Lynn Ramos – Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala (Kaua‘i)
2nd Runner Up – Taejah Telles-Kuwahara – Hālau Hi‘iakainamakalehua
1st Runner Up – Malie Moe – Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea
Miss Keiki Hula – Rachel Kimura – Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela
HULA KAHIKO – KAIKAMAHINE DIVISION
5th Place – Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea
4th Place – Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi (Maui)
3rd Place – Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela
2nd Place – Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina’ala (Kaua‘i)
1st place – Hālau Hi’iakainamakelehua
Hoakalei Kamau‘u Hula Kahiko Trophy
HULA ‘AUANA – KAIKAMAHINE DIVISION:
5th Place – Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela
4th Place – Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala (Kaua‘i)
3rd Place – Hālau Hi‘iakainamakalehua
2nd Place – Hālau O Na Pua ‘Ala Onaona
1st place – Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi (Maui)
Rose Kapulani Joshua Family Hula ‘Auana Perpetual Trophy
KAIKAMAHINE OVERALL WINNER:
Pat Namaka Bacon Overall Perpetual Trophy
Hālau Hi’iakainamakelehua
MASTER KEIKI HULA:
4th Runner Up – Enaahi Dalire – Hālau ‘Olapa O Laka
3rd Runner Up – Zadyn Ka‘aihue – Hālau Hula ‘O Napunaheleonapua
2nd Runner Up – Aaron Tomas – Hālau Hula ‘O Hōkūlani (Maui)
1st Runner Up – Nakoa Tutop – Hālau Hi‘iakainamakalehua
Master Keiki Hula – Justin Paredes – Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi (Maui)
HULA KAHIKO – KEIKI KANE DIVISION
3rd Place – Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Olapa O Laka
2nd Place – Hālau Hula ‘O Hokulani (Maui)
1st place – Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi (Maui)
Sally Wood Naluai Hula Kahiko Perpetual Trophy
HULA ‘AUANA – KEIKI KANE DIVISION:
3rd Place – Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Olapa O Laka
2nd Place – Hālau Hula ‘O Hokulani (Maui)
1st place – Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi (Maui)
George Lanakilakeikiahiali’i Na’ope Hula ‘Auana Perpetual Trophy
KEIKI KANE OVERALL WINNER:
Wendell Kalanikapuaenui Silva Overall Perpetual Trophy
Hālau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi (Maui)
KAWENA‘ULA SCHOLARSHIP: (Hawaiian Language Award)
Temaireraurii Santos – Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Olapa O Laka
Sophia Lafferty – Hālau ‘O Kaululaua’
Meiya-Lynn Bella Ramos – Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala (Kaua‘i)
Keli‘a Kang – Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu
MARY KAWENA PUKUI PERPETUAL TROPHY: (Hawaiian Language Award)
Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi (Maui)
MALIA CRAVER PERPETUAL TROPHY: (Hawaiian Language Award)
Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Olapa O Laka
MIRIAM LIKELIKE KEKAULUOHI KEAHELAPALAPA KAPILI ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
Olana Ai