Maui’s Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi takes second in Keiki Kāne group hula competitions, wins Hawaiian language award

Maui’s Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, under the direction of Kumu Hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes, took second place in both the Keiki Kāne hula kahiko and hula ʻauana group competitions during the 51st Annual Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition & Festival. The hālau also won the Hawaiian language award.

The Maui hālau’s group placements follow individual honors earlier in the week, when Kiliʻohu Kahualauleʻa Celebrado, also a student of Kumu Hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes, was crowned 2026 Miss Keiki Hula, and hālau member Logan Stephen Taulaʻi Crowell took second in the Master Keiki Hula competition.

Also from Maui, Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua under the direction of Kamaka Kukona earned a 3rd place finish in the keiki kāne kahiko division.  Rounding out the Maui representation was Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka o Uka under the direction of Kumu Hula Napua Silva whose kaikamāhine also participated in the event.  

The invitation-only competition, now under the stewardship of the Hawaiian Council, brought together 15 hālau from across Hawaiʻi for three days of competition celebrating the next generation of hula practitioners. The event was presented by Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts and Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center. Throughout the weekend, keiki ages 6 to 12 took the stage to demonstrate the skill, preparation and cultural knowledge passed down through their kumu hula. The competition honored the legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani while recognizing the dedication of young haumāna, their families and their hālau.

The overall title went to Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua under the direction of Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV.

“After a week celebrating Hawaiian culture, leadership and community through the Native Hawaiian Convention and the Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition & Festival, we leave inspired by what we’ve witnessed on this stage,” said Kūhiō Lewis, chief executive officer of the Hawaiian Council. “These performances reflect countless hours of preparation, the unwavering commitment of our kumu hula and the support of families who continue to invest in our keiki. We congratulate every hālau that participated and our award winners for carrying forward the legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani through hula.”

2026 AWARD WINNERS

HULA KAHIKO – KAIKAMĀHINE

HULA KAHIKO – KEIKI KĀNE

HULA ʻAUANA – KAIKAMĀHINE

HULA ʻAUANA – KEIKI KĀNE

HAWAIIAN LANGUAGE AWARD

2026 OVERALL WINNERS

OVERALL KAIKAMĀHINE

OVERALL KEIKI KĀNE

OVERALL KEIKI HULA WINNER 

On Thursday evening, 2026 Miss Keiki Hula and 2026 Master Keiki Hula were presented to the following: 

2026 MISS KEIKI HULA RESULTS

1^st Place: Kiliʻohu Kahualauleʻa Celebrado (Maui); Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi; Kumu Hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes

2^nd Place: Aliyah Keaohiwahiwaokalewalani Raymond (Oʻahu); Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka; Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire

3^rd Place: Leianaikamalukoa Hiʻipoiikapoliokilohana Kuaulu Cuban (Oʻahu); Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua; Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV

2026 MASTER KEIKI HULA RESULTS

1^st Place: Jahnathan Lāhiki Bareng (Oʻahu); Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua; Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV

2^nd Place: Logan Stephen Taulaʻi Crowell (Maui); Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi; Kumu Hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes

3^rd Place: Kawelokūleʻa Nuikamahaʻo Kekipi-Aurio (Oʻahu); Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua; Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina and Blaine Nohara

*Maui Now’s Wendy Osher contributed to this report.