The 62nd Annual
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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

 

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

2024 Miss Aloha Hula

Kaʻōnohikaumakaakeawe Kananiokeakua Holokai Lopes — Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes Miss Aloha Hula 2024
Amedée Kauakohemālamalama Conley-Kapoi —Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes 2nd Place

 

• View All 2024 Miss Aloha Hula Winners •

2024 Kahiko

Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o Hula Kahiko Winner — Wahine
Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV & Lono Padilla Hula Kahiko Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2024 Kahiko Winners •

2024 ʻAuana

Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes Hula ʻAuana Winner — Wahine
Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu Nā Kumu Hula Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera Hula ʻAuana Winner — Kāne

 

• View All 2024 ʻAuana Winners •

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