Maui dancer captures title of Miss Aloha Hula at 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival

On the first night of the 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s hula competition, 21-year-old Faith Lynn Kealohapauʻole Paredes of Wailuku, Maui, captured the Miss Aloha Hula title with stunning kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) performances Thursday on the iconic stage in the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium in Hilo.

When Paredes secured the win with 1,161 points, Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi jumped for joy and her parents – who are also her kumu hula – nearly buried her in a group hug with tears in their eyes.

Nā kumu hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes walked with Paredes on stage to accept the award, thanking the judges, organizers, and the crowd along the way. She also captured the Hawaiian Language Award.

“It almost doesn’t feel real to win, but I feel so blessed to hold the title of Miss Aloha Hula and to share the hula from my hālau with Hawaiʻi, with the whole world. It is an honor,” Paredes said. “Winning the Hawaiian Language Award is just as meaningful. Every time we speak ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi, we ensure our culture lives on.”

Paredes graduated from Kamehameha Schools and now attends Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. In 2015, she won the title of Miss Keiki Hula.

Her hula kahiko was drawn from a mele inoa (song to honor a chief or loved one) from the private collection of Mary Kawena Pukui. Through the oli (chant) and hula, the audience was taken to Huliheʻe in Kailua-Kona, the royal home of Princess Ruth Keanolani Kanāhoahoa Keʻelikōlani.

In the hula, Paredes depicts Keʻelikōlani as she decides to spend her twilight years in the familiar comfort of her traditional hale pili (traditional Hawaiian home).

“Through my whole kahiko, I chose to think about (Princess Ruth Keanolani Kanāhoahoa Keʻelikōlani) and my aloha for her and how she was always grounded in Hawaiian tradition,” Paredes said.

Her hula ʻauana, “Kawaiokalena,”was composed by prolific poet, kumu hula and Hawaiian musical artist Kealiʻi Reichel and is a celebration of home, life and love everlasting. The mele and hula draw the audience to Piʻiholo, Maui and paint an intimate portrait of home that everyone can understand.

“In the moment on stage, Iʻm thinking of who Iʻm dancing for––my parents, who are my kumu hula, my hālau and everyone who has supported me,” Paredes said. “For us to truly be seen, we have to be fully ourselves in whatever way we can be. For me, hula is how I can be myself fully.”

Judges scored the dancers on several elements, including kaʻi (opening chant and procession onto the stage); interpretation and expression; posture and precision; hand gestures; foot and body movement; hoʻi (closing chant and dance while leaving stage); authenticity of costume and adornments; grooming; and overall performance.

The first runner-up was Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe with Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua from Kona, Oʻahu, under the direction of Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV with 1,156 points.

The second runner-up was Lahela Hoʻokela Medina Maio with Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, under the direction of Kumu Hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes, from Pūʻahuʻula, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu, with 1,134 points.

The third runner-up was Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy with Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva, from Waiohuli, Maui, with 1,115 points.

The fourth runner-up was Jelacia Naomi Waiauokalaniākea Peralta with Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, under the direction of Kumu Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao, from Kalāheo, Kaua‘i, with 1,098 points.

The festival kicked off Sunday with the Ho‘olaule‘a. Cultural events and activities celebrating Hawai‘i’s hula and arts have continued throughout the week. The festival’s culmination is the three-day hula competition at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multipurpose Stadium.

Group performances by 19 hālau will start Friday night with kahiko. The competition will culminate on Saturday with ‘auana performances.

Hawai‘i News Now – KFVE, the festival’s official broadcaster, carries the competition events live on-air and online each night, as well as special coverage during newscasts and on streaming platforms and social media.