The overall winner at the 59th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition is from Kauai, but the halau has roots in Hilo.
Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, kumu hula of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala, is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
During her years on the Big Island, she danced in Halau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani under the direction of the late kumu hula Rae Fonseca, and represented the halau in the Miss Aloha Hula competition in 1993. She received her ‘uniki, hula’s formal graduation, from Fonseca, and his blessing to teach hula.
”The Vulcan is back home, and I’m so happy to be here,” Pavao Jardin told the Tribune-Herald. “This is our 10th anniversary, and we are so honored and humbled and so grateful to everybody back home and to my ‘ohana here. Hilo is a second home to me, and my hula brothers and sisters of Kahikilaulani over the years have been so supportive.”
A hula brother who shared his appreciation for what Pavao Jardin and her wahine accomplished is Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV, co-kumu hula with Lono Padilla of Halau Hi‘iakaainamakalehua of Oahu. Ka‘upu — who also danced for Fonseca as well as the late kumu hula Johnny Lum Ho — embraced Pavao Jardin emphatically Saturday night in celebration of her triumph, and planted a heartfelt kiss on her left cheek.
It was a triumphant return for Pavao Jardine and her wahine, making a clean sweep of Friday’s and Saturday’s group hula competition, claiming the wahine kahiko (ancient hula), wahine ‘auana (modern hula), wahine overall titles, plus the overall title and the coveted Lokalia Montgomery Perpetual Trophy.
“Everything that happened here tonight, we dedicate to those who helped to get us here. We’re so grateful,” she said late Saturday after the results were announced.
Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala’s kahiko mele was “Ho‘oheno No Ka Poli Laua‘e,” a tribute to well-known features on Kauai composed by kumu hula Wahinekeouli Pa. Their ‘auana mele was Robert Cazimero’s “Kaua‘i Lana I Ke Kai,” which concludes with the repeated lyric “E ho‘i ke aloha i Kaua‘i lana i ke kai,” which translates to “My love forever returns to Kauai, afloat in the sea.”
“I told my wahine that my goal this year is for everyone to carry us back to Kauai,” Pavao Jardin said. “I believe when hula is done effectively, you can transcend space and time, and you should be able to lift everyone’s spirits.”
After Pavao Jardin’s overall title was announced Saturday and she returned to her halau after her fourth trip to the stage to receive awards, the Merrie Monarch’s Royal Court exited the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium.
As the conch sounded to herald the ceremonial royals’ departure, a brief but moderately heavy rain began, pounding a beat on the metal roof of the Quonset-style stadium.
Hula is steeped in spirituality, including dancing to honor one’s ancestors and teachers, especially deceased ones, such as Fonseca — and chicken-skin occurrences such as this are sometimes attributed as a blessing from the kupuna kahiko, the dearly departed elders.
“My eyes were closed as I respected the exit of our court, but at the same time, I was in prayer, in pule, thanking Kumu Rae, thanking Ke Akua (God), thanking everyone who has allowed me to be here, and my girls,” Pavao Jardin said. “This has just been beautiful, and we’ve had so much support. Endless.”
The top three places in the overall group competition went to wahine. Second and third place were both claimed by Oahu halau — Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e under the direction of na kumu hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes, and Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela under the direction of na kumu hula Kunewa Mook and Kau‘ionalani Kamana‘o.
Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e also is the home of Miss Aloha Hula 2022, Pi‘ikea Kekihenelehuawewehiikekau‘onohi Lopes, daughter of the husband-and-wife kumu team. She also garnered the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Hawaiian Language Award.
It was the second consecutive year the Lopeses’ entrant has won the most prestigious title a solo hula dancer can attain. And as the new Miss Aloha Hula was answering interview questions in Hawaiian on Thursday after the competition, Tracie Lopes — herself a Miss Aloha Hula winner — beamed with pride.
“As both a kumu hula and a mother, and a Miss Aloha Hula myself, I don’t think I can really describe it,” Tracie Lopes said. “I just tried to share as much as I can with her about my journey, and she’s had a lot of support from her friends and good friends of mine through this journey. So, we’re just really thankful.”
The younger Lopes danced mele with Big Island themes for both kahiko and ‘auana — “No Puna Ke Aiwaiwa Hikina,” which venerates the Puna district for her kahiko, and “Pua Be Still,” a mele ho‘oheno (song of deep affection) about the picturesque scenery of Kohala by the late, legendary composer and recording artist Bill Ali‘iloa Lincoln for her ‘auana.
The kane overall winners were last year’s overall and kane overall runners-up Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi of Maui, under the direction of na kumu hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Parades. Their kahiko was “Ku‘u Ipo Kehau, a mele inoa (name chant) honoring Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole, and their ‘auana was “‘Ele‘io,” an original song by the halau’s kumu in honor of Ele‘io, the messenger of Chief Kaka‘alaneo in West Maui.
Kane runners-up were Halau Hi‘iakaainamakalehua, with last year’s kane overall and overall winners, Kawaili‘ula, under the direction of kumu hula Chinky Mahoe in third place.
Hi‘iakaainamakalehua came in second in kane kahiko and third in kane ‘auana, while their wahine placed fourth in wahine ‘auana and fifth in wahine kahiko. In addition, the halau’s Miss Aloha Hula entrant, Marina La‘akea Choi, placed third in the solo competition.
Co-kumu hula Ka‘upu, a Keaukaha native, said he was “elated, actually,” with the halau’s performance.
“It was before the awards, I realized they won. Win, lose or otherwise, they won,” he said late Saturday night. “They represented us well, they represented our kumu well, so I’m so, so happy.”
Two Big Island halau competed in this year’s competition. Halau Hula Ke ‘Ola Makani O Mauna Loa of Kilauea Volcano, under the direction of kumu hula Meleana Manuel, and Halau Kala‘akeakauikawekiu of Kailua-Kona, under the direction of kumu hula Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokala Victor, both brought wahine ‘olapa. In addition, Victor’s daughter, Shyla Hehali‘aalohapulamakeolalani Victor, danced in the Miss Aloha Hula competition.
Though neither halau placed in any category, their performances were praised by the television expert commentators, Michael Lanakila Casupang and Alika Young. At the end, early Sunday morning, Merrie Monarch President Luana Kawelu said the return of the festival after the coronavirus pandemic caused it to be canceled in 2020 and presented in a restricted format in 2021 “means a lot to Hilo.”
“So many people turned out to the parade, to the craft fair. We had an audience for the halau this year, which was different. And, I think, overall, it went well,” Kawelu said.
“I’m just looking forward to next year, when we can get back to normal and celebrate the 60th anniversary. We’re all looking forward to that.”
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.