#ancient hula

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

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

60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival comes to an end with a night to remember in Hilo

This year marks the full return of the annual event since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the competition in 2020 and forced gathering restrictions in 2021 and 2022.

Creator of double-gourd drums for ancient hula at Merrie Monarch’s craft fair

Using ipu grown at his farm, Kalim Smith builds ipu heke, a double-gourd drum, and ipu heke ‘ole, a single gourd drum, which are used in ancient hula.