Kaneohe halau makes clean sweep at Merrie Monarch with overall title
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The wahine of Ka La ’Onohi Mai O Ha’eha’e, of Oahu, under the direction of kumu Tracie Lopes and kumu Keawe Lopes, perform “Ku’u Lei” during the ’auana portion of the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival on Saturday.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
The kane of Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi, of Maui, under the direction of kumu Haunani Paredes and kumu ’Iliahi Paredes, perform “Nani ’Ulupalakua” during the ’auana portion of the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival on Saturday.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Kumu Tracy Lopes, right, and kumu Keawe Lopes react after being announced as overall winners of the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival early Sunday.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM
Kumu Tracy Lopes, right, and kumu Keawe Lopes react after being announced as overall winners of the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival early Sunday.
HILO >> The Kane‘ohe hula halau Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e made a clean sweep of the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival by being named the overall winning halau early Sunday morning, following its Thursday victory in the Miss Aloha Hula competition.
But only one point separated the victorious halau, led by Kumu Hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes, from the second place overall winner, Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, led by Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera.
And a single point again separated second place from the third place overall winner, Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala, under Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin.
The overall results, announced at the climax of two nights of group-hula competition at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium:
>> Overall winner (these were also the wahine overall rankings and scores):
1st place: Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e, Na Kumu Hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes, 1,231 points
2nd place: Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, Na Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, 1,230 points
3rd place: Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala, Kumu Hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, 1,229
>> Kane overall:
1st place: Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Kumu Hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, 1,217 points
2nd place: Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, Na Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, 1,215 points
3rd place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, Kumu Hula Kaleo Trinidad, 1,206 points
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Editor’s note: Esme M. Infante is a student of Halau Na Mamo o Pu‘uanahulu, one of the halau that competed at the Merrie Monarch Festival.
