Merrie Monarch photo gallery
Photos by Deborah Booker
Advertiser Staff Photographer
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| The men of O'Brian Eselu's Ke Kai O Kahiki, here performing "Ha'ule Mai Pele Mai Kahiki Mai," helped their kumu honor his late friend and former co-kumu Thaddius Wilson, who died Feb. 3, by winning the kane kahiko (men's old-style) division. Wilson was one of two longtime Merrie Monarch participants — the other was cultural authority and floral designer Lindsey Pollock — to whom the 41st annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival was dedicated. |
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Kumu hula Kau'i Kamana'o of five-time-winner Hula Halau O Kamuela buries his face in his hands as he and co-kumu Kunewa Mook make their way to the stage to accept the first-place award in the wahine 'auana (modern women's) division. However, the halau would fall four points short of the overall title, losing to Na Lei O Kaholoku. |
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Left: Halau I Ka Wekiu's 'auana (modern) entry, which had the troupe dressed in board shorts and bright red surf gear for a lively song about he'e nalu, not only had the crowd shouting, but pleased the judges enough to net the halau top place in the modern hula division.
Below: The traditional "kumu dance" — when hula teachers are called on stage to dance in an informal, family party style while votes are being counted — this year featured three generations of the Howard and Olana Ai family of Halau Hula Olana: Olana Ai is just visible in the floral print behind; two of her daughters and one of her grandchildren maintain unison at the front. |
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| On Wednesday night before the annual free Ho'ike (hula show), 93-year-old Daisy Smith of Puna, Hawai'i, couldn't stay in her seat; she was up clapping and singing along with the old-time classics. The Ho'ike is held the day before most visitors and competing halau get into town. | Kumu hula Sonny Ching, left, of Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu had a birthday month to remember: his Miss Aloha Hula candidate, Natasha Mahealani Akau, won the 2004 title, his men won the overall kane award on Saturday night, and the women placed third in women's overall. | |
| Merrie Monarch hula contestants routinely braid their hair tightly to create the waterfall waves so desirable for hula kahiko (old-style). Here, Miss Aloha Hula contestant Trina Lee Kawailehua Perkins gets some help unbraiding her hair from kumu hula Napua Greig and Kahulu Maluo-Huber of Maui's Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka. |  |
