HONOLULU -- Oahu halau captured the top honors at the 44th annual Merrie Monarch Festival on Saturday night in Hilo.

Besides capturing the top kane awards for the kahiko and auana, the men of Halau I Ka Wekiu also won the overall festival title. The halau beat out wahine of Hula Halau O Kamuela by one point for the overall award.

Halau I Ka Wekiu's unique hula skirts added to their captivating presence on stage.

"We knew that when we were practicing it. We would get chicken skin as we heard those skirts come in, but we are just so proud of them proud of what they accomplished together," kumu hula (teacher) Michael Casupang said.

Perrenial winner Hula Halau O Kamuela captured the wahine kahiko and auana divisional awards.

"It feels really good, and it's not about the winning. I just wanted to show that what my kumu left behind for me -- I just want her to be very proud of me and what I did," kumu hula Kau`ionalani Kamana`o said.

2007 Overall Winner: Halau I Ka Wekiu (kane) 1179 points

Wahine Overall Scores:

1st place: Hula Halau O Kamuela 1178 points Kahiko

2nd place: Halau Mohala `Ilima 1168 points

3rd place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina 1160 points

Wahine Kahiko Scores:

1st place: Hula Halau O Kamuela 591 points (tie-breaker 822) Watch Video

2nd place: Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka 591 points (tie-breaker 817) Watch Video

3rd place: Halau Mohala `Ilima 585 points Watch Video

4th place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina 582 points Watch Video

5th place: Ka Pa Hula O Kauanoe O Wa`ahila 581 points

Wahine Auana Scores:

1st place: Hula Halau O Kamuela 587 points Watch Video

2nd place: Halau Mohala `Ilima 583 points Watch Video

3rd place: Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani 582 points Watch Video

4th place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina 578 points

5th place: Keolalaulani Halau `Olapa O Laka 577 points

Kane Overall Scores:

1st place: Halau I Ka Wekiu 1179 points Auana

2nd place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La 1132 points Watch Video

3rd place: Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua 1109 points

Kane Kahiko Scores:

1st place: Halau I Ka Wekiu 568 points Watch Video

2nd place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La 555 points

3rd place: Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua 554 points Watch Video

4th place: Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua 534 points

Kane Auana Scores:

1st place: Halau I Ka Wekiu 611 points Watch Video

2nd place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La 577 points Watch Video

3rd place: Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua 555 points Watch Video

4th place: Academy of Hawaiian Arts 551 points Watch Video