Merrie Monarch Festival Concludes Tonight

Tonight will conclude the 58th annual Merrie Monarch Festival with its ʻauana competition.

Hula hālau (hula school) participants took to the stage at a near-empty Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium in Hilo from June 24-26 to pre-record their performances, which have been broadcast this week. While the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the festival in 2020, the competition returned without an audience to focus on the safety of all participants.

At the end of tonight’s performances, winners will be announced. Click here for details on how to tune in.

Friday night, hālau performed Kahiko, the traditional dances and oli of Hawaiʻi.

The Miss Aloha Hula winners were announced on Thursday night. The 2021 title went to Rosemary Kaʻimilei Keamoai-Strickland of Hālau Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe. Keamoai-Strickland scored 1,114 points in the competition, just a single point more than the 1,113 awarded to first runner-up Ashley Lai of Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea.

Makaʻala Kahikinaokalālani Victoria Perry, of Ke Kai O Kahiki, was named third runner-up, having scored 1,100 points. Perry was named the winner of the Hawaiian Language Award, which is presented annually by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.