Merrie Monarch Festival 2026

03/06/2026

Auhea ʻoukou e ka poʻe makamaka mai nā lehua ʻula o Hawaiʻi, a i nā ʻale o Niʻihau, ā puni ka honua! Aloha nui nō kākou! Listed below are the 2026 judges and participating hālau hula for the upcoming 63rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival.

2026 Judges:
Maelia Loebenstein Carter
Vicky Hanakaʻulaniokamāmalu Holt Takamine
ʻIwalani Kalima
Noenoe Zuttermeister Lewis
Nani Lim Yap
Etua Lopes
Wallis Punua

2026 Participating Hālau

Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker & Michael Lanakila Casupang
Pauoa, O‘ahu
Hālau I Ka Wēkiu

Kumu Snowbird Puananiopaoakalani Bento
Honolulu, O‘ahu
Ka Pā Hula O Ka Lei Lehua

Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera
Kapahulu, O‘ahu
Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu

Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire
He‘eia, O‘ahu
Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka

Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe
He‘eia, O‘ahu
Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea

Kumu Hula Māpuana de Silva
Ka‘ōhao, O‘ahu
Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima

Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine
Kapālama, Oʻahu
Nā Pualei o Likolehua

Kumu Hula Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu
Oakland, California
Academy of Hawaiian Arts

Nā Kumu Hula Lilinoe & Pele Kaio
Carson, California
Hālau ‘O Lilinoe & Nā Pua Me Ke Aloha (Kāne)

Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o
Kalihi & Waimānalo, O‘ahu
Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela

Kumu Hula Robert Keano Ka‘upu IV
Niuhelewai, Kona, O‘ahu
Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua

Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes
Pū‘ahu‘ula, Ko‘olaupoko, O‘ahu
Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e

Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes
Wailuku, Maui
Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi

Kumu Hula Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao
Kalāheo, Kaua‘i
Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā‘ala

Kumu Hula La‘akea Perry
Wai‘anae & Lāʻie, O‘ahu
Ke Kai O Kahiki

Kumu Hula Keli‘iho‘omalu Puchalski
Kaiwiʻula, O‘ahu
Kawai‘ulaokalā

Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva
Waiohuli, Maui
Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka

Kumu John Renken Kahaʻialiʻiokaiwiʻulaokamehameha Topolinski
Waipiʻo, Oʻahu
Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi

Kumu Hula Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor
Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i
Hālau Kala‘akeakauikawēkiu

04/27/2025

Please join us for the Merrie Monarch Hula ʻAuana & Awards starting at 6:00 pm!
For those who can’t make it, please join us on our livestream at
🎥: https://livestreams-tv.com/Merrie-Monarch-Festival-2025/
-Group Hula ʻAuana & Awards
-6:00 pm, Saturday, April 26th
-at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium
Hālau hula perform modern style dances, followed by an awards presentation for all group winners.

04/26/2025

Aloha pumehana kākou!

- Group Hula Kahiko
- 5:00 pm, Friday, April 25th
- at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium
- Hālau hula perform ancient style dances.

04/25/2025

Miss Aloha Hula 2025
HOʻOMAIKAʻI NUI

Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao
Hālau: Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā’ala
Kumu Hula: Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin
Hālau Location: Kalāheo, Kaua’i

04/23/2025

04/22/2025

E kipa mai! E launa pū kākou! Join us all week for free mid-day entertainment: live music and hula! 12:00 PM at the Grand Naniloa Hotel and 1:00 PM at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

Highlights from today’s hotel show featuring Ben Kaʻili and friends and Hālau Ke ʻOlu Makani O Mauna Loa, under the direction of Kumu Hula Meleana Manuel.

04/21/2025

Aloha kākou,
This year marks the 62nd anniversary of the Merrie Monarch Festival.
It was fifty-six years ago that my mother, known as Aunty Dottie Thompson, took over the chairmanship of the Festival. With the hula masters of that time, they set forth to recapture the spirit that prevailed during the reign of King Kalākaua.
I would like to express my warm aloha and a sincere mahalo to the Kumu Hula, their haumāna and kōkua for all of their dedication and hard work in making this Festival what it is today.
To the numerous volunteers behind the scenes who support us year after year, I am grateful for your selfless time and dedication. Many of you come after work and spend countless hours helping with this event and in doing so, you have not always had the chance to watch the beautiful performances on stage. You give without seeking recognition or financial gain. You are humble and gracious people who work because of your love for the Festival and for our community.
The Hawaiian concept of “mālama ʻohana” or “caring for each other” is embraced in this Festival. You are like my extended family that I hold dear to my heart. We have formed close bonds by working together yearly. I cannot adequately express my gratitude to each and every one of you. It is through our collective efforts, the Festival, Kumu Hula, Hālau, and volunteers, that we are able to celebrate and share hula and Hawaiian culture throughout Hawaiʻi and the world.
ʻO wau nō me ka haʻahaʻa,
Luana Kawelu
President

04/21/2025

The 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival, let's take a moment to relive the magic of last year's unforgettable kahiko performances.
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04/21/2025

Get Ready?
The 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival 2025

Ph:2024

04/21/2025

The 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival is happening April 20–26th! This must-see celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture features incredible performances, entertainment, and the iconic downtown Hilo parade.