A Maui halau was the big overall winner at the 55th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition.
Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of kumu hula Napua Greig, took top honors in the overall, wahine (women) overall and wahine ‘auana (modern hula) categories, and placed second in the wahine kahiko (ancient hula) categories.
Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, an Oahu halau under the direction of kumu hula Kaleo Trinidad, swept the kane (men) overall, kahiko and ‘auana titles, and came in second overall with 1198 total points, two less than Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka’s 1200 points.
For the second consecutive year, the wahine kahiko title was taken by an Oahu halau, Hi‘iakainamakalehua, under the direction of na kumu hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV and Lono Padilla.
Three Hawaii Island halau competed, but none placed in any of the competition’s categories.
The competition ended early Sunday morning at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.
The top finishers in each category, kumu hula and points scored are below. A wrap-up story on the competition will appear in Monday’s Tribune-Herald.
• Overall
1. Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Napua Greig, 1200 points
2. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, Kaleo Trinidad, 1198 points
3. Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala, Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, 1188 points
• Kane Overall
1. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, Kaleo Trinidad, 1198 points
2. Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, 1174 points
3. Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, 1169 points
• Wahine Overall
1. Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Napua Greig, 1200 points
2. Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala, Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, 1188 points
3. (tie) Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela, Kau‘ionalani Kamana‘o and Kunewa Mook, 1175 points, 1633 tie-breaker
3. (tie) Hi‘iakainamakalehua, Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV and Lono Padilla, 1175 points, 1633 tie-breaker
• Kane Kahiko
1. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, Kaleo Trinidad, 594 points
2. Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, 590 points
3. Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, 586 points
4. Halau I Ka Wekiu, Karl Veto Baker and Michael Lanakila Casupang, 585 points
• Wahine Kahiko
1. Hi‘iakainamakalehua, Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV and Lono Padilla, 600 points
2. Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Napua Greig, 596 points
3. Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala, Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, 592 points
4. Halau Mohala ‘Ilima, Mapuana de Silva, 583 points
5. Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela, Kau‘ionalani Kamana‘o and Kunewa Mook, 582 points
• Kane ‘Auana
1. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, Kaleo Trinidad, 604 points
2. Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi, Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, 584 points
3. Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, 583 points
4. Halau I Ka Wekiu, Karl Veto Baker and Michael Lanakila Casupang, 582 points
• Wahine ‘Auana
1. Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Napua Greig, 604 points
2. Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala, Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, 596 points
3. Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela, Kau‘ionalani Kamana‘o and Kunewa Mook, 593 points
4. Halau o Kanu Lehua, Kamaka Kukona, 589 points
5. Halau I Ka Wekiu, Karl Veto Baker and Michael Lanakila Casupang, 586 points
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.