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
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 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 •
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