Three Maui hula halau will grace the stage this week at the 55th annual Merrie Monarch Festival, which may be the most renowned hula competition in the world.

The Maui halau are Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi with na kumu (teachers) Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua with kumu Kamaka Kukona and Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka with kumu Napua Greig. They will join 21 other halau at the Edith Kanaka’ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo on Hawaii island.

Fans of Greig’s halau may want to watch the halau perform on K5 The Home Team (channels 5, 85 and 1005) or stream it online (www.k5thehometeam.com), because this will be the last competition for the halau for a while.

“There is a lot of other kuleana that a hula dancer should pursue besides competition. We want to focus on other things,” Greig said recently.

For example, she would like to take her halau to New Zealand.

“We want to do different things. Competition takes lot of time and money,” Greig said.

While the competition process is “important and fulfilling,” some of her wahine would like to start families. This year, Greig will take 22 wahine dancers to the festival.

“They kind of put their lives on hold to be able to commit to what the halau is doing,” she said.

The hula competition begins Thursday with the Miss Aloha Hula or female soloist competition. The group competition begins Friday with the kahiko, or ancient style of hula, and ‘auana, or modern style, on Saturday.

The live broadcasts begin at 6 each night.

The weeklong festival includes a Hawaiian arts fair, hula shows and a parade through Hilo. The hula festival honors King David Kalakaua, who inspired the perpetuation of Hawaiian traditions, native language and arts.

This year, Greig will take Shalia Kamakaokalani, 21, of Haliimaile as her Miss Aloha Hula contestant. In a YouTube video posted by the Merrie Monarch festival, Kamakaokalani said she was overwhelmed with happiness and was proud to be asked to compete as a soloist. She hopes to make everyone proud.

“I love hula because it gives me a purpose in this world. It gives me kuleana (responsibility) as a kanaka (a native of Hawaii),” she said in the video.

Kamakaokalani, who has been dancing hula since she was 4 years old, added that it is “our unique responsibility” as ‘olapa or dancers to ho’omana or empower the places the mele honor while dancing.

“I think that is my most favorite part of being a hula dancer or ‘olapa of halau hula,” she said.

Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi will have 20-year-old Meagan Puanani Guerrero of Lahaina as its Miss Aloha Hula contestant. Guerrero is a 10-year member of the halau.

In her YouTube video, she said competing as a Miss Aloha Hula dancer is her dream come true.

“I think all my hard work will definitely show on the stage,” Guerrero said, adding that she has never competed as a soloist. “For me, this is my dream.”

Guerrero said she is appreciative of the experiences she has had in hula, including the friendships and bonds she has made.

“I like the challenge that hula gives,” she said. “It’s not always the same thing; you are always learning something new.”

Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua will not have a soloist this year, said Kukona. But he will be taking 25 wahine to the competition. This is the halau’s sixth time at the Merrie Monarch Festival.

Their kahiko will honor Queen Emma with the love chant. ” ‘Auhea Wale ‘Oe E Sweet Moonlight.”

Their ‘auana honors Niihau with an original composition by Kuana Torres Kahele, titled “Polehoonalani.” Each dancer made their own lei pupu (tiny seashell lei) poleho o niihau, Kukona said.

“We have never pushed as hard as we have this year.” Kukona said. “The expectations and commitment to produce the best presentations that our halau could has been higher than ever. We are so excited to share our stories with the world.”

Kukona, who has taken his kane (men) to the competition in the past, hopes to take both men and women next year.

Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi has the largest contingent from Maui, with 22 wahine and 15 kane.

The wahine will dance to the spirited and lively “He Ma’i No Emma” for hula kahiko. On a festival video, ‘Iliahi Paredes describes how the song was learned and passed down through the years by hula mentors and masters.

And for its ‘auana presentation, the wahine will dance to “Old Plantation,” which honors Victoria Robinson Ward and her elegant home at the corner of King Street and Ward Avenue on Oahu.

For kahiko, the kane will dance to “Nani Wale No ‘Ulakoheo,” which describes steam-powered and belt-operated machinery in motion at the Honolulu Iron Works. For their ‘auana, the kane will dance to “Ka’u Nui,” which speaks about Ka’u and its people on Hawaii island and how tough the land and its people can be.

Greig said in her video that Merrie Monarch is an exciting time for her, especially to see performances by other halau led by other kumu hula, whom she said are like brothers and sisters.

“What I really love is to watch what everyone comes up with,” she said.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.