Merrie Monarch set for summer, will include Maui halau | News, Sports, Jobs

Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi dances its way to a first-place finish in the wahine ‘auana category of the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo in 2019, the last time the festival was held before COVID-19. The halau will be among 15 participating in the festival this summer. — MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL photo

The Merrie Monarch Festival, the world’s largest hula competition, will take place this summer and will include two Maui-based halau, organizers announced Friday.

The iconic annual festival was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s competition will not have a live audience and will feature 15 halau, including Maui’s own Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi, led by Kumu Hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, and Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua, under the direction of Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona.

This year’s event will be broadcast over three nights on Hawaii News Now’s KFVE. Performances will take place and be judged in Hilo at the Edith Kanaka’ole Stadium on June 24, 25,and 26 and then be broadcast the following week on July 1, 2 and 3, at which time the winners will be announced, according to a news release.

There are 11 wahine and eight kane performance groups, in both the kahiko (traditional) and ‘auana (modern) categories, as well as seven Miss Aloha Hula contestants.

All halau participants, festival staff and television production crew will follow safety guidelines, including undergoing multiple COVID tests, a five-day isolation period prior to entering the competition venue for the first time and daily screenings to monitor participants for symptoms.

Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua performs during the wahine ‘auana portion of the Merrie Monarch Festival in 2019. The halau will be participating again in this year’s festival, which will not include a live audience. — MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL photo

For more information, visit merriemonarch.com.

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