The Complete 2018 Merrie Monarch Festival Winners List

See which of Hawaii’s top halau hula won.

And that’s a wrap. With the 55th Merrie Monarch Festival coming to a close last night, we’ve seen three full days of excellent hula performances and competition. With 24 of Hawaii’s top halau hula (troupes) competing to win an assortment of titles, and 12 female contestants striving to be named 2018 Miss Aloha Hula, it’s needless to say that the competition was fierce.

Scoring the event this year were judges Cy Bridges, Maelia Loebenstein-Carter, Ainsley Halemanu, Nalani Kanakaole Zane, Mae Kamamalu Klein, Piilani Lua and Kalena Silva. Keeping a close eye on dancers posture, precisions, fluency in olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language), expression, hand gestures, foot movement and various other aspects, the judges tallied their scores on Sunday to announce the winners in categories such as Overall Winner, Wahine Kahiko Winner and Kane Auana Winner.

Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka was awarded the Overall Winner award with a score of 1,200 points. Hailing from Maui, the halau’s solo dancer, Shalia Kamakaokalani, was also the winner of the Miss Aloha Hula award. Speaking in an interview after the awards ceremony, kumu (teacher) Napua Greig said that the halau would be excusing itself from the future competitions, as many of their alakai (leaders) in the halau will be graduating in short time. “It’s our kuleana (mission) to get the next generation ready,” said Greig.

Here’s the complete winners list.

Overall Winner

1. Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu Napua Greig, 1,200 points.

2. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, kumu Kaleo Trinidad, 1,198 points.

3. Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala, kumu Leinaala Pavao Jardin, 1,188 points.

Wahine Kahiko

1. Halau Hiiakainamakalehua, kumu Robert Keano Kaupu IV and Lono Padilla, 600 points.

2. Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu Napua Greig, 596 points.

3. Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala, kumu Leinaala Pavao Jardin, 592 points.

4. Halau Mohala Ilima, kumu Mapuana de Silva, 583 points.

5. Hula Halau O Kamuela, kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauionalani Kamanao, 582 points.

Wahine Auana

1. Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu Napua Greig, 604 points.

2. Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala, kumu Leinaala Pavao Jardin, 596 points.

3. Hula Halau O Kamuela, kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauionalani Kamanao, 593 points.

4. Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua, kumu Kamaka Kukona, 589 points.

5. Halau I Ka Wekiu, kumu Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, 586 points.

Wahine Overall

1. Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu Napua Greig, 1,200 points.

2. Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaala, kumu Leinaala Pavao Jardin, 1,188 points.

3. Hula Halau O Kamuela, kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauionalani Kamanao, 1,175 points.

4. Halau Hiiakainamakalehua, kumu Robert Keano Kaupu IV and Lono Padilla, 1,175 points.

Kane Kahiko

1. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, kumu Kaleo Trinidad, 594 points.

2. Halau Kekuaokalaaualailiahi, kumu Haunani and Iliahi Paredes, 590 points.

3. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu Lopaka Igarta-De Vera and William Kahakuleilehua Haunuu “Sonny” Ching, 586 points.

4. Halau I Ka Wekiu, kumu Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, 585 points.

Kane Auana

1. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, kumu Kaleo Trinidad, 604 points.

2. Halau Kekuaokalaaualailiahi, kumu Haunani and Iliahi Paredes, 584 points.

3. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu Lopaka Igarta-De Vera and William Kahakuleilehua Haunuu “Sonny” Ching, 583 points.

4. Halau I Ka Wekiu, kumu Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, 582 points.
 

Kane Overall

1. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, kumu Kaleo Trinidad, 1,198 points.

2. Halau Kekuaokalaaualailiahi, kumu Haunani and Iliahi Paredes, 1,174 points.

3. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu Lopaka Igarta-De Vera and William Kahakuleilehua Haunuu “Sonny” Ching, 1,169 points.