Hilo Awards New Miss Aloha Hula

HONOLULU -- A dancer with Hälau Ke‘alaokamaile captured the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2009 on Thursday night in Hilo at the 46th Merrie Monarch Festival.

Cherissa Henoheanäpuaikawaokele Käne won the title. Käne also won the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Language Award.

She joins the few dancers who can claim to be among the world's best hula dancers.

The new Miss Aloha Hula was the third of the 11 women to perform for the kahiko and auana.

Käne's kumu hula (hula teacher) is singer/songwriter Kealii Reichel.

Last year, Kalimakuhilani Akemi Kalämanamana Suganuma from Keolalaulani Hälau ‘Olapa O Laka won the coveted honor. Suganuma danced the final performance of the evening as her last act as Miss Aloha Hula before the results were given.

Miss Aloha Hula 2009 Results:

Winner: Cherissa Henoheanäpuaikawaokele Käne 1,064 points (Video: Kahiko | Auana

1st Runner Up: C’ari Mae Kawailehua Kealoha 1,038 points (Video: Kahiko | Auana

2nd Runner Up: Kaholo Kahikipi‘ilani Panui 1,026 points (Video: Kahiko | Auana)

3rd Runner Up: Pöhaikau‘ilani Ann Nu‘uhiwa 1,017 points (Video: Kahiko | Auana)

4th Runner Up: Maria Ka‘iulani Kanehailua 1,005 points (Video: Kahiko | Auana)

OHA Hawaiian Language Award: Cherissa Henoheanäpuaikawaokele Käne

The winner of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Hawaiian Language Award receives $1,000.

The festival continues Friday night with group competition. Watch the kane (men) and wahine (women) halau (groups) dance the kahiko, or traditional dance.

The event wraps up Saturday night with the kane and wahine halau performing their auana, or modern dance. It ends that night with the awards ceremony.

Hundreds of people from around the world tuned in Thursday night from as far away as Kuwait. There were some Hawaii students on the mainland that made an effort to tune in late at night also. Read some of their e-mails.