Hula Halau O Kamuela takes top honors at 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival

HILO (HawaiiNewsNow) - Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, under the direction of Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo, took the top honor at the 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival.

The Oʻahu-based hālau was named the overall winner after dozens of performances in the kahiko and ‘auana competitions.

“I’m just happy for my students. They worked really hard on this journey, and I couldn’t ask for anything more. It was an awesome year,” Kamanaʻo told Hawaii News Now.

View their kahiko and ‘auana performances:

SPECIAL SECTION: Merrie Monarch Festival

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, under the direction of Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin, placed second overall.

Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, under the direction of Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero, came in third.

This was Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua’s final Merrie Monarch Festival appearance. The hālau only competed once every 10 years and celebrates 50 years as a hālau.

The winners of the 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival are:

Kahiko

Wahine

1. Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo (605)
2. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin (598)
3. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (594)
4. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (593)
5. Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes (581)

Kāne

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (596)
2. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (591)
3. Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes (587)
4. Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker and Michael Lanakila Casupang (585)

ʻAuana

Wahine

1. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin (615)
2. Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo (611)
3. Hālau Hula O Kauhionāmauna, Kumu Hula Theresa Kauhionāmauna Ramento Tehiva (600)
4. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (597 before tie-breaker)
5. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (597 before tie-breaker)

Kāne

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (609)
2. Kawaiʻulaokalā, Kumu Hula Keliʻihoʻomalu Puchalski (601)
3. Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes (597)
4. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (596)

PHOTOS: Merrie Monarch Festival 2025 Hula Auana

Overall

Wahine

1. Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo (1,216)
2. Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Leināʻala Pavao Jardin (1,213)
3. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (1,191)

Kāne

1. Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero (1,205)
2. Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Nā Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla (1,187)
3. Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes (1,184)