Merrie Monarch winners dance and chant to preserve Hawaiian culture and language

SCREEN CAPTURE

Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionāmakua Thronas Brown won the Miss Aloha Hula crown.

For the third year in a row, the title of Miss Aloha Hula went to a dancer from Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe. Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionāmakua Thronas Brown was named Miss Aloha Hula 2023 at the 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival earlier this month.

After months of practice, the big moment came two weeks ago, April 13 in Hilo, Hawaii ,for the 21-year old Brown and her halau (hula and culture school) under the tutelage of her kumus, Tracie and Keawe Lopes.

“I heard my name and I looked to my kumu, and in that moment, I felt just really excited to finally take the stage, and all the preparation that we had, it was amazing ... hearing my name and being able to step on the stage, I was ready to share my story and make my presentation with everybody,” Brown told Hawaii News Now.

Brown, a Chaminade University senior who will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, said it was exhilarating and humbling as she danced.

Brown performed a hula ʻauana (modern hula) to the mele “Kuʻu Home A I Kāneʻohe,” which described the beauty and memories of a home that was once located beneath the Koʻolau Mountains in Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu. 

Her kahiko, “Pole Lauaʻe O Makana,” honored Kaumualiʻi, the last ruling aliʻi nui of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau in her extended chant and dance. She earned a total of 1,148 points for her presentations.

In her kahiko hula, Agnes Renee Leihiwahiwaikapolionāmakua 

Thronas Brown must also demonstrate her mastery of the 

ancient Hawaiian language as well as dancing in the "old way."

The honors were not over for the dance school from Oahu. 

The competition was closely contested the following Saturday. With just two points separating the top three finishers in the Wahine Division. Hālau Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e eked out a victory over the second place finisher by one point.

• 1st Place: Hālau Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e with 1,231 points
• 2nd Place: Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu was second with 1,230 points
• 3rd Place: Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinā‘ala, was third with 1,229 points.

YouTube

Hālau Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e won the wahini division by one point.

(Editors Note: Apologies for not having access to a longer performance.)

YouTube / Sonny Ching

Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu came in a close second.

Overall winners for the Kāne Division are:

• 1st place: Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘ilahi, from Wailuku, Maui, with 1,217 points.
• 2nd place: Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, from Kapahulu, O‘ahu, with 1,215 points.
• 3rd place: Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, from Kapalama, O‘ahu, with 1,206 points.

The Merrie Monarch Festival is dedicated to the memory of King David La‘amea Kalākaua, known as the “Merrie Monarch” for his flamboyant and fun-loving ways. Kalākaua was elected king of the Hawaiian Nation in 1874, and reigned until his passing in 1891. He was a patron of the arts, especially music and dance.

The Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce began the Merrie Monarch festival in 1963, and the private Merrie Monarch Festival community organization took on the responsibilities of running the event five years later. 

The central purpose of the annual celebration is the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture.

With its wins in the solo and women's group categories, Hālau Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e was crowned the best overall school overall.

“We’re just so grateful to Ke Akua [God] for carrying us through and allowing us to have the breath of life to even chant and dance and express our aloha for our mo‘olelo,” said Kumu Hula Tracie Lopes of Hālau Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e. “It means so much to us as Hawaiians and as people."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter.