Hula signals ‘awakening’

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 25, 2019
• Updated on April 24, 2019 at 10:30 pm

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 25, 2019
• Updated on April 24, 2019 at 10:30 pm

The town of Hilo has come alive as the 56th Merrie Monarch Festival gets underway, nearly a year after the start of Kilauea Volcano’s historic eruption in lower Puna. Read More

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Halau prepare for 56th Merrie Monarch Festival

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 21, 2019 •
• Updated on April 22, 2019 at 9:49 am

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By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 21, 2019 •
• Updated on April 22, 2019 at 9:49 am

Kumu hula Drake Dudoit Delaforce did not actually aspire to start his own halau. Yet this year, Delaforce’s Halau Keolakapuaokalani will compete at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival for the first time, bringing his hula journey full circle. Read More

Kumu Napua Greig savors sweet victory

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 9, 2018
• Updated on April 8, 2018 at 9:53 pm

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 9, 2018
• Updated on April 8, 2018 at 9:53 pm

Kumu hula Napua Greig of Halau Na Lei Kaumaka o Uka of Maui capped 22 years of teaching with a sweet triumph, winning the overall title of the 55th annual Merrie Monarch Festival early Sunday morning at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium. Read More

Maui halau wins overall title at Merrie Monarch 2018

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 8, 2018
• Updated on April 9, 2018 at 4:36 pm

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 8, 2018
• Updated on April 9, 2018 at 4:36 pm

Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka of Maui, under the direction of kumu Napua Greig, took the overall winner title of the 55th Merrie Monarch Festival early this morning at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium. Read More

55th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival: Hula ʻAuana

By Cindy Ellen Russell on April 8, 2018

By Cindy Ellen Russell Posted on April 8, 2018

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Hula kahiko honors Pele, tradition and the papa hehi

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 7, 2018
• Updated on April 7, 2018 at 1:07 pm

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 7, 2018
• Updated on April 7, 2018 at 1:07 pm

The start of the group kahiko competition at the 55th Merrie Monarch Festival on Friday evening coincided with a return of tradewinds as halau brought their best to the stage at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium. Read More

Miss Aloha Hula’s routine focuses on storytelling

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 7, 2018
• Updated on April 7, 2018 at 12:14 am

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 7, 2018
• Updated on April 7, 2018 at 12:14 am

With stellar performances in both the kahiko and auana portions of the competition, she impressed judges and netted the top score of 1,130, winning the title of Miss Aloha Hula on Thursday night. Read More

55th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival: Hula Kahiko

By Cindy Ellen Russell on April 6, 2018
• Updated on April 7, 2018 at 11:24 pm

By Cindy Ellen Russell Posted on April 6, 2018
• Updated on April 7, 2018 at 11:24 pm

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Kamakaokalani of Maui wins Miss Aloha Hula title

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 6, 2018
• Updated on April 6, 2018 at 4:47 pm

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 6, 2018
• Updated on April 6, 2018 at 4:47 pm

Shalia Kapuauʻionalani Kikuyo Kamakaokalani of Maui took the title of Miss Aloha Hula Thursday night at the 55th annual Merrie Monarch Festival. Read More

Merrie Monarch honors Hokule‘a’s original crew

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 6, 2018
• Updated on April 6, 2018 at 3:32 am

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 6, 2018
• Updated on April 6, 2018 at 3:32 am

The Hokule‘a has come full circle, returning to Hilo for the first time since 2014, where the legendary double- hulled canoe set out on its worldwide tour, this time to be honored at the Merrie Monarch Festival. Read More

Hokule’a honored at the Merrie Monarch

By Cindy Ellen Russell on April 5, 2018
• Updated on April 5, 2018 at 4:14 pm

By Cindy Ellen Russell Posted on April 5, 2018
• Updated on April 5, 2018 at 4:14 pm

