The 61st Annual
The Perpetuation of Hula Kahili and the Hawaiian Culture

Art of Hula:

Language

of the Heart

"Hula is the Language of the Heart. Therefore the Heartbeat of the Hawaiian People." — Kalākaua Rex Merrie Monarch

Welina Mai Kākou

Welcome, and thank you for sharing your aloha for hula and the Hawaiian culture.

• Learn about the Festival •
The Merrie Monarch Festival is a non-profit organization that honors the legacy of King David Kalākaua, who inspired the perpetuation of our traditions, native language and arts.

Our week-long festival features an internationally acclaimed hula competition, an invitational Hawaiian arts fair, hula shows, and a grand parade through Hilo town.
• Read more •

Kahili

Merrie Monarch Festival 2023

The week-long Merrie Monarch Festival runs
APRIL 9th-15th, 2023

 

2021 Merrie Monarch Festival Merchandise

2024 Official Merrie Monarch Apparel

Merrie Monarch Festival is proud to now offer our apparel for sale online! Click the name of the item below to find sizes and pricing, or click the “Shop All Apparel” link below to view all items for sale.

2023 Photo Gallery
Hō’ikeMiss Aloha Hula | Hula Kahiko | Hula Auana

 

2023 Merrie Monarch Festival Live Stream

Watch the 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Hula Competition on merriemonarch.com each night beginning at 6:00pm HST on April 13th, 14th, & 15th, 2023

MISS ALOHA HULA 2023

Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionāmakua Thronas Brown

Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe

Nā Kumu: Tracie & Keawe Lopes

Festival Events

April 9–15, 2023

Hoʻolauleʻa (celebration)

9:00 a.m., Sunday, April 9th
at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Free admission to watch performances by our local hālau.

Free Mid-day Entertainment

Daily (Monday through Friday)

Entertainment at the Grand Naniloa Hotel (12 p.m.),
and the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (1 p.m.).

Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday,
April 12th through Friday, April 14th 

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 15th
at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

An annual favorite, this free event features local artists, crafters, and entertainment.

Hōʻike Performances

6:00 pm, Wednesday, April 12th
at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium

Miss Aloha Hula

6:00 pm, Thursday, April 13th
at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium

Individual competition for the title of Miss Aloha Hula with contestants performing hula kahiko, hula ʻauana and oli (chant).

Group Hula Kahiko

6:00 pm, Friday, April 14th 
at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium

Hālau hula perform ancient style dances.

Group Hula ʻAuana & Awards

6:00 pm, Saturday, April 15th 
at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium

Hālau hula perform modern style dances, followed by an awards presentation for all group winners.

Merrie Monarch Royal Parade

10:30 am, Saturday, April 15th
through downtown Hilo

One of the festival’s most entertaining and fun events for the entire family, the parade begins and ends at Pauahi St. (Kilauea Ave. — Keawe St. — Waiānuenue Ave. — Kamehameha Ave.).

Award Recipients

2023 Miss Aloha Hula

Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionāmakua Thronas Brown — Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes Miss Aloha Hula 2023
Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao —Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinā‘ala Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin 2nd Place

 

• View All 2023 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2023 Kahiko

Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes Hula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes Hula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2023 Kahiko Winners •

2023 ʻAuana

Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla Hula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla Hula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2023 ʻAuana Winners •

2022 Miss Aloha Hula

Pi‘ikea Kekīhenelehuawewehiikekau‘ōnohi Lopes — Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes Miss Aloha Hula 2022
Auliʻionāpualokekūonaona Jon-Marie Hisayo Faurot — Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela Kumu: Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o 2nd Place

 

• View All 2022 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2022 Kahiko

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinā‘ala Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin Hula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes Hula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2022 Kahiko Winners •

2022 ʻAuana

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinā‘ala Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin Hula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes Hula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2022 ʻAuana Winners •

2021 Miss Aloha Hula

Rosemary Kaʻimilei Kamoai-Strickland— Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O HaʻehaʻeNā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe LopesMiss Aloha Hula 2021
Ashley Kilioulaninuiamamaohoʻopiʻiwahinekapualokeokalaniākea Lai— Ka Liko Pua O KalaniākeaKumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe2nd Place

 

• View All 2021 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2021 Kahiko

HiʻiakaināmakalehuaNā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono PadillaHula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
KawailiʻulāKumu Hula Chinky MāhoeHula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2021 Kahiko Winners •

