Merrie Monarch results 2025: Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela of Oʻahu wins; Maui dancers place

The wāhine of Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela under the direction of Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo won the overall title at the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival, in Hilo Hawaiʻi.

The hālau from Kalihi and Waimānalo, Oʻahu performed an upbeat ʻauana to “Kūwili,” with dancers adorned in rafia skirts and accompanied by rhythmic pūʻili (bamboo rattles).

The festival program description of the mele notes: “Kūwili and Kawa were a pair of fishponds located between Iwilei and Kou. These ponds were filled in to make way for the railroad and wharfs used by the sugar industry. Also mentioned in this mele are a few notorious houses of prostitution—a famous one being Hale Leʻa or Iwilei Stockade, in Honolulu’s Red Light District.”

For their hula kahiko, the dancers performed “Hoʻoipo I Mololani Ka Ua ʻĀpuakea,” honoring Queen Emma.

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, led by Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin took home the second place overall title. The dancers from Kauaʻi finished first in wāhine ʻauana and second in the wāhine kahiko divisions. The hālau soloist, Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao was named Miss Aloha Hula 2025 on Thursday night.

Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua under the direction of Kumu Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero, placed first in all of the kāne categories, and third in the festival overall. Cazimero, who performs at the festival every 10 years, started five decades ago, and said this would be his last Merrie Monarch performance.

Overall awards:

1. Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o (Oʻahu): 1216
2. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin (Kauaʻi): 1213
3. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (O’ahu): 1205

Kāne Overall awards:

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (O’ahu): 1205
2. Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV & Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 1187
3. Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes (Maui): 1184

Kāne Kahiko awards:

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (O’ahu): 596
2. Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV & Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 591
3. Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes (Maui): 587

Kāne ʻAuana awards:

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Robert Uluwehionvpuaikawekiuokalani Cazimero (O’ahu): 609
2. Kawaiʻulaokalā, Kumu Keliʻihoʻomalu Puchalski (Oʻahu): 601
3. Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes (Maui): 597
4. Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV & Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 596

Wahine Overall award:

1. Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o (Oʻahu): 1216
2. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin (Kauaʻi): 1213
3. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (Oʻahu): 1191

Wahine Kahiko awards:

1. Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o (Oʻahu): 605
2. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin (Kauaʻi): 598
3. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (Oʻahu): 594
4. Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV & Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 593
5. Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes (Maui): 581

Wahine ʻAuana awards:

1. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin (Kauaʻi): 615
2. Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o (Oʻahu): 611
3. Hālau Hula O Kauhionāmauna, Kumu Theresa Kauhionāmauna Ramento Tehiva: 600
4. Tie 5. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (Oʻahu): 597
5. Tie 5. Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV & Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 597

Maui Highlights:

The men of Mauiʻs Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes garnered the group third place finish in the men’s ʻauana and kahiko divisions, and the third place overall award in the kāne division.

The men performed a playful hula, “Nā ʻOno Holopeki,” that speaks of the wild deer on Lānaʻi that have become a nuisance for their appetite of native plants. Loosely translated, the mele means “trotting delicacies,” which plays on the venison meal that can be made of the burdensome animals.

On Friday night, the kāne (men) of the hālau performed a pahu drum dance for their kahiko entry, honoring the traditions of Hula Master Keahi Luahine.

The women of Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi earned a fifth place finish in the wāhine kahiko division for their performance of “Puhi Ka Makani O Ke Kuahiwi” in commemoration of Queen Consort Kapiʻolani, the wife of Kalākaua, for whom the festival is named.

On Saturday night, the wāhine performed “Nānaʻikaʻula,” a mele written by Kuana Torres Kahele, honoring the older name of Lānaʻi Island. Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes explained—that imbedded in the song is the story of how a purple-hued lehua of the island came to be.

The women of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, from Waiohuli, Maui performed “Waimea I Ka Laʻi” / “Waimea Lullaby” for their ʻauana selection. Kumu Nāpua Silva, said the performance reflected upon Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island, the land from which her family was raised.

On Friday, they performed a mele inoa or name chant from an old Hawaiian newspaper that spoke of the rains and winds of West Maui, including the hōʻehaʻili rain from Waiehu.

The men of Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua from Waikapū, Maui performed “Hawaiʻi Nō E Ka ʻOi” for their ʻauana selection. Kumu Carlson Kamaka Kukona III said the mele is a full circle moment, as it is the same one performed 18 years ago, giving thanks to Hawaiʻi Island. Their kahiko performance on Friday night paid tribute to Queen Kapiʻolani.

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:

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
4. Marina Laʻakea Choi oHālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (1,110) 3rd runner up
5. Chloe Makanaleiliʻiliʻi Rei Cummins — Hula Hālau O Kamuela, Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo – Kalihi and Waimānalo, Oʻahu (1,097) 4th runner up