Maui resident Faith Kealohapau‘ole Paredes is the winner of the 2026 Miss Aloha Hula competition at the 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival on the Big Island. Paredes is a member of Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi of Wailuku. Photo courtesy Merrie Monarch

Maui rose in recognition at the 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival with a hula halau nearly taking first place overall and Faith Kealohapau’ole Paredes being selected as Miss Aloha Hula.

Paredes, 21, is the student and daughter of Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes of Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi of Wailuku.

“I’m just very humbled and appreciative of my hula halau and all the support they have given me,” Paredes said. “We are so happy and blessed.”

Paredes said she was born dancing in her family’s hula halau. The halau started in 2004, and she was born in 2005.

Her recognition is not only a tribute to her and her halau, but also to the creative talents of Hawaiian music artist and Kumu Hula Keali’i Reichel, who composed the song “Kawaiokalena,” which Paredes used in her modern hula ‘auana.

“Kawaiokalena” celebrates home, life and love “through beautifully crafted poetry,” the festival program noted. Paredes said her mother started dancing with Reichel when she was 11 years old and danced to “Kawaiokalena,” which describes the beauty of Piiholo on Maui. Haunani received permission from Reichel to perform a hula to the song.

“She has always been my inspiration,” Paredes said. “It’s so special to dance to this song. It not only connected me to her, but also to (Reichel).”

She said she was happy to bring light to Piiholo because of its beauty.

Paredes is in her junior year at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. She is majoring in anthropology and government while studying to become a lawyer like her father.

She received a Po’o Kula Scholarship from Kamehameha Schools toward her college education.

Paredes was one of 13 soloists competing in the Miss Aloha Hula competition.

Another competitor from Maui was Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy of Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva of Waiohuli. Purdy was the third runner-up.

Purdy, winner of the Carmen Hulu Lindsey Leo Ha’iha’i Falsetto Contest a couple of years ago, sang and danced to “‘Imi Au la ‘Oe” during the Merrie Monarch competition.

A total of 29 men and women groups from 19 halau participated this year in Hilo.

Paredes’ hula halau was second overall, scoring 1,212 points, with Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua and Ke Kumu Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV of Oahu taking first place with 1,225 points.

Hula Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi of Wailuku took second place in the overall competition. Photo courtesy Merrie Monarch