Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e under the direction of na kumu Hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes of Oahu took the overall title by placing first in the overall wahine and wahine kahiko divisions, as well as third in the kane kahiko division and fourth in wahine auana. MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL photo

The Maui News 

A Maui halau returned to the Valley Isle Sunday with honors from the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival held at the Edith Kanaka’ole Stadium in Hilo on Hawaii island.

Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi of Wailuku led by na kumu Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes won the overall kane or men’s title with 1,217 points, which included first place in the kane kahiko category, (ancient hula), with 609 points and fourth place in the kane ‘auana category (modern hula) with 608 points. 

Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha’eha’e under the direction of na kumu Hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes of Oahu took the overall title by placing first in the overall wahine and wahine kahiko divisions, as well as third in the kane kahiko division and fourth in wahine auana.

For the winning kahiko, the Maui men performed hula ‘anoho ‘uli’uli to the chant “Alo I Ke Anu,” which is from the mele collection of Mary Kawena Pukui and honors King David La’amea Kalakaua. 

For the ‘auana, the men did a rendition of Aunty Emma Farden Sharpe’s “Nani ‘Ulupalakua,” a song which captures the beauty of the land and the expertise of the paniolo.

The other three halau from Maui that competed at the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival were  Halau Hula Kauluokala of Kahului under the direction of kumu hula Uluwehi Guerrero; Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka of Kula led by kumu hula Napua Greig; and Halau o ka Hanu Lehua of Wailuku and Waikapu under the direction of kumu hula Carlson Kamaka Kukona III. 

This year, the Merrie Monarch Festival for the first time went on without any COVID-19 restrictions. There were 23 halau competing in the group hula event. 

In 2020, the festival was canceled because of the pandemic and then in 2021, the festival was a virtual event with no live audience. Last year there was a limited audience of family members, volunteers and longtime festival sponsors. The general public was not allowed.