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Merrie Monarch Festival

The latest news coverage of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, a weeklong hula competition on Hawaii island celebrating the Hawaiian culture.

Video: Kumu Hula Kaleo Trinidad

March 31, 2015

Kaleo Trinidad’s halau returns after last year’s Merrie Monarch victory

By Nina Wu
March 29, 2015
5 min read

As kumu hula Kaleo Trinidad thumps his pahu drum, the men of Ka Leo o Laka i ka Hikina o ka La move with masculine grace to the beat. Their unified voices, powerful and strong, resonate through a school gym in Kaneohe, a look of fierceness and resolve on their faces as they rehearse for next month's 52nd Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo. Read more

Kumu hula won first Merrie Monarch title

By Nina Wu
Aug. 7, 2014
3 min read

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Aloha Dalire, first Miss Aloha Hula, dies at age 64

By Nina Wu
Aug. 6, 2014

Paying tribute to Pele

By Lynn Cook, Special to the Star-Advertiser
April 28, 2014

Honolulu troupe wins overall title at Merrie Monarch

By Nina Wu
April 28, 2014

Giving a winning performance at the 51st Merrie Monarch Festival was a sweet landing for the dancers of Ka Leo o Laka i ka Hikina o ka La, who have been on a long voyage of preparation this past year. Read more

Saturday into Sunday

By Lynn Cook, Special to the Star-Advertiser
April 27, 2014

Kahiko competition boasts drama, passion

By Nina Wu
April 27, 2014

HILO » If there's one halau that can capture the attention of spectators seated for marathon hours at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium, it's kumu hula Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu's Academy of Hawaiian Arts. Read more

Trinidad’s halau wins overall title at Merrie Monarch

By Nina Wu
April 27, 2014

Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La of Honolulu, under the direction of kumu hula Kaleo Trinidad, took the overall title at the 51st Merrie Monarch Festival. Read more

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Flowers and candy

April 26, 2014

A shopper’s paradise

By Lynn Cook, Special to the Star-Advertiser
April 26, 2014

Kahiko night pays homage to the past at Merrie Monarch Festival

By Nina Wu
April 26, 2014

New Miss Aloha Hula radiated joy, gratitude in winning performance

By Nina Wu
April 26, 2014

HILO » Ke‘alohilani Tara Eliga Serrao, who won the title of Miss Aloha Hula on Thursday night at the 51st Merrie Monarch Festival, is not a person of many words. Read more