“Hula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of the Hawaiian People.” This declaration by King David Kalākaua is celebrated by the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, which honors the king for his role in the revival of hula.
This “language of the heart” was once banned at Kamehameha Schools. Today, the heartbeat of hula beats strongly in the hearts of Pauahi’s children.
The week-long Merrie Monarch Festival features an internationally acclaimed hula competition showcasing kahiko (ancient) and ʻauana (modern) hula. The festivities also include a Miss Aloha Hula competition, Hawaiian arts fair, hula shows, and a grand parade through Hilo town.
The following KS alumni will share their passion for hula, Hawaiian language and culture at the festival’s hula competition which begins on Thursday, April 5. Mahalo to each of them for bringing honor to the legacy of our founder Ke Aliʻi Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
KUMU HULA
Kapua Dalire-Moe KSK’90
Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea
Nāpua Nakasone Greig KSK’92
Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka
H. Kamaile Hamada KSK’82
Ke‘ala ‘O Kamailelauli‘ili‘i
Kamaka Kukona KSK’96
Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua
Tracie Lopes KSK’89
Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe
ʻIliahi Paredes KSK’92
Hālau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi
Kaleo Trinidad KSK’93
Kaleo O Laka I Ka Kikina O Ka Lā
Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval KSK’93
Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine
Karl Veto Baker KSK’76
Hālau I Ka Wēkiu
MISS ALOHA HULA
The 2017 Miss Aloha Hula Kelina Eldredge KSK’12 of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua will take the stage for the final time this week. Among those vying for her title are:
Shayla Makanoe Mie Thompson KSK’10
Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea
Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe KSK’90
Shalia Kapuau‘ionālani Kikuyo Kamakaokalani KSM’14
Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka
Nāpua Greig-Nakasone KSK’92
Paoakalani Ashley Midro Montgomery KSK’11
Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela
Nā Kumu Hula Kau‘onālani Kamana‘o & Kunewa Mook
Alana Maureen Ka‘ano‘anookalani Paiva KSH’15
Hālau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua
Kumu Hula Jonny Lum Ho
For details on the event, visit the Merrie Monarch Festival website. Learn more about King David Kalākaua in the I Mua Newsroom story, “Celebrating the life of the Merrie Monarch,” by KS’ Hoʻokahua Cultural Vibrancy Group.
Mahalo to KS Advancement Communications Specialist Ben Balberdi for helping to gather and verify the information for this story. If we missed anyone, please email us at ksonline@ksbe.edu.
Watch it Live!
The Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition will air live on KFVE and stream live on the KFVE website on the following days:
THURSDAY, APRIL 5
6:00 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Miss Aloha Hula Competition
FRIDAY, APRIL 6
6:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Hula Kahiko Competition
SATURDAY, APRIL 7
6:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Hula ‘Auana Competition
The competition will be live broadcast in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i via SAP (Second Audio Program) on KFVE-TV co-sponsored by Kamehameha Schools and The Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority. Instructions for access will be given during the Merrie Monarch program.
Get the backstory on the hula festival and performances from nā kumu hula and others on the Merrie Monarch YouTube channel. Visit the KFVE website for rebroadcast dates and times.
2017 Merrie Monarch Festival Miss Aloha Hula Kelina Eldredge KSK’12 of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua will take the stage for the final time this week. Four KS alumni from KS Hawaiʻi, KS Kapālama and KS Maui will be among those vying for her title on Thursday, April 5.
Festival President Luana Saiki Kawelu KSK’58 (right) oversees the event to ensure that it remains true to its roots, following in the footsteps of her late mother, Dottie Thompson (left).
This year's KS Hawaiʻi Merrie Monarch Festival video is "Ka Hoʻoilina o Kaʻahumanu" which shares the significant moments in Queen Kaʻahumanu's life. View the student-led, teacher-planned, community-supported video below.
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