The Winners of the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival

See some of the best performances from the annual competition.

The prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival wrapped up competition this weekend in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island. Like every year, the hula and mele were incredible. 

Jaedyn Janae Puahualani Pavao took home the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2025 on Thursday night at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. Pavao is a student and niece of Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin of Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala from Kalāheo, Kauaʻi.  

Under the direction of Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo, Hālau ʻO Kamuela took the top honor at the 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival. The Oʻahu-based hālau was named overall winner after 27 performances in the kahiko and ʻauana competitions. 

Here are the results: 

Group Overall Awards:  

1. Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o (Oʻahu): 1,216 
2. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala, Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin (Kauaʻi): 1,213
3. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (O’ahu): 1,205 

Wahine Overall Awards: 

1. Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo (Oʻahu): 1,216
2. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin (Kauaʻi): 1,213
3. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (Oʻahu): 1,191 

Kāne Overall Awards:  

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (Oʻahu): 1,205 
2. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 1,187
3. Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes (Maui): 1,184

Kahiko 

Wahine:  

1. Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo (Oʻahu): 605 
2. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin (Kauaʻi): 598
3. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (Oʻahu): 594
4. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 593 
5. Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes (Maui): 581

Kāne:  

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (Oʻahu): 596 
2. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 591 
3. Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes (Maui): 587
4. Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker and Michael Lanakila Casupang (Oʻahu): 585 

ʻAuana 

Wahine:  

1. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin (Kauaʻi): 615 
2. Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo (Oʻahu): 611 
3. Hālau Hula O Kauhionāmauna, Kumu Hula Theresa Kauhionāmauna Ramento Tehiva (Oʻahu): 600
4. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (Oʻahu): 597 (tie) 
5. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 597 (tie)

Kāne: 

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (Oʻahu): 609 
2. Kawaiʻulaokalā, Kumu Hula Keliʻihoʻomalu Puchalski (Oʻahu): 601
3. Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes (Maui): 597 
4. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (Oʻahu): 596