2015 Merrie Monarch Winners- Hula Kahiko (Wahine Division)

Highlights of the 5 top finishers in the 2015 Hula Kahiko (ancient), Wahine (female) Division.

1st Place: Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela
Nā Kumu Hula: Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo & Kunewa Mook

“Ki‘eki‘e Kīlauea Me Mauna Loa”
This story was told by Mokemanu and printed in Ka Loea Kalaiaina, in the year 1899. The Pele family arrived at Hiʻiakanoholae in Kona, Hawaiʻi. Moving forth from Mauna Loa, Pele declares Halemaʻumaʻu her home and
names it Kīlauea. Pele then establishes the divisions of Kīlauea and renames the low-lying plain of Kīlauea as Kapikoʻowākea, a term used in traditional astronomy and geography to mean the terrestrial and celestial equator.

2nd Place: Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka
Kumu Hula: Nāpua Greig

“E Manono”
“E Manono” was written to commemorate Manono, wife of Kekuaokalani. She was known to fight alongside her husband. Manono and her husband led our people, who still believed in the traditional kapu system, into battle to defend their religious beliefs, world views and way of life. In this mele, the burden of life and war is made light of and balanced by the strength and intensity of aloha.

3rd Place: Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe
Nā Kumu Hula: Tracie & Keawe Lopes

“E Kuini E Kapiʻolani”
This hula ʻōlapa is a hula noho ʻiliʻili honoring Kapiʻolani, queen consort of King Kalākaua. Queen Kapiʻolani was the daughter of high chief Kinoiki Kekaulike, who was the daughter of Kaumualiʻi, the last King of Kauaʻi
and Niʻihau. Queen Kapi‘olani is honored here with sentiments that refer to heavenly associations including this particular puana “Nou ē ke ahi piʻo i ka lewa. Yours is the rainbow arched on high.”

4th Place: Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu
Nā Kumu Hula: William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera

“Eia Me Aʻu Kō Aloha”
Pele advises Lohiʻau to search for Hiʻiaka on the island of Oʻahu at the court of the chiefess Peleʻula. At the behest of Kānemilohae, Lohiʻau remains outside and listens for Hiʻiaka’s voice in chant. During a pause in her chanting he takes up the last line and completes it, thus beginning a series of back and forth chanting between them. Hiʻiaka seeks him out, and it is there, beneath the milo tree where he is waiting, that the two are finally reunited.

5th Place: Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea
Kumu Hula: Kapua Dalire-Moe

“Aia I Nuʻuanu Kō Lei Nani”
In 1883 Mrs. Edwin Harbottle Boyd composed this mele lei for Queen Kapiʻolani. The imagery of ʻāhihi in full bloom woven by the Kiʻowao wind and made complete with makahala blossoms is a tribute to the skill of the
composer. Beautifully described is Nuʻuanu and its surrounding area, all brought to mind in this lovely mele.


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The Merrie Monarch Festival
Fulfilling its mission to preserve and perpetuate the art of hula, each year the Merrie Monarch Festival provides a stage for the world’s finest hula hālau (schools) in order to showcase Hawaiʻi’s unique cultural art of hula. The 3-day competition is broadcast statewide from Hilo, Hawai’i, with millions following worldwide via live streaming and social media.