Two Hawaii Island residents have been chosen take on the roles of King David Kalakaua and Queen Kapi‘olani during this week’s Merrie Monarch Festival.
Each year, President Luana Kawelu and a committee search for two individuals who exemplify maturity, humility and pride in the Hawaiian culture.
Ipolei Lindsey-Asing, 37, is returning to the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium to reign as Queen Kapi‘olani during the 61st annual festival.
Born and raised in Makawao, Maui, Lindsey-Asing made hula her life when she was just a keiki. It became even more serious when she was a dancer with Halau Na Lei Kaumaka o Uka under kumu hula Napua Silva.
Lindsey-Asing competed in Merrie Monarch with the halau for several years and even danced for the title of Miss Aloha Hula in 2008.
Lindsey-Asing married her husband and they grew their family together in Makawao before moving to Keaau six years ago.
Since getting to the Big Island, Lindsey-Asing has earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and become a kumu hula.
“I’ve danced my whole life, and I think maybe after high school or in early 20s, I started to think about how I could be a kumu hula,” Lindsey-Asing said. “People think of hula as an extra activity, but it’s not. It’s a lifestyle. I think I always desired to become more.”
Lindsey-Asing spent years training under Silva and became a kumu hula three years ago. She now teaches three classes through her halau in Keaau, Halau Nawehiokaipoaloha.
Before she teaches her halau in the evening, Lindsey-Asing owns and runs a malama keiki, Na Liko Poli Makua, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Lindsey-Asing is one of a few kumu hula and past Merrie Monarch dancers to take on the role of queen. At first, she was unsure about taking on the challenge and had to think it over for a couple weeks.
Realizing it could be her only chance, Lindsey-Asing was honored to accept the unique opportunity from Kawelu.
“It was overwhelming, because it not just myself that I was thinking about. I was thinking about what you are representing as mo‘i. It’s a huge kuleana,” Lindsey-Asing said. “I’ve come to Merrie Monarch as a dancer, a soloist, ipu player, and that comes with its own kuleana. This is just one more kuleana for kakou, for Merrie Monarch, for our people.
“This opportunity may not come around again, and whatever it requires of me, that’s what I’ll do,” she continued.
This will be the first time Lindsey-Asing will be able to watch the competition in its entirety, despite being part of it for so long. Her daughter, Keli‘ihala‘ihulumanu, will be by her side, as she will carry the queen’s gown each night.
“When you’re competing, you never get to catch the entire thing, and now I get to see it from beginning to end, Ho‘ike to awards, and I think that’ll be special,” Lindsey-Asing said. “I’ll get to just sit and watch with my daughter, too. She has loved hula since she was a baby and is just as excited as me.”
Lindsey-Asing is looking forward to honoring her ‘ohana and perpetuating her culture, which she strives to do every day as the president of the Welo Foundation, a nonprofit that supports and preserves Hawaiian culture and traditions.
Walking alongside Lindsey-Asing will be Russell Crabbe, 47, who will be representing King Kalakaua, the Merrie Monarch.
Born and raised in Makaha, Oahu, Crabbe decided to move to the Big Island in 1996 to pursue career opportunities. While working at a resort on the west side, he met his wife, Charla Crabbe, who inspired him to start his contracting business.
“I worked at the resorts for 10 years, and then I met my wife, and she changed my direction and helped me get into construction,” Crabbe said. “Today, we have a family business we both run, and we love it.”
Crabbe was surprised when Kawelu approached him about the role of king, but attributed the honor to his son, Rusty, who helps with the festival each year.
“I met Aunty Luana one day on the mainland. We talked small story, and I stood up and left to meet my son,” Crabbe said. “We ran into each other again, and he introduced me officially, and the rest is history. She asked Rusty later if I would consider being king. It was definitely her vision.”
Crabbe has only seen Ho‘ike in person and is looking forward to watching the entire competition, even without breaks.
“Apparently if you stand up to go to the bathroom, the entire competition must stop for the king, so essentially, no bathroom breaks,” Crabbe said. “I don’t think that’s ever happened in the history of the competition.”
Since Crabbe has some tickets for family, many of them are flying in from Oahu to enjoy the week, watch the competition and support Crabbe as king.
“I got all my family from Honolulu flying in, my wife’s family is coming in. We’ll be well represented,” Crabbe said. “I am still absolutely surprised, but honored, to represent my family and Hawaii.”
While Crabbe himself is not as involved in hula, he comes from a long line of hula dancers, oli chanters, and one of his aunts was a judge for the competition. His brother even served as a Royal Court counselor a few years ago.
“He’s most excited to represent his family and to feel the pride of being Hawaiian,” Charla Crabbe said about her husband. “The Crabbe family is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture, so being a king for Merrie Monarch, it’s an exciting time.”
The process of becoming king and queen surprised Crabbe and Lindsey-Asing, as it was relatively simple. But they both credited Kawelu and the committee for having a vision for the Royal Court.
King David Kalakaua, Queen Kapi‘olani and the rest of the Royal Court will process in each evening at the beginning of the competition. They will also be in the Royal Merrie Monarch Parade on Saturday morning.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com