Results: 2019 Hula O Nā Keiki Winners

Kāʻanapali Beach Hotel celebrated its 29th annual Hula o nā Keiki competition, a three-day event held over the weekend in West Maui.  The 2019 winners were: Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols and Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento, both of Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu, under the direction of nā kumu William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta DeVera on Oʻahu.

Below is a complete list of 2019 Hula o nā Keiki winners:

2019 Miss/Master Hula o nā Keiki

2019 Master Hula o nā Keiki Overall Winner
Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

1st Runner Up
Maikalanikamealoha Eli Keohuhu-Kanana Wong
Hālau: Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi
Kumu: ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes

2019 Miss Hula o nā Keiki Overall Winner
Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

1st Runner Up
Chaslyn Kameaʻiʻomakamae Cadiente Kala
Hālau: Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi
Kumu: ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes

2nd Runner Up
Korey Paʻanaʻakala Iseri Hanaike
Hālau: Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu
Kumu: Kahulu Maluo-Pearson

Oli and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Award – Pālua Category

1^st           Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols/Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

2^nd                Leimomimakamae Hokoana-Molinas/Aiyanna Lāhela Adams
                        Hālau: Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu
Kumu: Kahulu Maluo-Pearson

Hula Pālua Kahiko Award

1^st           Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols/Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

2^nd                Leimomimakamae Hokoana-Molinas/Aiyanna Lāhela Adams
Hālau: Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu
Kumu: Kahulu Maluo-Pearson

Hula Pālua ‘Auana Award

1^st           Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols/Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

2^nd                Leimomimakamae Hokoana-Molinas/Aiyanna Lāhela Adams
Hālau: Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu
Kumu: Kahulu Maluo-Pearson

Keiki Kāne Interview Award

Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

Kaikamahine Interview Award

Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

Oli and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Award – Keiki Kāne Category

1^st           Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

2^nd                Maikalanikamealoha Eli Keohuhu-Kanana Wong
Hālau: Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi
Kumu: ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes

Oli and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i Award – Kaikamahine Category

1^st           Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento
Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu
Kumu: William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching & Lopaka Igarta DeVera

2^nd                Chaslyn Kameaʻiʻomakamae Cadiente Kala
Hālau: Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi
Kumu: ʻIliahi and Haunani Paredes

3^rd                Korey Paʻanaʻakala Iseri Hanaike
Hālau: Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu
Kumu: Kahulu Maluo-Pearson

The Akoni Akana Perpetual Award, identifying the kumu who best demonstrates the value of Poʻokela in preparing for Hula o nā Keiki, was awarded to ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi. The Akoni Akana scholarships, which are awarded for the intent of furthering each individual’s education in Hawaiian culture through college, hālau, mentorship programs, or other fine arts were awarded to Maikalanikamealoha Eli Keohuhu-Kanana Wong of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi and Jaelyne Ipo Leolani Navarro of Hālau Hula Kauluokalā.

Hula o nā Keiki began in 1990 and allows participants the opportunity to learn and nurture longstanding Hawaiian cultural values through a variety of immersive events in a two-day hula competition, cultural demonstrations, continuous live Hawaiian entertainment, local food prepared by the hotel’s award-winning culinary team and a Hawaiian festival of arts and crafts.

Returning for 2019, luxury Hawaiʻi-based fashion label Manaola hosted a pop-up shop in the hotel’s ‘Ohana room, showcasing Hawaiian fashion and design inspired by the elements of nature. The designer Manaola Yap himself was the winner of Hula o nā Keiki in 1994.

“The key theme for the 2019 competition was to bring the focus back to the mele (songs) and to showcase the beauty and passion of ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language),” said ‘Ālika Guerrero, director of ʻImipoʻokela. “Kumu (teachers) and haumāna (students) have been encouraged to write new mele this year, meaning some of these songs have been performed for the first time, bringing a depth and understanding to this longstanding tradition.”

This is also the first year that a new category has emerged, pālua kahiko. Two students, regardless of gender, had the chance to dance and chant in the traditional style together. Contestants, children aged 5 to 17, also performed kahiko (ancient) and ʻauana (modern) hula styles that reflect both traditional and personal interpretations of competition songs.

Dancers were judged on their style of chanting, interpretation of the dances, and cultural appropriateness of costumes and adornments. Contestants were also scored through individual interviews with a respected panel of judges, who asked questions to reveal their understanding and interpretation of dance, costume selection including adornments, and the proper use of the Hawaiian language. Ten contestants competed in their respective categories for coveted awards and titles.

“Hula o nā Keiki has become an event that is enveloped in tradition, and also creates longstanding practices on the island of Maui,” said general manager, Mike White. “It has been our intent to provide an avenue through which students have the opportunity to express their new understanding and awareness of the Hawaiian language and culture.”

This year’s participating hālau included: Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu, Kumu Kahulu Maluo-Pearson; Hālau Nā Mamo o Pu’uanahulu, Kumu William Kahakuleleihua Sonny Ching & Lopaka lgarta DeVera; Naniola Hawaiian Dance Company, Kumu Kanani Pharr Cadaoas; Leialoha Hula Studio, Kumu Yayoi Kimura; Hālau Hula Kauluokalā, Kumu Uluwehi Guerrero; Hālau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Kumu ʻlliahi and Haunani Paredes.

To complement the children’s hula competition, weekend festivities at the hotel included a Hawaiian Festival of Arts and Crafts featuring local artisans, contributing to cultural awareness for all attendees through demonstrations and workshops. Hula o nā Keiki concludes with the final day of the Manaola pop-up shop and award-winning Sunday Brunch at Tiki Terrace.

Though Hula o nā Keiki has grown exponentially over the years, from a single day affair in 1990 to an entire weekend of Hawaiian arts and music, the objective has remained the same: to educate children in the ways of their Hawaiian ancestors so that the culture can be carried forward.

2019 Miss Hula o nā Keiki Overall Winner
Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento of Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu, under the direction of nā kumu William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta DeVera. Courtesy photo, ‘auana performance. (Left); and 2019 Master Hula o nā Keiki Overall Winner
Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols of Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu, under the direction of nā kumu William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta DeVera. Courtesy photo, Kahiko performance. (right)

2019 Master Hula o nā Keiki Overall Winner
Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols of Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu, under the direction of nā kumu William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta DeVera. Courtesy photo, ‘auana performance.

2019 Master Hula o nā Keiki Overall Winner
Marcus William Kamakanamakamaeokeakua Nichols of Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu, under the direction of nā kumu William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta DeVera. Courtesy photo, Kahiko performance.

2019 Miss Hula o nā Keiki Overall Winner
Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento of Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu, under the direction of nā kumu William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta DeVera. Courtesy photo, ‘auana performance.

2019 Miss Hula o nā Keiki Overall Winner
Haily Kamakahukilani Nāwahine Nascimento of Hālau: Hālau Nā Mamo o Puʻuanahulu, under the direction of nā kumu William Kahakuleilehua Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta DeVera. Courtesy photo, Kahiko performance.