The eight men of kumu hula O'Brian Eselu's Ke Kai O Kahiki captured the title. The wahine (women) halau of kumu hula Sonny Ching's Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu took second place overall and won the overall wahine division.
Two first-time groups to the Merrie Monarch Festival earned wins. Singer/songwriter Keali'i Reichel's Hälau Ke‘alaokamaile took fourth place in the wahine hula auana category and Tracie and Keawe Lopes' Ka Lä ‘Önohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e won third place in the same category.One of Reichel's dancers captured the Miss Aloha Hula title Thursday night. Cherissa Henoheanäpuaikawaokele was also the recipient of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs language award.Eselu's men had one of the most talked about dance. The group won the kahiko with a hula ma‘i, or procreation chant, that captured the attention of the audience and the judges. Ke Kai O Kahiki took second in the kane hula auana category behind Ching's kane. (Video)While Ching's halau won the wahine division and the wahine hula auana category, it took second in the wahine hula kahiko category behind Hula Hälau ‘O Kamuela.
2008 Overall Winner: Ke Kai O Kahiki (kane)
2nd place: Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu (wahine)
The dancers of Halau Hula Olana hold a final pose at the end of their mele.
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Wahine Overall Scores:
1st place: Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu 1,142 points
