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Kelina Eldredge KSK’12 of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua was named Miss Aloha Hula - the highest honor for a solo hula dancer. Her kumu hula are Robert Ka‘upu and Lono Padilla (above). She also earned the prestigious Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Language Award for her outstanding use of ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. Over the past decade, eight Miss Aloha Hula winners have been nā pua a Pauahi!

KS connections abound at Merrie Monarch Festival

Apr. 25, 2017

Contributed by Nadine Lagaso

Kamehameha Schools strives to instill a strong Native Hawaiian identity in its haumāna, cultivating leaders who serve their local and global communities. The KS alumni featured in this story are shining examples of Hawaiian alaka‘i who have embraced their heritage by perpetuating the art of hula, the Hawaiian language, and cultural traditions.

Members of the KS ‘ohana didn’t have to go far to find KS classmates, colleagues and friends at Hilo’s Merrie Monarch Festival last week. From kumu hula and haumāna, to TV personalities and pā‘ū riders, KS was well-represented.

The annual festival includes a craft fair, a royal parade and an internationally acclaimed hula competition held at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. Nearly 30 hula hālau were vying for titles this year.

Five KS alumni kumu hula led their hālau to victory at the three-day competition earning top awards. They included Nā Kumu Hula Tracie Lopes KSK’89 and Keawe Lopes and Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe who won the Lokalia Montgomery Perpetual Trophy – the competition’s highest honor!

Thanks to a Kamehameha Schools sponsorship, TV viewers were able to enrich their Merrie Monarch experience by choosing to view the hula competition in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i. Serving as the hosts for the first-time Hawaiian language telecast were Hiapo Perreira KSK’92 – associate professor of Hawaiian language and literature at UH Hilo and wife Hanakahi Perreira – an instructional evaluator at KS Hawai‘i.

Following are the KS alumni and their hālau who earned awards at this year’s Merrie Monarch hula competition. E ho‘omaika‘i iā kākou – congratulations everyone – and mahalo to each of you for bringing honor to the legacy of Ke Ali‘i Bernice Pauahi Bishop!

Click photos at right to enlarge.

LOKALIA MONTGOMERY PERPETUAL TROPHY
Winner (most points overall)
Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe
Nā Kumu Hula Tracie Lopes KSK’89 and Keawe Lopes

OVERALL AWARDS
Wāhine
1st Place
Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe
Nā Kumu Hula Tracie Lopes KSK’89 and Keawe Lopes

Kāne
2nd Place
Hālau I Ka Wēkiu
Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker KSK’76 and Michael Casupang

3rd Place
Hālau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi
Nā Kumu Hula Haunani Paredes and Iliahi Paredes KSK’92

KAHIKO AWARDS
Wāhine
2rd Place
Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe
Nā Kumu Hula Tracie Lopes KSK’89 and Keawe Lopes

5th Place
Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka
Kumu Hula Nāpua Greig KSK’92

ʻAUANA AWARDS
Wāhine
1st Place
Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe
Nā Kumu Hula Tracie Lopes KSK’89 and Keawe Lopes

2nd Place
Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine
Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval KSK’93

Kāne
1st Place ‘Auana & First Runner Up Overall
Hālau I Ka Wēkiu
Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker KSK’76 and Michael Casupang

2nd Place
Hālau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi
Nā Kumu Hula Haunani Paredes and Iliahi Paredes KSK’92

MISS ALOHA HULA AWARD
1st Place
Kelina Eldredge KSK’12
Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua
Nā Kumu Hula Robert Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla
Eldredge also won the prestigious Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Language Award for her outstanding use of ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.

2nd Place
Juleyn Kaluna KSK’14
Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela
Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo

5th Place
Miriam Arakawa KSM’13
Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka
Kumu Hula Nāpua Greig Nakasone KSK’92

To see all of the KS alumni who shared their passion for hula, Hawaiian language and culture at the festival’s hula competition, see the previous I Mua Newsroom story. For more on the annual events, visit the Merrie Monarch Festival website.

STRATEGIC PLAN 2020
SP2020 is a five-year strategic plan that will guide Kamehameha Schools from 2015 to 2020. The plan marks a starting point toward KS’ Vision 2040, which envisions success for all Native Hawaiian learners.

Kamehameha alumni across the globe who lead with Hawaiian knowledge and values help strengthen the native Hawaiian identity of KS, supporting Goal 3 of SP2020.


The wāhine of Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe led by nā kumu hula Tracie Lopes KSK’89 and Keawe Lopes won the overall, women’s overall, and women’s ʻauana titles.


Nā kumu hula Karl Veto Baker KSK’76 and Michael Casupang and the men of Hālau I Ka Wēkiu took top honors in men’s ʻauana.


Festival President Luana Kawelu KSK’58 (right) oversees the event following in the footsteps of her late mother, Dottie Thompson (left). Kawelu's daughters Kathy KSK’90, Colleen KSK'83 - a KSH administrative coordinator - and Colleen Kawelu's niece Kawena KSH’15 also play critical rolls in the operation of the festival.


TV personality Billy V, Hawaiian language expert Amy Kalili KSK’89, and KS Cultural Consultant and kumu hula Manu Boyd KSK’80 provided cultural commentary during the hula competition.


KS East Hawai‘i Preschool Administrative Coordinator Lokelani Kipilii KSK’99 and husband Eli – a KS Hawai‘i lifeguard – reigned over this year’s festival as King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani.


KS Hawai‘i Associate Head of School Scott De Sa and his ‘ohana rode in the prestigious Pā‘ū Queen’s unit in the festival’s Royal Parade. Photo by Nicolas Kale Los Baños.


De Sa, his cousin Pā‘ū Queen Laurie Lewis and others hand-crafted horse lei, pā‘ū skirts, capes and more as a treasured family tradition. This is the family’s last year taking part in the parade.


The KS Kapālama marching band under the direction of Band Kumu Matthew Urabe KSK’99 and Interim Assistant Band Director Jason Kaneakua KSK‘96 performed as part of the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade.

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