Grammy-nominated singer, chanter and kumu hula Keali'i Reichel's Halau Kealaokamaile will make its first competitive appearance at the 2009 Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition, joining 21 other hula schools from around the Islands and on the Mainland.

Reichel's Maui-based halau is entering the group division of the Islands' most prestigious and most-watched hula competition and is also hosting a Miss Aloha Hula contestant, Cherissa Henoheanapuaikawaokele Kane.

The Merrie Monarch Festival opens today in Hilo, with the hula competition beginning with the Miss Aloha Hula event on Thursday, followed by two nights of group competition. The event is, as usual, sold out but will be aired on KITV 4.

Participants in the 46th annual hula competition include (halau name followed by teachers and school location; asterisk indicates first Merrie Monarch halau appearance):

Halau Hula O Puka'ikapuaokalani, Ellen Castillo, Kailua, O'ahu

Halau Hula O Hokulani, Hokulani DeRego, Waipahu, O'ahu

Halau Hula O Kahikilaulani, Ray Fonseca, Hilo, Hawai'i island

* Halau Hula O Kaleimomi, Sheldeen Kaleimomi Haleamau, Las Vegas

Halau Hula Olana, Olana and Howard Ai, Pu'uloa and 'Aiea, O'ahu

Halau I Ka Wekiu, Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, Honolulu

Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea, Kapua Dalire-Moe, Kane'ohe, O'ahu

Halau Ke Kia'i A O Hula, Kapi'olani Ha'o, Kapalama, O'ahu

* Halau Kealaokamaile, Keali'i Reichel, Maui

Halau Keali'i O Nalani, Keali'i Ceballos, Los Angeles

Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Napua Greig and Kahulu Maluo-Huber, Kula, Maui

Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu, William Kahakuleilehua Hanau'u "Sonny" Ching, Honolulu

Halau Mohala 'Ilima, Mapuana de Silva, Ka'ohao (Lanikai), O'ahu

Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua, Carlson Kamaka Kukona III, Kahului, Maui

Halau 'O Lilinoe, Sissy and Lilinoe Kaio, Carson City, Calif.

Hula Halau 'O Kamuela, Kau'ionalani Kamana'o and Kunewa Mook, Waimanalo and Kalihi, O'ahu

* Ka La 'Onohi Mai O Ha'eha'e, Tracie and Keawe Lopes, Kalihi, O'ahu

Ke Kai O Kahiki, O'Brian Eselu, Wai'anae, O'ahu

Kawaili'ula, Chinky Mahoe, Kailua, O'ahu

Keolalaulani Halau 'Olapa O Laka, Aloha Dalire, Kane'ohe, O'ahu

Na Hula O Kaohikukapulani, Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza, Hanapepe, Kaua'i

Na Lei O Ka Holoku, Leialoha Lim Amina and Nani Lim Yap, Kohala, Hawai'i island