MEDIA RELEASE

The Daughters of Hawaii and the Calabash Cousins present a free concert 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26 at Hulihee Palace to remember the late Prince Albert. 

Enjoy the voices of the Merrie Monarchs and performing arts by Kumu Hula Etua Lopes and his Halau Na Pua Ui O Hawaii. Bring a beach mat or chair as seating won’t be provided.

Concert goers are encouraged to take advantage of the free “chair check” conveniently located across from the palace and enjoy the Kokua Kailua Village Stroll from 1-6 p.m. 

During the Village Stroll, Alii Drive is turned into a pedestrian mall and musicians and artists take to the street in a fun and festive family atmosphere.  More than 30 merchants regularly participate; inquire at restaurants and merchants about special kamaaina pricing.

Kokua Kailua is in need of three to four volunteers to assist with closing and re-opening the road.  If you are able to assist, contact co-chairwomen Marie Aguilar at 334-0562 or Inde Coggin at 345-1048. 

Kokua Kailua is sponsored by four local business organizations, Hulihee Palace and KWXX Radio.

 The son of King Kamehameha IV (Alexander Liholiho) and Queen Emma, Prince Albert gave Hawaiians hope the Kamehameha line would continue. In 1859, at the age of one, Prince Albert was given the title of “Ka Haku O Hawaii-His Royal Highness the Prince of Hawaii” and officially named the heir to the throne. 

“Queen Victoria of England agreed to be Prince Albert’s godmother but the prince died from a short illness before he was baptized in the Anglican Church,” said Fanny Au Hoy, palace administrator. 

The Kauai community of Princeville is named after Prince Albert in honor of his family’s visit there in 1860.

Hulihee Palace has been closed for repairs since December 2007; the historic landmark suffered $1.5 million in damages from the October 2006 earthquake. It is expected to reopen this year. A Hulihee Restoration Fund has been set up and tax-deductible donations are appreciated.  

Mail donations to Hulihee Palace, 75-5718 Alii Dr., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. Find out more about the earthquake damage at www.daughtersofhawaii.org.

Caretakers of Hulihee Palace are the Daughters of Hawaii. The organization was founded in 1903 and opens membership to any woman who is directly descended from a person who lived in Hawaii prior to 1880. Helping the Daughters in its efforts since 1986 are the Calabash Cousins; membership is available to all. For info, call 329-9555.

 Additional palace concert dates for 2009:

* May 17: featuring Kumu Hula Etua Lopes and his Halau Na Pua Ui O Hawaii

46th annual Merrie Monarch 

April 16-18, Edith Kanakaole Stadium, Hilo

OVERALL HALAU WINNERS

1. Ke Kai O Kahiki, kumu hula O’Brian Eselu

2. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu hula Sonny Ching

OVERALL (WAHINE) 

1. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu hula Sonny Ching – 1,142 pts

2. Halau O Kamuela, kumu hula Kauionalani Kamanao and Kunewa Mook – 1,125 pts

3.Halau Hula O Kahikiulaulani, kumu hula Rae K. Fonseca  - 1,118 pts

OVERALL (KANE)

1. Ke Kai O Kahiki, kumu hula O’Brian Eselu – 1,151 pts

2. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu hula Sonny Ching – 1,141 pts

3. Kawailiula, kumu hula Chinky Mahoe – 1,080 pts

KAHIKO RESULTS  (WAHINE)

1. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu hula Sonny Ching – 564 pts

2. Halau Hula O Kahikiulaulani, kumu hula Rae K. Fonseca – 557 pts

3. Halau Mohala Ilima,  kumu hula  Mapuana de Silva –  544 pts

4. Halau O Kamuela, kumu hula Kauionalani Kamanao and Kunewa Mook – 542 pts

5. Halau Na Lei O Kaholoku, kumu hulaLeiahola Lim Amina and Nani Lim Yap – 535 pts

KAHIKO RESULTS  (KANE)

