HILO — The men of Halau Hiiakainamakalehua, an Oahu halau, danced “Kaua I Ka Nani Ao Hilo,” a mele hooipoipo (love song) honoring King David Kalakaua, in Saturday night’s group hula ‘auana (modern hula) competition at the 55th annual Merrie Monarch Festival.
The halau, under the direction of co-kumu hula Robert Keano Kaupu IV, a Keaukaha native, and Lono Padilla, a Mauian, brought both kane (men) and wahine (women) to the “Super Bowl of Hula.” Their performance was among 29, nine by kane groups and 20 by wahine groups, representing 24 halau at the Edith Kanakaole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.
Saturday’s competition and the awards ceremony, which took place early Sunday morning, concluded later than West Hawaii Today’s print deadline.
Also on Saturday, the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade wound its way through downtown Hilo. Awards were given for the outstanding floats, pa‘u princesses, p‘au units and pooper scoopers, as follows:
• Outstanding Pa‘u Princess:
1st place – Kea Keolanui, representing Oahu
2nd place – Jessica Kaleianuenue Kunishige, representing Maui
3rd place – Diane Pualani Aki-Texeira (representation not submitted)
• Outstanding Pa‘u Unit:
1st place – Oahu
2nd place – Maui
3rd place – Molokai
• Outstanding Pooper Scooper:
1st place – Molokai
2nd place – Oahu
3rd place – Maui
• Overall Combined Award
Oahu
• Floats:
1st place – Halau Hula O Kahikilaulani
2nd place – Hui Okinawa Kobudo Taiko
3rd place – Tie: Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union and Wal-Mart.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.