#Leināʻala Pavao Jardin

Step aside foie gras and soufflé. Poke has arrived as haute cuisine. And this surge of poke popularity benefitted the Maui Strong Fund recently during the fourth annual Kaua‘i Poke Fest.

Maui has four hālau competing in the 2023 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, as the event concludes this evening at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Friday night the competition featured kahiko or ancient hula. Tonight, groups will perform ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 60th event.

Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionāmakua Thronas Brown was named Miss Aloha Hula 2023 at the 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival on Thursday night at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. This is the third year in a row that the hālau from Pūʻahuʻula, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu took top honors in the soloist competition. Maui’s own Karlee Pōhaikealoha Rita Chong-Kee of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes, brought home the 4th place award.

The 2022 Miss and Master Hula O Nā Keiki Overall Winners were Noah Kazuo Piʻimaiwaʻa Andrade and Lennon Aiko Kuʻualoha Nakada, both of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua under the direction of Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla.