Merrie Monarch Festival Schedule: March 31

Edith Kanaka’ole Multi-Purpose Stadium. Photo by Josh Pacheco

Thursday night at the Merrie Monarch Festival marks the first official night of competition at the Edith Kanaka’ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.

The Miss Aloha Hula competition starts at 6 p.m. and is broadcast statewide on KFVE. Twelve different participants will perform in hopes of earning the coveted title of Miss Aloha Hula, which was won by Jasmine Kaleihiwa Dunlap of Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela last year.

Last year’s winning hālau will also have an entrant participating this year. ‘Aulani Kamea’i’omakamae Latorre-Holt will try to make it back-to-back wins for Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela, something that hasn’t happened in the event since 2003-2005, when Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu’uanahulu won the event three consecutive times.

Thursday, March 31

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair, held at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

10 a.m. – Hawaiian performance at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

11 a.m. – Performance by Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna, under the direction of Haunani Medeiros, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

12 p.m. – Performance by Hula Hālau O Kawānanakoa, led by Alberta Nicolas, at the Hilo Naniloa Hotel

1 p.m. – Hawaiian lecture at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

1 p.m. –  Performance by Hula Hālau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa, under Meleana Manuel, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Miss Aloha Hula Competition – Edith Kanaka’ole Multi-Purpose Stadium

6 p.m. – Royal Court entrance

6:15 p.m – National Anthem / Hawai’i Ponoʻī, performed by Meleana Manuel

6:20 p.m. – Pule by Kahu Brian Boshard

6:25 p.m. – Introduction of judges

6:30 p.m. – Miss Aloha Hula Competition, followed by an awards presentation

Miss Aloha Hula Competition entrants

Jazzlyn Kawailani Y.P. Kaleohano, Academy of Hawaiian Arts (Kumu Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu)

Kamie-Lei Kāhealani Yoshiko Fujiwara, Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka (Kumu Nāpua Greig)

Brandi Nālani Morales, Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu’uanahulu (Kumu William Kahakuleilehua, Haunu’u “Sonny” Ching, and Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera)

Ashley Leina’ala Juan, Pukalani Hula Hale (Kumu Hi’ilei Maxwell-Juan)

Christie Mariko Keahonui Kimura, Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi (Kumu Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes)

Ceriann Akemi Moana Espiritu, Moana’s Hula Hālau (Kumu Raquel Dudoit)

Kayli Ka’iulani Carr, Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua (Kumu Robert Ke’ano Ka’upu IV and Lono Padilla)

Kayshlyn Keauli’imailani Victoria De Sa, Hālau o Ka Ua Kani Lehua (Kumu Johnny Lum Ho)

Brylyn Noelani Aiwohi, Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā’ala (Kumu Leinā’ala Pavao Jardin)

Ashley Kilioulaninuiamamaoho’opi’iwahinekapualokeokalaniākea Lai, Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea (Kumu Kapua Dalire-Moe)

Ecstasy Jetta Laverne Kamakalikolehua Ligon, Ka Lā ‘Önohi Mai O Ha’eha’e (Kumu Tracie and Keawe Lopes)

‘Aulani Kamea’i’omakamae Latorre-Holt, Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela (Kumu Kau’ionālani Kamana’o and Kunewa Mook)