Over the weekend, 29 groups from 19 hālau showcased their technical skills in the art of hula as they competed in the 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival.
Kāne from Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, under the direction of Kumu Robert Keano Ka‘upu IV, of Oʻahu swept the kāne division, earning first place in kāne hula kahiko (ancient), kāne hula ʻauana (modern), and kāne overall.
Their 1,225 points also earned the kāne the overall title — allowing Hi‘iakainamakalehua to lay claim to the Lokalia Montgomery Perpetual Trophy for a year. In addition, Ka‘upu’s wahine took first place in wahine hula kahiko.
The gallery below features every hula kahiko performance from every group in order of appearance during the 2026 competition.
Nā Pua Me Ke Aloha- Nā Pualei o Likolehua
- Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi
- Hālau ‘O Lilinoe
- Ka Pā Hula O Ka Lei Lehua
- Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu
- Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e
- Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea
- Ka Pā Hula O Ka Lei Lehua
- Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu
- Academy of Hawaiian Arts
- Hālau I Ka Wēkiu
- Kawai‘ulaokalā
- Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu
- Hālau I Ka Wēkiu
- Academy of Hawaiian Arts
- Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu
- Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka
- Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea
- Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala
- Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka
- Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima
- Kawai‘ulaokalā
- Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi
- Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua
- Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi,
- Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala
- Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela
- Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua
On Thursday night, Faith Kealohapau‘ole Paredes of Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi, a 21-year-old Dartmouth College junior, became Miss Aloha Hula, the most prestigious title a solo hula dancer can earn and won the coveted Hawaiian Language Award.
This year, 13 dancers represented their hālau as they performed a solo hula kahiko and hula ʻauana. dancers Dancers must be 18 to 25 yeras old and are also tasked with an oli (chant during the competition. They are then judged on precision, artistry and cultural accuracy.
View the gallery below to see the each dancer perform either hula kahiko or hula ʻauana in order by which they appeared.
- Lilia Kaleialohaokealohalani Ka’ōnohi’ula Keohokapuakeakua Iokepa-Guerrero
- Līlianani Maya Rae Pi
- Mālie Kapuaonaonaikamauʻuuaolalokoikealohaokalaniākea Moe
- Kēhaulani Kaleikaumakamaeʻiʻomakamae Rubonal
- Samantha Makanani Aguon Newman
- Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy
- Jovian Kauanoeokalaulani Range-Semisi
- Hiʻileilanikauakapukapuokeānuenue Puchalski
- Haily Kamakahukilani Nawahine Nascimento
- Lahela Hoʻokela Medina Maio
- Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe
- Faith Lynn Kealohapauʻole Paredes
- Jelacia Naomi Waiauokalaniākea Peralta
On Saturday night, hālau took the stage one last time to showcase their group hula ʻauana for the crowd and judges. Although everyone was vying for the same prize, there was an uplifting and calming feeling that resonated throughout the Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium.
The spectators also took time to dress well with clothing and accessories that are often from locally-owned businesses that could be found at the Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Craft Fair. The scent of ti-leaf, puakenikeni, plumeria and other florals permeated from the flowers worn by the crowd.
While judges were still deliberating after hula ʻauana, kumu participated in a traditional group hula that helps hālau wind down and relax as they wait for the results to come in.
The gallery below includes some hālau performing hula ʻauana and reactions from the results for the 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival.
- Kumu Hula Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor dances with fellow kumu.
- Hālau Kalaʻakeakauikawēkiu cheer for Kumu Victor while they await results.
- Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua
- Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua kāne celebrate placing first in hula kahiko.
- Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima placed first in wāhine overall.
- Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi placed second in kāne overall.
- Kumu Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao reacts to placing second in hula ʻauana.
- Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala placed second in wāhine overall.
- Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua placed first in wāhine kahiko.
- Kumu Robert Keano Ka‘upu IV hugs Kumu Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao
- Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu placed third in kāne overall.
- Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela placed third in wāhine overall.
- Kawaiʻulaokalā
- Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka
- Hālau Kalaʻakeakauikawēkiu
- Academy of Hawaiian Arts
- Kawaiʻulaokalā
- Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi
Overall festival winners
- 1st: Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, Ke Kumu Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV, from Niuhelewai, Kona, Oʻahu, with 1,225 points.
- 2nd: Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani & ʻIliahi Paredes, from Wailuku, Maui, with 1,212 points.
- 3rd: Hālau Mōhala ‘Iliima, Ke Kumu Māpuana de Silva, from Kaʻōhao, Oʻahu, with 1,209 points.
Overall Wāhine winners
- 1st: Hālau Mōhala ‘Iliima, Ke Kumu Māpuana de Silva, from Kaʻōhao, Oʻahu, 1,209 points.
- 2nd: Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā’ala, Nā Kumu Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin & Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao, Kalāheo, Kauaʻi, with 1,209 points.
- 3rd: Hālau Hula ‘O Kamuela, Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook & Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo, from Kalihi and Waimānalo, Oʻahu, with 1,206 points.
Overall Kāne winners
- 1st: Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, Ke Kumu Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV, from Niuhelewai, Kona, Oʻahu, with 1,225 points.
- 2nd: Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani & ʻIliahi Paredes, from Wailuku, Maui, with 1,212 points.
- 3rd: Hālau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, Nā Kumu William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera, Kapahulu, Oʻahu, with 1,196 points.
