HILO – The big story in the 2015 Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition was the triumphant return of Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehi Cazimero after a decade away from the contest. Cazimero’s Halau Nā Kamalei o Lililehua was the overall winner.
FULL RESULTS
Wahine Kahiko
- 5th – 587 pts – Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea, Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe
- 4th – 587 pts – Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera
- 3rd – 589 pts – Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes
- 2nd – 596 pts – Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Kumu Hula Nāpua Greig
- 1st – 603 pts – Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo & Kunewa Mook
Kane Kahiko
- 5th – 594 pts – Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera
- 3rd – Kawailiʻulā, Kumu Hula Chinky Māhoe
- 3rd – Hālau Hula ʻO Kahikilaulani, Kumu Hula Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang
- 2nd – 600 pts – Nā Kamalei o Lililehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehi Cazimero
- 1st – 600 pts – Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, Kumu Hula Kaleo Trinidad
Wahine Auana
- 5th – 588 pts – Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes
- 4th – 589 pts – Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo & Kunewa Mook
- 3rd – 590 pts – Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera
- 2nd – 591 pts – Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Kumu Hula Nāpua Greig
- 1st – 600 pts – Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval
Kane Auana
- 4th – 597 pts – Hālau Nā Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera
- 3rd – 601 pts – Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, Kumu Hula Kaleo Trinidad
- 2nd – 602 pts – Hālau Hula ʻO Kahikilaulani, Kumu Hula Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang
- 1st – 610 pts – Nā Kamalei o Lililehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehi Cazimero
Wahine Overall
- 3rd – Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Hula Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval
- 2nd – Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Kumu Hula Nāpua Greig
- 1st – Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo & Kunewa Mook
Kane Overall
- 3rd – Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka Lā, Kumu Hula Kaleo Trinidad
- 2nd – Hālau Hula ʻO Kahikilaulani, Kumu Hula Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang
- 1st – Nā Kamalei o Lililehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehi Cazimero
Overall Winner
- Nā Kamalei o Lililehua, Kumu Hula Robert Uluwehi Cazimero
Unfortunately, I wasn’t that impressed with the Cazimero Halau dancing yet I see the results are 1st place. I guess that just shows how political the Merrie Monarch is. I could see it if they danced every year like all other other halau’s but once every 10 years no way.
Nalani Kanakaole reading a book during Mark Keliihoomalu’s presentations. Very unclassy