45th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival

Hilo, Hawaii - Under the direction of kumu hula Kanani Pharr-Cadaoas, Las Vegas' Nani Ola Hawaiian Dance Company dance to "Aloha Ku'u Home I Kahakuloa" at the 45th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival 2008.

2008 Merrie Monarch Results

Overall Winner: Hula Halau 'O Kamuela (kumu hula Kau'ionalani Kamana'o and Kunewa Mook)

Wahine Overall

1. Hula Halau 'O Kamuela - 1,205 pts.
2. Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu (kumu hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu'u Sonny Ching) - 1,192 pts.
3. Halau Hula Olana (kumu hula Howard and Olana Ai) - 1,177 pts.

Kane Overall

1. Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu - 1,204 pts.
2. Ke Kai O Kahiki (kumu hula O'Brian Eselu) - 1,196 pts.
3. Kawaili'ula (kumu hula Chinky Mahoe) - 1,172 pts.

Wahine 'Auana

1. Hula Halau 'O Kamuela - 608 pts.
2. Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu - 602 pts.
3. Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La (kumu hula Kaleo Trinidad) - 594 pts.
4. Halau Hula Olana - 592 pts.
5. Halau Mohala 'Ilima (kumu hula Mapuana de Silva) - 591 pts.

Kane 'Auana

1. Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu - 610 pts.
2. Ke Kai O Kahiki - 603 pts.
3. Kawaili'ula - 586 pts.
4. Halau Ke Kia'i A O Hula (kumu hula Kapi'olani Ha'o) - 567 pts.

Wahine Kahiko:

1. Hula Halau O Kamuela - 597 pts.
2. Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu - 590 pts.
3. Halau Hula Olana - 585 pts.
4. Ka Pa Hula O Kauanoe O Wa'ahila (kumu hula Maelia Loebenstein Carter) - 584 pts.
5. Halau Mohala 'Ilima - 580 pts.

Kane Kahiko

1. Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu - 594 pts.
2. Ke Kai O Kahiki - 593 pts.
3. Kawaili'ula - 586 pts.
4. Halau Keali'i O Nalani (kumu hula Keali'i Ceballos) - 559 pts.

Miss Aloha Hula 2008

1. Kalimakuhilani Akemi Kalämanamana Suganuma 1130 points (winner in tie-breaker)
2. Kapalai’ula de Silva 1130 points
3. Julie ‘Ilikea Afong 1116 points
4. Aureana Kamali’io’iwalani Tseu 1115 points
5. Kristy Ann Ku’uipou’iokalani Perez-Kaiwi 1114 points

OHA Hawaiian Language Award

1. Kalimakuhilani Akemi Kalämanamana Suganuma

Comments (2)

Maika'i loa!
written by Pu'ukani , April 06, 2008

Just wanted to send out personal congrats to Kumu Kanani and the Nani Ola Hawaiian Dance Company on proudly representing Las Vegas at this year's Merrie Monarch festival. A handful of listeners from Pipeline 2 Paradise Radio also sent their congratulations and wishes. You guys should be proud!

Mahalo Nui Loa
written by Kanani Pharr-Cadaoas , April 11, 2008

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their support. It was through the support of the people here in Vegas that purchased our Malasadas, Poke, Ani Bread, and Musubi. The dancers of Nani Ola Hawaiian Dance Company, danced on the rim of Kilauea (as the volcano rumbled), felt the Hilo rain as we picked our ferns, and experienced the true essence of hula.

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