Merrie Monarch Participants, Judges Announced

52nd Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, Miss Aloha Hula, Jasmine Kaleihiwa Dunlap. Merrie Monarch Festival Facebook photo.

Merrie Monarch Festival organizers released the 25 names of this year’s participants.

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

The week-long festival will kick off on March 27 and will run through April 2. It 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 Keith Awai, Ed Collier, Ainsley Halemanu, Lahela Kaʻahui, Etua Lopes, Piʻilani Lua, and Holoua Stender.

The 2016 participants are as follows:

Hālau Hula Olana, Nā Kumu Hula Olana & Howard Ai  (wahine)

Hālau Kealiʻi O Nālani, Kumu Hula Kealiʻi Ceballos  (wahine)

Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera  (wahine & kāne)

Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka, Kumu Hula Keola Dalire  (wahine)

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

Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima, Kumu Hula Māpuana de Silva  (wahine)

Moanaʻs Hula Hālau, Nā Kumu Hula Raquel Dudoit & Valerie Dudoit-Temahaga  (wahine)

Hālau Hula ʻO Kahikilaulani, Kumu Hula Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang  (kāne)

Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Kumu Hula Nāpua Greig  (wahine)

Nā Pualei O Likolehua, Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine  (wahine)

Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Kumu Hula Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu  (wahine & kāne)

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin  (wahine)

Nā Pua Me Kealoha, Nā Kumu Hula Sissy & Lilinoe Kaio  (kāne)

Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo & Kunewa Mook  (wahine)

Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu & Lono Padilla  (wahine)

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

Hālau Manaola, Kumu Hula Nani Lim Yap  (wahine)

Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes  (wahine)

Hālau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho  (wahine)

Kawailiʻulā, Kumu Hula Chinky Māhoe  (kāne)

Pukalani Hula Hale, Kumu Hula Hiʻilei Maxwell-Juan  (wahine)

Hālau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Hula ʻIliahi & Haunani Paredes  (wahine & kāne)

Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua, Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina  (kāne)

Ke Kai O Kahiki, Kumu Hula Laʻakea Perry  (kāne)

Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval  (wahine)