Make it a Miss Aloha Hula three-peat for Ka La ‘Onohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e, as the Oahu halau again takes home hula’s most coveted title for a solo dancer at the 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival.
Miss Aloha 2023 is Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionamakua Thronas Brown, a 21-year-old senior at Chaminade University who’ll soon graduate with a degree in elementary education.
Brown, who was awarded 1,148 points by the seven judges who evaluated 12 solo dancers from their stage-side vantage point at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium on Thursday, said she was “shocked” to hear her name called.
“I’m proud to represent my halau and my kumu,” she said.
The halau is under the direction of the wife-and-husband team of Tracie and Keawe Lopes.
For her hula kahiko (ancient hula) performance, Brown danced “Poli Laua‘e O Makana. The chant, written by hula master Henry Mo‘ikehaokahiki Pa honors Kaumuali‘i, the last ruling ali‘i nui of Kauai and Niihau.
Resplendent in a teal dress with a double-strand pua kenikeni lei, Brown danced her hula ‘auana to “Ku‘u Home A I Kane‘ohe,” a mele Louise Hart Hopkins composed for her cherished home at the foot of the Ko‘olau Mountains.
Miss Aloha Hula 2022 was Pi‘ikea Kekihenelehuawewehiikekau‘onohi Lopes, daughter of the halau’s kumu, gave her final performance on the Merrie Monarch stage as the reigning Miss Aloha Hula just moments before her hula sister’s name was called.
And Miss Aloha 2021, Rosemary Ka‘imilei Kamoai-Strickland, started the string of Miss Aloha Hula wins for the Oahu halau after the 2020 Merrie Monarch Festival was canceled because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. Kamoai-Strickland won her title in a made-for-TV summer competition that was aired a week after it was taped before an essentially empty house.
The four runners-up are:
2. Breeze Ann Kalehuaonalani Vidinha Pavao of Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala, kumu hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, 1144 points.
3. Meleana Kamalani Mirafuentes, Halau Na Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, na kumu hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching and Lopaka Igarta-De Vera, 1143 points. She won the Hawaiian Language Award, which accounts for 49 points of her score.
4. Karlee Pohaikealoha Rita Chong-Kee, Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘ iliahi, na kumu hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, 1130 points.
5. Nohealeimamo Vaughan-Darval, Halau Hula Ke Ka Lehua Tuahine, kumu hula Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval, 1129 points.
The 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival continues today.
The schedule is:
9 a.m.-5 p.m.: Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Crafts Fair at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
10 a.m. and 1 p.m.: Hawaiian lecture and/or performance at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
11 a.m.: Halau I Ka Leo Ola O Na Mamo, na kumu hula Pelehonuamea and Kekoa Harman, at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
Noon: Halau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama, kumu hula Emery Aceret, at Grand Naniloa Hotel
1 p.m.: Halau Ha‘a Kea O Kinohi, kumu hula Paul Neves at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
6 p.m.: Group Hula Kahiko Competition at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.