Merrie Monarch Festival Schedule: April 1

The second night of the competition at the Merrie Monarch Festival features the first group performance contest this year, the Hula Kahiko.

A total of 29 performances will take place on Friday night at the Edith Kanakaole Multi-Purpose Stadium, which includes last year’s Wahine, or female, winner, Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela.

The O’ahu hālau has won the Hula Kahiko competition three times since 2007. They will perform a song entitled “Laga Haga,” which is described as a “playful” hula that was written by Kumu Hula Cody Pueo Pata.

Nine kāne, or male, groups will compete for the Hula Kahiko crown, which was won last year by Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā.

Friday, April 1

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair, held at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

10 a.m. – Hawaiian performance at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

11 a.m. – Performance by Hālau Hula O Kou Lima Nani ‘E, under the direction of Iwalani Kalima, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

12 p.m. – Performance by Te Kapa Haka O Kou Te Whānau A Apanui, led by Rikirangi Gage, Hone Wharepapa, Tamati Waaka, and Puao Whauwhau, at the Hilo Naniloa Hotel

1 p.m. – Hawaiian performance at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

1 p.m. – Performance by Hālau Ha’a Kea ‘O Kinohi, under the direction of Paul Neves, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Group Hula Kahiko Competition

6 p.m. – Royal Court entrance

6:15 p.m. – National Anthem and Hawai’i Ponoʻī, sung by Meleana Manuel

6:20 p.m. – Pule by Kahu Brian Boshard

6:25 p.m. – Introduction of judges

6:30 p.m. – Hula Kahiko Competition

Group Hula Kahiko Kāne Entrants

Hālau Hula ‘O Nāpunaheleonāpua, Kumu Rich Pedrina

Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Ka’ilihiwa Vaughan

Nā Pua Me Kealoha, Kumu Sissy and Lilinoe Kaio

Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Kumu Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu

Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi, Kumu Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes

Ke Kai O Kahiki, Kumu La’akea Perry

Hālau Nā Mamo o Pu’uanahulu, Kumu William Kahakuleilehua Haunu’u “Sonny” Ching and Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera

Kawaili’ulā, Kumu Chinky Māhoe

Hālau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani, Kumu Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang

Group Hula Kahiko Wahine Entrants

Pukalani Hula Hale, Kumu Hi’ilei Maxwell-Juan

Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Kamaka Kukona

Moana’s Hula Hālau, Kumu Raquel Dudoit

Hālau Hula Keali’i O Nālani, Kumu Keali’i Ceballos

Nā Pualei o Likolehua, Kumu Niuli’i Heine

Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Kumu Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu

Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka, Kumu Keolalaulani Dalire

Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi, Kumu Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes

Hālau Manaola, Kumu Nani Lim Yap

Hālau o Ka Ua Kani Lehua, Kumu Johnny Lum Ho

Hālau Hula Olana, Kumu Olana and Howard Ai and Shelsea Ai Apana

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā’ala, Kumu Leinā’ala Pavao Jardin

Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima, Kumu Māpuana de Silva

Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua, Kumu Robert Ke’ano IV and Lono Padilla

Hālau Nā Mamo o Pu’uanahulu, Kumu William Kahakuleilehua Haunu’u “Sonny” Ching and Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera

Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea, Kumu Kapua Dalire-Moe

Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha’eha’e – Kumu Tracie and Keawe Lopes

Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine – Kailihiwa Vaughan

Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka – Kumu Nāpua Greig

Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela – Kumu Kau’ionālani Kamana’o and Kunewa Mook