Oahu Halau Win Top Merrie Monarch Awards

HONOLULU -- A kane (men) halau from Waianae won the overall award Saturday night at the 46th annual Merrie Monarch Festival.

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)

Wahine Overall Scores:

1st place: Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu 1,142 points

2nd place: Hula Hälau ‘O Kamuela 1,125 points (Video)

3rd place: Hälau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani 1,118 points

Wahine Kahiko Scores:

1st place: Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu 564 points (Video)

2nd place: Hälau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani 557 points (Video)

3rd place: Hälau Möhala ‘Ilima 544 points (Video)

4th place: Hula Hälau ‘O Kamuela 542 points

5th place: Hälau Nä Lei O Kaholokü 535 points

Wahine Auana Scores:

1st place: Hula Hälau ‘O Kamuela 583 points (Video)

2nd place: Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu 578 points (Video)

3rd place: Ka Lä ‘Önohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e 568 points (Video)

4th place: Hälau Ke‘alaokamaile 567 points (Video)

5th place: Hälau Nä Lei Kaumaka O Uka 566 points

Kane Overall Scores:

1st place: Ke Kai O Kahiki 1,151 points (Video)

2nd place: Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu 1,141 points

3rd place: Kawaili‘ulä 1,080 points

Kane Kahiko Scores:

1st place: Ke Kai O Kahiki 567 points (Video)

2nd place: Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu 551 points (Video)

3rd place: Kawaili‘ulä 511 points (Video)

4th place: Hälau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani 507 points

Kane Auana Scores:

1st place: Hälau Nä Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu 590 points (Video)

2nd place: Ke Kai O Kahiki 584 points (Video)

3rd place: Kawaili‘ulä 569 points (Video)

4th place: Hälau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniäkea 551 points