The sounds of ipu, pahu and chanting permeated the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium on Friday evening during the 61st Annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s group hula kahiko (ancient hula) competition.
There were 29 performances by 23 halau — 19 performances by wahine (women) groups and nine by kane (men).
Only one performance was by a halau representing Hawaii Island.
Halau Ka Lehua Pua Kamaehu, under the direction of na kumu hula Kasie Puahala Kaleohano and Brandi Nohelani Barrett, performed in the wahine group competition.
The Hilo-based halau, in its second year of Merrie Monarch competition, performed “Eli‘eli Kalana Ka Lehua ‘O Keaukaha.” The mele took the audience on a huaka‘i, a journey of discovery, to numerous places in Keaukaha that hold special meaning to the kumu.
From Kanakea, the “Ice Pond,” to Laiekawai, notable sites are mentioned in the mele, as well as the descriptive characteristics of each.
Only halau based in the United States are eligible to compete at Merrie Monarch, and there was one out-of-state halau, Academy of Hawaiian Arts of Oakland, Calif., under the direction of kumu hula Mark Keali‘i Ho‘omalu.
Ho‘omalu, who returns to the “Super Bowl of Hula” after almost a decade absence, is always a crowd favorite with his innovative chanting and choreography and his cool demeanor, usually sporting sunglasses that defy the glare of the TV lights.
Ho‘omalu’s kane performed “Ia ‘Oe E Ka La E ‘Alohi Nei,” a mele inoa (name chant) composed by Chiefess Nahinu of Kaua‘i, the cousin of Queen Kapi‘olani, to pay tribute to the queen’s husband, King David Kalakaua, the “Merrie Monarch” — a world traveler and ambassador of goodwill for Hawaii.
Academy of Hawaiian Arts’ wahine danced to “He Inoa Ahi No Kalakaua,” a mele composed by David Malo, who accompanied Kalakaua on his inaugural tour of his kingdom in 1874, and published the mele in the Hawaiian newspaper “Nuhou.”
No awards were presented Friday night. However, judging for group kahiko, ‘auana and overall performances and the awards ceremonies will follow tonight’s group hula ‘auana competition, which starts at 6 p.m. at the stadium.
‘Auana night will feature the same 23 halau dancing 29 modern hula performances in the same order as Friday night’s kahiko performances.
Today is the final day of the Merrie Monarch Festival, and the events leading up to tonight’s hula finale are:
— 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.: Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Crafts Fair at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium;
— 10:30 a.m.: Royal Parade through downtown Hilo;
— Noon: Ke Ola Pono No Na Kupuna Alu Like Pahoa, kumu hula Haunani Medeiros, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The awards ceremony usually occurs early Sunday morning immediately after the competition, and the Hawaii Tribune-Herald will publish the results online.
A comprehensive wrap-up of the 61st Annual Merrie Monarch hula competition will appear in Monday’s edition.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.