2021 ʻAuana

Hālau KekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahiNā Kumu Hula Haunani & ʻIliahi ParedesHula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
KawailiʻulāKumu Hula Chinky MāhoeHula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2021 ʻAuana Winners •

2019 Miss Aloha Hula

Taizha Keakealani Hughes-Kaluhiokalani— Hālau HiʻiakaināmakalehuaNā Kumu Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla Miss Aloha Hula 2019
Lindsey Kahiehielaunaʻole Miwa Ching— Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O HaʻehaʻeNā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes 2nd Place

 

• View All 2019 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2019 Kahiko

Hula Hālau ʻO KamuelaNā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kauʻionālani KamanaʻoHula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka LāKumu Hula Kaleo TrinidadHula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2019 Kahiko Winners •

2019 ʻAuana

Hālau KekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahiNā Kumu Hula Haunani & ʻIliahi ParedesHula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
Hālau Hula ʻO KahikilaulaniKumu Hula Nāhōkūokalani GaspangHula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2019 ʻAuana Winners •

2018 Miss Aloha Hula

Shalia Kapuauʻionālani Kikuyo Kamakaokalani— Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O UkaKumu Hula Nāpua Greig Miss Aloha Hula 2018
Ecstasy Jetta Laverne Kamakalikolehua Ligon— Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O HaʻehaʻeNā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes 2nd Place

 

• View All 2018 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2018 Kahiko

Hālau HiʻiakaināmakalehuaNā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono PadillaHula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka LāKumu Hula Kaleo TrinidadHula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2018 Kahiko Winners •

2018 ʻAuana

Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O UkaKumu Hula Nāpua GreigHula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka LāKumu Hula Kaleo TrinidadHula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2018 ʻAuana Winners •

2017 Miss Aloha Hula

Kelina Kiyoko Keʻanoʻilehua Tiffany Eldredge— Hālau HiʻiakaināmakalehuaNā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla Miss Aloha Hula 2017
Juleyn Machiko Kaloke Kaluna— Hula Hālau ʻO KamuelaNā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo 2nd Place

 

• View All 2017 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2017 Kahiko

Hālau HiʻiakaināmakalehuaNā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla Hula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
KawailiʻulāKumu Hula Chinky Māhoe Hula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2017 Kahiko Winners •

2017 ʻAuana

Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O HaʻehaʻeNā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes Hula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
Hālau I Ka WēkiuNā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casupang Hula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2017 ʻAuana Winners •

2016 Miss Aloha Hula

Kayli Kaʻiulani Carr— Hālau HiʻiakaināmakalehuaNā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla Miss Aloha Hula 2016
Brylyn Noelani ʻAiwohi— Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o LeināʻalaKumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin 2nd Place

 

• View All 2016 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2016 Kahiko

Hālau O Ka Ua KanilehuaKumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho Hula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
Hālau Hula ʻO KahikilaulaniKumu Hula Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang Hula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2016 Kahiko Winners •

2016 ʻAuana

Hālau O Ka Ua KanilehuaKumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho Hula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
Hālau Nā Mamo O PuʻuanahuluNā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera Hula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2016 ʻAuana Winners •

2015 Miss Aloha Hula

Jasmine Kaleihiwa Dunlap— Hula Hālau ʻO KamuelaNā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kauʻionalani Kamanaʻo Miss Aloha Hula 2015
Abby Claire Haliʻahauola Resulta— Hālau HiʻiakainamakalehuaNā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla 2nd Place

 

• View All 2015 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2015 Kahiko

Hula Hālau ʻO KamuelaNā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo Hula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka LāKumu Hula Kaleo Trinidad Hula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2015 Kahiko Winners •

2015 ʻAuana

Hālau Hula Ka Lehua TuahineKumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval Hula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
Hālau Nā Kamalei O LīlīlehuaKumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero Hula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2015 ʻAuana Winners •

Sponsors and Partners

 

Festival Sponsors

                   .                 

Production and Website Partners

Broadcast Producers

  • Ponoi Productions LLC

Broadcaster

  • Hawaii News Now - KFVE

Official Photographer

  • Extreme Exposure

Website Design and Management

  • Upspring

Website / Social Media
Content Support

Pacific Pro-Tech Services Corp.

Website Archival Images

  • Bishop Museum