Merrie Monarch Festival 2017 Participating Hālau & Judges

Merrie Monarch Festival 2017 Participating Hālau & Judges

Merrie Monarch Festival organizers released the names of 23 participants (listed below).

Each year, the festival is held in Hilo by the nonprofit organization that honors the legacy of King David Kalākaua.

The week-long festival will kick off on Sunday, April 16, and will run through Saturday, April 22.

The event will include an international hula competition, an Hawaiian arts fair, hula shows and comes to a close with a parade through Hilo.

Judges for the 2016 festival include Ainsley Halemanu, Rachel Lahela Ka‘aihue, Pualani Kanaka‘ole Kanahele, Etua Lopes, Pi‘ilani Lua, Keali‘i Reichel and Kalena Silva.

1. Hālau Hula Olana, Nā Kumu Olana and Howard Ai & Shelsea Ai Apana (wahine)

2. Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Karl Veto Baker & Michael Casupang (wahine & kāne)

3. Ka Pā Hula O Ka Lei Lehua, Kumu Snowbird Puananiopaoakalani Bento (wahine & kāne)

4. Ka Pā Hula O Kauanoe O Wa‘ahila, Kumu Maelia Loebenstein Carter (wahine)

5. Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea, Kumu Kapua Dalire-Moe (wahine)

6. Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima, Kumu Māpuana de Silva (wahine)

7. Hālau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani, Kumu Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang (wahine & kāne)

8. Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Kumu Nāpua Greig-Nakasone (wahine)

9. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, Kumu Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin (wahine)

10. Hula Hālau O Kou Lima Nani Ē, Kumu Iwalani Kalima (wahine)

11. Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela, Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o (wahine)

12. Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV & Lono Padilla (wahine)

13. Hālau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Kamaka Kukona (wahine)

14. Hālau Manaola, Kumu Nani Lim Yap (wahine)

15. Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e, Nā Kumu Tracie & Keawe Lopes (wahine)

16. Kawaili‘ulā, Kumu Chinky Māhoe (wahine & kāne)

17. Pukalani Hula Hale, Kumu Hi‘ilei Maxwell-Juan (wahine)

18. Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes (wahine & kāne)

19. Hālau Hula ‘O Nāpunaheleonāpua, Kumu Rich Pedrina (kāne)

20. Ke Kai O Kahiki, Kumu La‘akea Perry (kāne)

21. Kawai‘ulaokalā, Kumu Keli‘iho‘omalu Puchalski (kāne)

22. Hālau Hula O Kauhionāmauna, Kumu Denise Kauhionāmauna Kia Ramento (wahine)

23. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (wahine & kāne)