Maui Iokepa-Purdy won Mr. Hulu Maui in the 2024 Kū Mai Ka Hula contest. The 18th annual Kū Mai Ka Hula will be Friday and Saturday at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Courtesy photo

Maui’s adult hula competition, “Kū Mai Ka Hula,” (Hula Appears) will return to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theater on Friday and Saturday.

The 18th annual event will feature male and female dancers performing kahiko (traditional) and ‘auana (modern) hula stylings, with participating hālau attending from throughout the state, Japan and the U.S. mainland.

“Kū Mai Ka Hula is the only adult hula competition on Maui,” said competition chair Hōkūlani Holt. “For 18 years, it has brought hālau, who have been successful in other competitions, to Maui.”

“We’re excited for another year,” said Kahulu Maluo-Pearson, Kumu Hula of Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu. “We’re very happy and honored to continue this competition, which has continued all these years in part to Hōkūlani Holt and the MACC and all the community sponsors that have contributed. We hope that this becomes the Merrie Monarch of Maui.”

This year’s participating hālau include Keolalaulani Hālau `Olapa O Laka with Kumu Keolalaulani Dalire, Hālau `O Kealani with Kumu Yukiko Minami from Japan, Hālau Ka Pā Hula O Hīnano with Kumu Troy Allen Hīnano Lazaro, Nā Pualei o Likolehua with Kumu Niuli`i Heine, Ka Lā O Kumukahi with Kumu Hiro Sekine from Japan, Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua with Kumu Kamaka Kukona, Hālau o Lilinoe with Kumu Lilinoe Kaio from California, and Hālau Ke`ala Kahīnano O Puna with Kumu Joy Keōpūolani Salvador.

Japan is sending three hālau, with the inclusion of Kumu Junko Wong. “She is exhibiting her Ms. Keiki Hula Maui winner Japan on Friday,” said Maluo-Pearson.

This year’s Kū Mai Ka Hula competition will be judged by Kumu Hula Taupori Tangaro, Kumu Hula Ulalia Woodside Lee, Kumu Hula Maka Herrod, and Kumu Hula Cody Pueo Pata.

‘Auana Halau Kauluokala at the 2024 Kū Mai Ka Hula contest. Courtesy photo

“Friday is the solo competition, Ms. Hula and Mr. Hula Maui,” said Maluo-Pearson. “Then Saturday is the group competition where we have Wahine Kahiko, Wahine Awana, Kane Kahiko, Kane Awana and Kupuna. I think at every competition, everybody keeps pushing the envelope. They keep getting better.”

The performances are judged on footwork, use of hands and interpretation of the poetry.

“The judges assess the costumes, lei and their coordination with the mele itself,” explained Kumu Holt. “And of course, finesse, appeal and confidence. Each kumu hula and each dancer has worked very hard to convey the strength, beauty, love and joy of hula and the mele they interpret.”

The winners of the 2024 Kū Mai Ka Hula competition included Mr. Hula Maui winner Maui Iokepa-Guerrero of Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine. In the Ms. Hula Maui category, Shannon Kamalei Purdy of Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu under the direction of Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson placed first, and Lilia Iokepa-Guerrero of Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine placed second.

In the Group Kahiko Kāne category, Hālau Pā Hula o Hīnano under the direction of Kumu Hula Troy Allen Hīnano Lazaro won first place. The Group Kahiko Wahine was won by Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine, and Hālau Pā Hula o Hīnano under the direction of Kumu Hula Troy Allen Hīnano Lazaro came in second.

Group ‘Auana Kāne was won by Hālau Ka Pā Hula o Hīnano under the direction of Kumu Hula Troy Allen Hīnano Lazaro. Group ‘Auana Wāhine was won by Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu under the direction of Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson, and Nā Pualei o Likolehua under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuli’i Heine was second. Group ‘Auana Kūpuna was won by Hālau Ka Ua Tuahine under the direction of Kumu Hula Māhealani Uchiyama, with Hālau Hula Kauluokalā under the direction of Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero placing second.

The competition weekend begins today at 7:30 p.m. in the McCoy Studio Theater with “Designing the ʻAʻahu,” when Maui kumu hula will present the knowledge, inspiration and overall vision that is required for costuming their ʻōlapa (dancers). They will explore what it took to decide on the look and the materials, where they are resourced from, and the many things to think about in designing the ʻaʻahu that will complete the kumu hula’s beautiful presentation. It features Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona and Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva and Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Nā Kumu Hula ʻIliahi & Haunani Paredes and Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi.

“The competition provides an opportunity for our Maui community to enjoy excellence in hula,” said Kumu Holt. “It is a competition, so everyone brings their best.”

The solo competition and awards ceremony will be at 6 p.m. Friday, and the group competition and awards ceremony will be at 1 p.m. Saturday. Preshow entertainment on Friday will begin at 4:30 p.m. by the Kamehameha Schools Maui Hawaiian Ensemble in the Yokouchi Pavilion. On Saturday, the preshow will start at 11:30 a.m. Each day of competition will conclude with an awards ceremony.

Audience members are permitted to take photos and videos during the performances using a cell phone or point-and-shoot camera, but no flash is allowed.

Kū Mai Ka Hula is presented by Maui Arts & Cultural Center in association with Kauahea Inc., a nonprofit organization founded by Hōkūlani Holt to support Hawaiian arts and culture. She is also the Director of Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, Hawai’i Papa O Ke Ao, University of Hawai’i Maui College.

Tickets per day are $38 for adults and $21 for children 12 and under (includes fees). Two-day tickets are $35 per day for adults if purchased together. MACC members receive a 10% discount.