Maui hālau share ancient hula on kahiko night of 2025 Merrie Monarch
Kahiko night at the Merrie Monarch Festival featured hula in the ancient style with 27 groups performing Friday night in the annual competition in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The festival continues tonight with ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 62nd event.
The women of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka under the direction of Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva of Waiohuli, Maui, performed “ʻAuhea Wale Ana ʻOe E Ka Ua Hōʻehaʻili,”
The wāhine of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka wore regal mist-colored fitted blouses with a blue center panel. They were adorned with a triple-strand pink rose lei, shredded pāʻū lāʻī (ti leaf skirts) and a maile lei sash.
The mele inoa (name chant) was composed by ML Nākūlālā and was published in 1877 in Ka the Hawaiian newspaper Ka Nupepa Kuokoa. While it was written for Masa Kuiheluni, Kumu Nāpua Silva said the choreography and creation for Friday’s performance was inspired by her sister, Kahulo Maluo-Pearson, who together started the hālau with her nearly 30 years ago, but has since gone on to open her own hālau.
The chant honors the places in Maui Komohana (West Maui), highlighting the rains and winds of the area. “The rain, hōʻehaʻili is the rain from Waiehu where her hālau was located,” said Silva during the broadcast.
The mele speaks of the “skin prickling rains of Waiehu, the creeping mist of Mauna ʻEʻeka and the chilly waters of ʻĪao,” which belong to the four great waters on Maui… collectively known as Nā Wai ʻEha, according to a narration.
The men and women of Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes performed in the second half of the program. Both wore ʻōlena-hued pāʻū and greenery adornments.
The wāhine performed a hula ʻōlapa in commemoration of Queen Consort Kapiʻolani, the wife of Kalākaua, for whom the festival is named.
The mele was reportedly from a collection of Mary Kawena Pukui and Patience Nāmaka Bacon, capturing “sights, sounds and scents encountered,” including a rainbow that serves as a metaphor for her royal status, according to the festival program.
The kāne (men) of the hālau performed a pahu drum dance “ʻŪlei Pahu I Ta Motu,” from Kauaʻi that honors the traditions of Hula Master Keahi Luahine. The dance was taught to Mary Kawena Pukui and Pat Nāmaka Bacon in 1934.
The men of Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Carlson Kamaka Kukona III of Waikapū, Maui, performed “E Kuini E Kapiʻolani,” paying tribute to Queen Kapiʻolani.
The performance highlighted the “hoʻoulu lāhui” motto that she and her husband King Kalākaua used to advocate and encourage the increase of the Hawaiian race and prosperity.
Kukona said he learned the mele from Kumu Wayne Keahi Chang, expressing admiration and honor of Kapiʻolani.
Maui lineup:
Tonight’s ʻauana lineup is the same as last night’s kahiko program. The three Maui hālau will appear as follows:
- The men of Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, led by Kumu Carlson Kamaka Kukona III of Waikapū perform seventh in the lineup.
- Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes of Wailuku have their women appear 17th in the lineup, and their men will perform second to last (the 25th group).
- Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of Kumu Nāpua Silva of Kula, Maui will appear as the 18th group.
Awards will follow the complete lineup of 27 groups.
TV viewing and streaming available:
Video of each performance will be available here via HawaiiNewsNow/K5.
Watch the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Hula Competition at merriemonarch.com. or on https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/merriemonarch/ or by clicking the Merrie Monarch icon on the Hawaiʻi News Now app each night beginning at 6 p.m. HST on April 24-26, 2025.
The Merrie Monarch Festival is carried on K5, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom (Channel 1006/06).
Miss Aloha Hula 2025 Results:
On Thursday night, Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao was named Miss Aloha Hula 2025 at the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival on Thursday night at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi.
Awards were issued to five hula soloists including:
- Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao — Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin – Kalāheo, Kauaʻi (1,162) Miss Aloha Hula 2025 1st place / ʻOlelo award
- Tiare-Jennings Iwalani Kamaluoluokatuahine Rebecca Kaʻaumoana Vaughan-Darval —Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval – Mānoa and Waimānalo, Oʻahu (1,145) 1st runner up
- Emalia Pomaialoha KeleihanupīkakeiāPāoaehulaleʻaikalaninuiākea Dalire — Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka, Nā Kumu Keolalaulani Dalire and Regina Mākaʻikaʻi Igarashi Pascua – Heʻeia and Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu (1,123) 2nd runner up
- Marina Laʻakea Choi oHālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (1,110) 3rd runner up
- Chloe Makanaleiliʻiliʻi Rei Cummins — Hula Hālau O Kamuela, Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo – Kalihi and Waimānalo, Oʻahu (1,097) 4th runner up
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