One Hawai‘i Island hālau hula participating in this year’s Merrie Monarch hula competition

In 26 days, the 61st annual Merrie Monarch Festival will kick off in Hilo.

The weeklong event starts March 31 and culminates in the hula competition at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium. The soloist competition will take place on April 4, the group kahiko, or ancient hula, will take place on April 5 and the competition ends with group ‘auana, or modern, performances on April 6.

Festival officials announced this year’s judges last week:

• Maelia Carter
• Ed Collier
• Ainsley Halemanu
• Leimomi Ho
• Nālani Kanaka‘ole
• Nani Lim Yap
• Kealiʻi Reichel

Twenty-two hālau hula are participating this year. Hālau Ka Lehua Pua Kamaehu, under the direction of Kumu Hula Kasie Puahala Kaleohano and Brandi Nohelani Barrett, is the only Big Island group participating in this year’s competition.

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, under the direction of Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin, is the sole group haling from Kalāheo, Kaua‘i.

Only one hālau is traveling out-of-state to compete in the prestigious competition. Academy of Hawaiian Arts, under the direction of Kumu Hula Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu, will be representing Oakland, Calif.

Four groups will travel from Maui:

• Hālau Hula Kauluokalā, under the direction of Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero, from Kahului

• Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua, under the direction of Kumu Hula Carlson Kamaka Kukona III, from Waikapū

• Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes, from Wailuku

• Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva, from Waiohuli

Most of the hālau that will descend on Hilo are coming from O‘ahu with 14 groups participating:

• Hālau Lilia Makanoe, under the direction of Kumu Hula Shelsea Lilia Ai, from ʻAiea

• Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker & Michael Lanakila Casupang, from Pauoa

• Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera, from Kapahulu

• Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea, under the direction of Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe, from Kāne‘ohe

• Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima, under the direction of Kumu Hula Māpuana de Silva, from Ka‘ōhao

• Hālau Keolakapuokalani, under the direction of Kumu Hula Drake Keolakapu Dudoit Delaforcé, from Āliamanu & Nānākuli

• Nā Pualei O Likolehua, under the direction of Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine, from Kapālama

• Pua Aliʻi ʻIlima, under the direction of Kumu Hula Vicky Hanakaʻulaniokamāmalu Holt Takamine & Jeff Kānekaiwilani Takamine, from Honolulu

• Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela, under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o, from Kalihi & Waimānalo

• Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua, under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV & Lono Padilla, from Niuhelewai, Kona

• Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e, under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes, from Pū‘ahu‘ula, Ko‘olaupoko

• Ke Kai O Kahiki, under the direction of Kumu Hula La‘akea Perry, from Wai‘anae

• Kawai‘ulaokalā, under the direction of Kumu Hula Keli‘iho‘omalu Puchalski, from Kaiwiʻulā

• Hālau Hula O Kauhionāmauna, under the direction of Kumu Hula Theresa Kauhionāmauna Ramento Tehiva, from Waipahū

• Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, under the direction of Kumu Hula Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval, from Mānoa & Waimānalo