1. Ke Kai O Kahiki, kumu hula O’Brian Eselu – 567 pts

2. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu hula Sonny Ching – 551 pts

3. Kawailiula, kumu hula Chinky Mahoe – 511 pts

4. Halau Hula O Kahikilaulani, kumu hula Rae K. Fonseca – 507 pts

AUANA RESULTS (KANE)

1. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu hula Sonny Ching – 590 pts

2. Ke Kai O Kahiki, kumu hula O’Brian Eselu – 584 pts

3. Kawailiula, kumu hula Chinky Mahoe – 569 pts 

4. Halau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniakea, kumu hula Kapua Dalire-Moe – 551 pts

AUANA RESULTS  (WAHINE)

1. Halau O Kamuela, kumu hula Kauionalani Kamanao and Kunewa Mook, – 583 pts

2. Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu, kumu hula Sonny Ching- 578 pts

3. Ka La Onohi Mai O Haehae, kumu hula Keawe and Tracie Lopes - 568 pts

4. Halau Kealaokamaile, kumu hula Kealii Reichel – 567 pts 

5. Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu hula Napua Grieg and Kahulu Maluo-Huber – 566 pts

MISS ALOHA HULA 2009

1. Cherissa Henoheanapuaikawaokele Kane, Halau Kealaokamaile – 1,064 pts.

2. Cari Mae Kawailehua Kealoha, Hula Halau O Kamuela – 1,038 pts.

3. Kaholo Kahikipiilani Panui, Halau Na Mamo O Puuanahulu – 1,026 pts.

4. Pohaikau‘ilani Ann Nu‘uhiwa, Keolalaulani Halau Olapa O Laka – 1,017 pts.

5. Maria Kaiulani Kanehailua, Ka La Onohi Mai O Haehae – 1,005 pts.

Hawaiian Language Award:

Cherissa Henoheanapuaikawaokele Kane, Halau Kealaokamaile

Photography by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.org

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MEDIA RELEASE

Because of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, a temporary one-way traffic pattern remains in effect on Kalanikoa Street in Hilo.

Traffic will be allowed to flow in the Puna or southerly direction on Kalanikoa Street between Kuawa Street and Pi‘ilani Street during the festival. The one-way traffic pattern is in effect daily from noon Wednesday, April 15, through 1 a.m. Sunday, April 19.

Right turns only will be allowed on Kalanikoa Street for all entries to ingress and egress the Ho‘olulu Complex.

Traffic will not be allowed to turn left (or in the easterly direction) onto Pi‘ilani Street from Kalanikoa Street. Traffic will only be allowed to turn right (or in the westerly direction) on Pi’ilani Street to egress Kalanikoa Street.

Regular two-way traffic will remain in effect on Manono, Kuawa and Pi‘ilani Streets.

After the festival is over, traffic will be allowed to flow in its normal two-way pattern.

Photography by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.org

A dancer with Free Church of Tonga, Katoa, Fukofuka and Polota dances at the Hawaii Naniloa Volcanoes Resort in Hilo during a free noon performance Wednesday. The Naniloa along with the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel will host free performances at noon and 1 p.m. during Merrie Monarch Festival week.

Merrie Monarch, the granddaddy of hula competitions, is slated for this week. Although the actual dancing isn’t until later in the week, a myriad other events are on the schedule in and around Hilo:

Monday – Saturday

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Hawaiian Quilt Show at Wailoa Center

Wednesday-Saturday – 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. – Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair

Monday, April 13

Noon – Halau O Kawananakoa, kumu Alberta Nicolas, Naniloa Volcanoes Resort

1 p.m. – Halau Hula O Hilo Hanakahi, kumu Pua Crumb, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Tuesday, April 14

10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Hawaiian entertainment, Imiloa Astronomy Center

Noon – Unukupukupu, kumu Taupori Tangaro, Naniloa Volcanoes Resort

1 p.m. – Halau Kou Lima Nani E, kumu Iwalani Kalima, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Wednesday, April 15

