Big Island Halau Takes Top Merrie Monarch Title

HONOLULU -- Kumu hulas Nani Lim Yap and Leialoha Lim Amina's halau were the one left on stage when the Merrie Monarch Festival ended early Sunday morning.

Na Lei O Kaholoku won the title of overall winner. The halau took the top spot for wahine (women) halau with a second place finish in the hula auana (modern) and a third place finish in the hula kahiko (traditional).

Kumu hula (teacher) Leina`ala Kalama-Heine returned to the Merrie Monarch after several years off with her halau, Na Pualei O Likolehua, winning the top wahine kahiko award.

It was also a big return for kumu hula Chinky Mahoe. After a break of several years, Halau Hula O Kawaili'ula returned by winning the kane division's top kahiko award and overall kane award.

Kaleo Trinidad's halau, Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, won both the kane and wahine's top auana titles.

Trinidad's halau sister from high school at Kamehameha Schools under Holoua Stender, kumu hula Snowbird Bento, also had a good night. Bento's halau, Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua, took overall second place for the kane division.

Kumu hula Mapuana De Silva celebrated her 30th year of teaching at this year's Merrie Monarch Festival.

The scoring showed how close the competition was. There were four tie-breakers needed to decide placing in the wahine division.

2006 Overall Winner: Na Lei O Kaholoku 1,194 points

Wahine Kahiko Scores:

1st place: Na Pualei O Likolehua 597 points

2nd place: Halau Mohala `Ilima 591 points (tie-breaker 830)

3rd place: Na Lei O Kaholoku 591 points (tie-breaker 827)

4th place: Hula Halau O Kamuela 590 points (tie-breaker 827)

5th place: Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani 590 points (tie-breaker 826)

Wahine Auana Scores:

1st place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La 605 points

2nd place: Na Lei O Kaholoku 603 points (tie-breaker 845)

3rd place: Hula Halau O Kamuela 603 points (tie-breaker 841)

4th place: Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani 600 points

5th place: Halau Mohala `Ilima 597 points

Wahine Overall Scores:

1st place: Na Lei O Kaholoku 1,194 points

2nd place: Hula Halau O Kamuela 1,193 points

3rd place: Halau O Ke `A`ali`i Ku Makani 1,190 points (tie-breaker 1,662)

Kane Kahiko Scores:

1st place: Halau Hula `O Kawailiula 589 points

2nd place: Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua 580 points

3rd place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La 568 points

4th place: Halau Ke Kia`i A O Hula 552 points

Kane Auana Scores:

1st place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La 602 points

2nd place: Halau Hula `O Kawailiula 585 points

3rd place: Halau O Na Pua Kukui 574 points

4th place: Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua 557 points

Kane Overall Scores:

1st place: Halau Hula `O Kawailiula 1,174 points

2nd place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La 1,170 points

3rd place: Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua 1,137 points