The 63rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival shifted into high gear Wednesday night with the Ho鈥榠ke, which this year celebrates 50 years of participation by kane halau in the Merrie Monarch Festival鈥檚 hula competition.
The entrance of the Royal Court was at 6 p.m., a prelude to the indigenous dance served up manuahi 鈥� free of admission 鈥� and featuring only kane dancers.
As they have every year since 1997, Hilo鈥檚 Halau o Kekuhi kicked off the Ho鈥榠ke at the Edith Kanaka鈥榦le Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo, under the direction of kumu hula Huihui Kanahele-Mossman.
Up next was was Halau Na Kamalei O Lililehua of Oahu, the very first kane division winners in 1976, under the direction of kumu hula Robert Cazimero.
Next up was Hilo鈥檚 Halau Hula O Kahikilaulani, celebrating the legacy of kumu hula Rae Fonseca, who died in 2010.
Oahu鈥檚 Na Wai 鈥楨ha 鈥極 Puna, the halau of co-kumu hula Thaddius Wilson and O鈥橞rien Eselu, danced next. Wilson died in 2004 and Eselu in 2012.
Anchoring the evening were the kane of Waimapuna, the halau of the kumu hula Darrell Lupenui, who died in 1987.
Tonight is the Miss Aloha Hula competition, when 13 solo wahine compete for hula鈥檚 most prestigious individual title.
Group hula kahiko (ancient hula) is Friday night, while group hula 鈥榓uana and the group awards ceremony is Saturday night.
The festivities start at 6 p.m. each evening and conclude past the Tribune-Herald鈥檚 print deadlines. See Friday鈥檚 online edition for Miss Aloha Hula coverage.