10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Hawaiian entertainment, Imiloa Astronomy Center

11 a.m. – Halau Kealii O Nalani, kumu Keali‘i Ceballos, Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

Noon – Free Church of Tonga, Katoa, Fukofuka & Polota, Naniloa Volcanoes Resort

1 p.m. – Leo Nahenahe O Pohai Kealoha, Stan Kaina, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

6 p.m.  - Merrie Monarch Hoike, Edith Kanakaole Stadium

6 p.m. – Entrance of Royal Court

6:15 p.m. – National Anthem and Hawaii Ponoi by Karena Asejo

6:25 p.m. – Pule by Father George De Costa

6:30 p.m. – Halau O Kekuhi, na kumu Pualani Kanakaole Kanahele and Nalani Kanakaole

7:30 p.m. – Tupulaga O Samoa Mo A Taeao, University of Hawaii at Hilo Samoan Club

8:30 p.m. – Nga Uri O Te Whanoa, Donna Mariana Grant

Thursday, April 16

10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Hawaiian entertainment, Imiloa Astronomy Center

11 a.m. – Unukupukupu, kumu Taupori Tangaro, Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

Noon – Ke Ola Pono, kumu Rayce Bento, Naniloa Volcanoes Resort

1 p.m. – Free church of Tonga, Sione Katoa, Sunia Fukofuka, Tevita Polota, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

6 p.m. Miss Aloha Hula Competition, Edith Kanakaole Stadium

6 p.m. – Entrance of Royal Court

6:15 p.m. – National Anthem and Hawaii Ponoi by Karena Asejo

6:20 p.m. – Pule by Father George De Costa

6:25 p.m. – Introduction of judges

6:30 p.m. – Miss Aloha Hula Competition (broadcast live on KITV), followed by presentation of awards

Friday, April 17

10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Hawaiian entertainment, Imiloa Astronomy Center

11 a.m. – Navy Greeting, Leo Nahenahe O Pohai Kealoha, kumu Stan Kaina, Hilo Pier 1

11 a.m. – Ke Ola Pono, kumu Rayce Bento, Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

Noon – Halau O Kawananakoa, Alberta Nicolas, Naniloa Volcanoes Resort

1 p.m. – Halau Haa Kea O Akala, kumu Paul Neves, Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

6 p.m. – Group Hula Kahiko Competition, Edith Kanakaole Stadium

6 p.m. – Entrance of Royal Court

6:15 p.m. – National Anthem and Hawaii Ponoi by Karena Asejo

6:20 p.m. – Pule by Father George De Costa

6:25 p.m. – Introduction of judges

6:30 p.m. – Hula Kahiko Competition (broadcast live on KITV)

Saturday, April 18

10:30 a.m. – Royal Parade through downtown Hilo

Noon – Ke Ola Pono, kumu Rayce Bento, Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

6 p.m. – Group Hula Auana Competition, Edith Kanakaole Stadium

6 p.m. – entrance of Royal Court

6:15 p.m. – National Anthem and Hawaii Ponoi by Karena Asejo

6:20 p.m. – Pule by Father George De Costa

6:25 p.m. – Introduction of judges

6:30 p.m. – Hula Auana Competition (broadcast live on KITV), followed by introduction of kumu hula and presentation of awards

— Find out more:

Merrie Monarch Festival: www.merriemonarchfestival.org

Photography by Baron Sekiya/Hawaii247.org

Hula dancers and musicians performed for the public at the Merrie Monarch Festival Hoolaulea at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Keiki perform the hula at the Hoolaulea. Free noon entertainment will be available during Merrie Monarch Festival week at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel and Naniloa Volcanoes Resort on Banyan Drive.

Keiki chant during their performance in the Hoolaulea. There will be a free exhibition of hula at Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

The day long Hoolaulea at the Civic Auditorium featured a number of performers. The Civic will also host a Hawaiian Arts Fair which runs from April 15-18. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wed, Thu and Fri and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information visit the official Merrie Monarch Festival website.