Ivy Leaguer from Maui is Miss Aloha Hula 2026

A 21-year-old Dartmouth College junior from Maui is Miss Aloha Hula 2026.

Faith Kealohapau‘ole Paredes of Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi scored 1161 points Thursday night — the first evening of the 63rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s hula competition at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo.

Her score was five points more than that of than first runner-up Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe of Hi‘iakainamakalehua, an Oahu halau.

Paredes, whose kumu hula are her parents, Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, said winning the most prestigious title a solo hula dancer can earn wasn’t on her mind as she danced.

“I just wanted to give it my all without worry about what comes next,” Paredes told the Tribune-Herald after her win was announced. “That settled my mind a little bit and enabled me to fully let go and be myself on the stage.”

Paredes also won the coveted Hawaiian Language Award, scoring 48 points out of a possible 50.

“It felt so good because I worked so hard doing my ‘oli (chant) and going over all the words to make sure that I am pronouncing them correctly,” she said. “And even though I won the ‘Olelo Hawaii award, I was still clutching my parents’ hands and waiting to see if my name would be called (for Miss Aloha Hula) or not.”

Paredes’ father, ‘Iliahi Paredes, a Maui County deputy prosecutor by day, said that his daughter’s Miss Aloha Hula title is “a dream come true for the family.”

“When she was born, we named her Kealohapau‘ole, an everlasting love. We always joked, ‘One day, you’ll run for Miss Aloha Hula.’ That day has come and we just feel so blessed,” ‘Iliahi Paredes said. “She’s a hard worker. We gave her tasks to do and she really just embraced it all.”

While this is the first Miss Aloha Hula win for the powerhouse halau from Maui, “we’ve come close,” ‘Iliahi Paredes noted.

In 2024, Amedée Kauakohemalamalama Conley-Kapoi, also a Dartmouth student, was first runner-up. Kaʻonohikaumakaakeawe Kananiokeakua Holokai Lopes, the daughter of another husband-and-wife kumu hula team, Tracie and Keawe Lopes of Ka La ʻOnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, won both Miss Aloha Hula and the Hawaiian Language Award two years ago.

Paredes danced her hula kahiko (ancient hula) to “Hulihe‘e,” a mele inoa (name chant or song) honoring Princess Ruth Keanolani Kanahoahoa Ke‘elikolani, whose royal home was Hulihe‘e Palace in Kailua-Kona. Her hula ‘auana was “Kawaiokalena,” a song written by Maui kumu hula and Hawaiian music superstar Keali‘i Reichel, a mele inoa for his forever companion, Punahele Krauss.

Reichel sang “Kawaiokalena” and Paredes’ ho‘i (exit) number, “Ode to a House,” another Reichel composition. The ka‘i (entry) song was “Kawaipunahele,” one of Reichel’s greatest hits. Reichel, however, stood by as Keaukaha native Lehua Kalima Alvarez of Na Leo Pilimehana sang the song, the title track to Reichel’s 1994 album.

“We were blessed to have them both sing for us,” ‘Iliahi Paredes said. “Kumu Keali‘i is my wife’s kumu hula and that song that my daughter entered with, ‘Kawaipunahele,’ that was my wife’s solo, way back when in the ’90s.”

After dancing with Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala ‘Iliahi in the group competition, the new Miss Aloha Hula will be returning to Hanover, N.H., to resume classes at Dartmouth next week.

“I am an anthropology and government major, going into the pre-law track, following in my dad’s footsteps,” she said. “Other than going to law school, I want to become a kumu hula, just like my parents.”

As the participants and the crowd waited for the results to be announced, Miss Aloha Hula 2025, Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao of Kauai, took her final dance as titleholder. A large portrait of her kumu, Leinaʻala Pavao Jardin — who died Oct. 4 at 51 after a 15-month battle with cancer — rested upon an on-stage easel as she danced, making it perhaps the most bittersweet last dance in Miss Aloha Hula history.

Here are the Top-five finishers in Thursday’s Miss Aloha Hula contest:

1. Faith Kealohapau‘ole Paredes, Halau Kekuaokala‘au‘ala‘iliahi, na kumu hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes, 1161 points, Miss Aloha Hula.

2. Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe, Hi‘iakainamakalehua, kumu hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV, 1156 points, first runner-up.

3. Lahela Ho‘okela Medina Maio, Ka La ʻOnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, na kumu hula Tracie and Keawe Lopes, 1134 points, second runner-up.

4. Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy, Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu hula Napua Silva, 1114 points, third runner-up.

5. Jessica Naomi Waiauokalaniakea Peralta, Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala, kumu hula Breeze Ann Kalehuaonalani Vidinha Pavao, 1098 points, fourth runner-up.

The Merrie Monarch’s group hula kahiko competition is at 6 p.m. tonight with 29 ancient hula performances, and the group hula ‘auana competition is 6 p.m. Saturday with 29 modern hula performances at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Tennis Stadium.

The awards ceremony will take place in the wee hours of Sunday morning following Saturday night’s hula ‘auana competition.

Email John Burnett at john.burnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.