The Perpetuation of Hula 
and the Hawaiian Culture
and the Hawaiian CultureArt of Hula:
Language
of the Heart
"Hula is the Language of the Heart. Therefore the Heartbeat of the Hawaiian People." — Kalākaua Rex
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 •
Merrie Monarch Festival 2023
The week-long Merrie Monarch Festival runs
APRIL 9th-15th, 2023
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 •
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