‘It’s a revival’: Merrie Monarch group contest begins with beloved hula kahiko night

Hula kahiko is the ancient form of hula, and during the first part of group competition during the Merrie Monarch Festival, hula hālau from throughout the state and even the mainland continued to surprise the crowd.

Whether they used a small pahu, or drum; had a bombastic entrance; or spent most of their performance chanting in unison as a whole while they danced, each of the hālau shared the moʻolelo, or story, of Hawaiʻi first.

On Friday, 29 groups of kāne (men) and wāhine (women) from 19 hula hālau performed hula kahiko for the judges, everyone in attendance at the stadium and those watching from around the world. Groups came from as far as California and around the Hawaiian Islands to compete this year.

The festival’s 3-day hula competition kicked off Thursday, April 9, with Miss Aloha Hula and concludes Saturday, April 11, with group competition in hula ‘auana, or modern hula, and the presentation of awards.

Kahiko is beloved of the 3 nights as dancers honor Hawai‘i’s history, leaders, deities and nature through oli, or chants, and dance.

Spectator Aaron Tomen decided to find tickets for the hula kahiko because he was moving to the continental U.S. soon and was disappointed he had never made the effort to enjoy the competition in person.

“The reason I like kahiko is because it’s a revival. Not everyone can truly depict ancient hula,” Tomen said. “When the chants are in perfect unison or the group performs a crazy backbend together — those kind of moments are powerful and stick with me.”

Crowd favorite moments are often moments of high intensity and power. The wāhine with Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua caused fanfare with their use of puliʻi (Hawaiian hula rhythm sticks made from bamboo) to tell the story of the creation of Kamaʻehu a Kanaloa (an active submarine volcano located off the coast of Hawaiʻi Island).

Another moment of excitement came when Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of Ke Kumu Nāpua Silva, used a small pahi drum on their thighs while chanting and controlling the rhythm of the hula kahiko, which was written by Queen Liliʻuokalani for her hānai sister, Princess Bernice Pauahi.

This year, 11 kāne groups are competing in the Merrie Monarch Festival, which is also celebrating the the 50th anniversary of hula kāne participation.

Kumu hula John Renken Kahaʻialiʻiokaiwiʻulaʻkamehameha Topolinski decided to bring kāne from his hālau, Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi, to the Merrie Monarch Festival for the first time in 29 years.

For their kahiko, they honored the traditional Hawaiian self-defense art of Lua with a high intensity hula that was a rousing call to arms from Kamehameha I to meet on the field of battle. The words compare soldiers to forces of nature and the kāne made sure their bodies moved similarly.

Kāne from Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, under the direction of Nā Kumu Karl Veto Baker and Michael Lanakila Casupang, performed a hula kāhiko that honored Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, under the direction of Robert Cazimero, and its first mele kahiko performance 50 years ago at the Merrie Monarch Festival in 1976.

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, under the direction of nā kumu hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin and Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao, had a kāne group return for the first time in years to honor the enduring legacy of kumu hula Rae Fonseca and Hālau Hula ʻO Kahikilaulani with his hula kahiko performance from 1994.

“While I’m watching hula kahiko, especially in person, I’m thinking about everything it takes to put one piece together,” Tomen said. “I think smelling the flowers and hearing the vibrations from the ipu or their feet really makes a difference when watching Merrie Monarch. I’m glad I got to go before I move.”

Eight judges score the performances 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.
• Overall performance.

Winners of the group competition will be announced Saturday after ‘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, on streaming platforms and social media.