Three Maui women who have been dancing hula since grade school will take to hula’s most prestigious stage at the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival tonight in Hilo.

The three women are among 12 that are competing in the Miss Aloha Hula soloist competition. They are: Pohaikealoha Olikolani Artates of Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Karlee Pohaikealoha Rita Chong Kee of Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi and Jill-Lyan Makanaokalani Mae-Ling Mamizuka of Halau o ka Hanu Lehua.

The soloist competition will be broadcast today on KFVE from 6 p.m. to midnight and again from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, according to the Merrie Monarch’s website.

Artates, 24, of Waiohuli, described the Miss Aloha Hula competition as “more of a calling and a responsibility.”

“Every kumu picks an ‘olapa whom best fits to be a representation of the halau and this year I was gratefully chosen to take upon that kuleana,” said Artates, a 2016 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Maui.

Her kumu is Napua Greig.

Artates said hula has taught her about structure and purpose “in everything that I do.”

“With every reason behind a foot tap, the placement of the hand, and the flutter of the fingertips, hula has also created a foundation of purpose and structure to my day-to-day life,” Artates said.

She added that she is dancing this year as a contestant “for a far bigger purpose than of my own.”

Artates graduated from Chaminade University in Honolulu in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies with a minor in English and Political Science. She is studying for her law school admission test, as she wants to go into the business law field.

Fellow Kamehameha Schools Maui alum Chong Kee is also looking forward to tonight’s event, calling it “the most greatest moment of my life” when she was asked to represent her halau.

“It is every hula girl’s dream to enter as a Miss Aloha Hula contestant and I’ll be able to make my dream come true,” she said, while also noting it is a tough kuleana, or responsibility, to take on.

The 22-year-old Haiku resident has been dancing with her na kumu ‘Iliahi and Haunani Paredes for 15 years.

Chong Kee suffered from a rare heart condition diagnosed as a baby that did not have an effect on her until later on. In 2014, when she was 13 years old, she had vascular ring surgery.

She said that since then, “I have been living a normal and great life.”

Chong Kee is a 2018 graduate of Kamehameha Schools Maui and is in nursing school at the University of Hawaii Maui College. She also works as a certified nursing assistant at Maui Memorial Medical Center.

Like Chong Kee, Mamizuka is also a longtime student of her halau.

Her kumu, Carlson Kamaka Kukona III, said Mamizuka has been with him “since she was a tiny little 5-year-old.”

“She is one of the very students who has an impeccable attendance record, coming to hula every week for almost 15 years,” Kukona said.

He added that Mamizuka’s dances will honor the Pele family.

For the hula kahiko, or ancient hula, Mamizuka will dance to “Ke Ha’a La Puna,” according to the Merrie Monarch program. It is an account of the first hula taught to Hi’iaka by her dear friend Hopoe.

For the hula ‘auana, or modern hula performance, Mamizuka will dance to “Halema’uma’u,” which tells the beauty of Pele’s fiery domain.

Artates will dance to “Aia I Maui Ku’u Lei Loke,” in the hula kahiko category, which she describes as taking “you upon one of the famous steamships of Hawaii, called the Lehua, with the warm and joyous delight of seeing Maui from the east to the west.”

For her hula ‘auana, Artates will dance to “Ka Pua o Ka Makahala,” which is a song “about a straying lover, and the playful implicit infidelity behind this love story.”

Chong Kee will dance to “Ka Loke,” or “The Rose,” for her hula kahiko. It honors and celebrates Prince Edward Abnel Keli’iahonui’s life, journeying to the island of Kauai where the prince finds his maternal familiar roots and secures his pilina, or connection, to this aina.

For her hula ‘auana, Chong Kee will dance to “Wahiika’ahu’ula,” meaning “to be wrapped in the feather cape.” It honors Princess Abigail Wahiika’ahu’ula Campbell Kawananakoa, who was the wife of Prince David Kawananakoa Pi’ikoi. The mele proclaims the princess to be the greatest of all beauties.

Chong Kee said that for both dances she is honoring Princess Abigail Kinoiki Kekaulike Kawananakoa. The princess died Dec. 11.

She was the grandniece of Prince Keali’iahonui and granddaughter and “keiki hanai” of Princess Wahiika’ahu’ula.

The Merrie Monarch Festival performances run through Saturday.

On Friday will be the group hula kahiko and Saturday will be the group hula ‘auana and awards ceremony.

Besides the halau of the three contestants, Maui will also be represented by a fourth halau, Halau Hula Kauluokala, led by kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero.

Both performances begin at 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on KFVE. For more information, see merriemonarch.com/2023-festival/.

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