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Merrie Monarch Ho’ike

By Cindy Ellen Russell on April 5, 2018

By Cindy Ellen Russell Posted on April 5, 2018

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Merrie Monarch competitors supported by relations present and past

By Mindy Pennybacker mpennybacker@staradvertiser.com on March 31, 2018
• Updated on April 3, 2018 at 10:15 am

By Mindy Pennybacker mpennybacker@staradvertiser.com Posted on March 31, 2018
• Updated on April 3, 2018 at 10:15 am

In the more than half century since the annual Merrie Monarch hula competition was launched, a number of kumu hula whose elite dancers have illuminated its stage have died or retired, entrusting the next generation to navigate the future of their halau. Read More

Merrie Monarch goers told of ohia fungus

By Star-Advertiser staff on March 31, 2018
• Updated on April 2, 2018 at 11:18 am

By Star-Advertiser staff Posted on March 31, 2018
• Updated on April 2, 2018 at 11:18 am

The state is reminding Merrie Monarch travelers attending the festival in Hilo next week that the transport of ohia lehua, popular in lei and hairpieces, is not allowed from Hawaii island due to a serious plant disease. Read More

Ag Department reminds Merrie Monarch travelers of ohia quarantine

By Star-Advertiser staff on March 30, 2018
• Updated on April 1, 2018 at 8:25 am

By Star-Advertiser staff Posted on March 30, 2018
• Updated on April 1, 2018 at 8:25 am

The state is reminding Merrie Monarch travelers attending the festival in Hilo next week that the transport of ohia lehua, popular in lei and hairpieces, is not allowed from Hawaii island due to a serious plant disease. Read More

Merrie Monarch names 2018 judges, participating halau

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on February 22, 2018
• Updated on April 1, 2018 at 8:25 am

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on February 22, 2018
• Updated on April 1, 2018 at 8:25 am

Cy Bridges, Maelia Loebenstein-Carter, Ainsley Halemanu, Nalani Kanakaʻole, Mae Kamamalu Klein, Piʻilani Lua and Kalena Silva have been named judges for this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival. Read More

Ticket requests begin for Merrie Monarch Festival

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on December 2, 2017
• Updated on December 1, 2017 at 10:05 pm

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on December 2, 2017
• Updated on December 1, 2017 at 10:05 pm

The 55th annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo began accepting mailed-in ticket requests to the hula competition Friday. Read More

Ticket requests begin for Merrie Monarch Festival

Star-Advertiser Staff on December 1, 2017
• Updated on April 1, 2018 at 8:25 am

Star-Advertiser Staff Posted on December 1, 2017
• Updated on April 1, 2018 at 8:25 am

The 55th annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo is accepting mailed-in ticket requests to the hula competition starting today. Read More

Merrie Monarch Festival releases new T-shirt

By Star-Advertiser staff Posted on September 22, 2017 • Updated on September 22, 2017 at 3:00 pm

The Merrie Monarch Festival T-shirts for the 55th year are now available and the color theme for 2018 is Irish green. The festival takes place from April 1 to 7, 2018. Read More

Merrie Monarch halau banned from gym stays

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on September 18, 2017
• Updated on April 1, 2018 at 8:25 am

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on September 18, 2017
• Updated on April 1, 2018 at 8:25 am

Several hula halau are scrambling to find alternate accommodations for Hilo’s Merrie Monarch Festival, now that Hawaii County has ruled out overnight stays in county-owned gyms, citing fire code violations. The decision turns a practice common for decades on its heels. Read More

Husband-wife team guides halau to victory

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com on April 24, 2017
• Updated on April 24, 2017 at 5:58 pm

By Nina Wu nwu@staradvertiser.com Posted on April 24, 2017
• Updated on April 24, 2017 at 5:58 pm

A steadfast commitment and continuing love for hula paid off for Ka La ‘Onohi Mai o Ha‘eha‘e, which took the overall winner title of the 54th Merrie Monarch Festival early Sunday. Read More

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