The prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival wrapped up this weekend in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island—and the hula and mele were nothing short of spectacular. Kaʻōnohikaumakaakeawe Kananiokeakua Holokai Lopes, who represented the Oʻahu-based hālau Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e, took home the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2024 on Thursday night. The Oʻahu hālau, under the […]
We chat with former Miss Aloha Hulas Natalie Ai Kamauʻu (1990), TeHani Gonzado (2000), Malia Petersen Arakaki (2002), Māhealani Mika Hirao-Solem (2010) and Manalani (English) Souza (2013) as the 2021 Merrie Monarch Festival competition airs today through Sunday. When the 2020 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival was officially canceled last March, the impact on the
“Hi Meleana. This is Auntie Luana [Kawelu]. I’m calling to let you know that this is your formal invitation to participate in Merrie Monarch 2020.” This was the call that changed kumu hula Meleana Manuel’s life. A native of Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island, Manuel had competed in the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival, known as the Olympics
After three full days of competition, the 2019 Merrie Monarch Festival is officially over. Twenty-four hula halau (hula schools) competed in auana (modern) and kahiko (traditional) styles of hula, and schools were split into wahine (women) and kane (men) divisions. A panel of judges reviewed each performance and assigned points to each halau using the Merrie Monarch judging sheet before announcing who
It’s that time of year again, when humble Hilo town lights up and the Merrie Monarch Festival commences. For a full week, hoolaulea (celebrations), parades, performances, art fairs and hula competitions take over Hilo. However, with so much to do and see, creating an itinerary is a must, so check out our event guide below
Traditional hula practices thrive on Hawaii Island, particularly during Merrie Monarch. We asked lunar calendar expert and researcher Kalei Nuuhiwa for her insights on how to respectfully approach people who are practicing their traditions. Picture this: It’s a perfectly beautiful day at the Kilauea crater. The smoke is rising above Halemaumau. The wind is blowing softly
