The 63rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition wrapped up Saturday evening at Edith Kanaka鈥榦le Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo with group hula 鈥榓uana (modern hula) performances.
The judges鈥� scores for Friday鈥檚 group hula kahiko (ancient hula) and Saturday night鈥檚 hula 鈥榓uana were tabulated, and awards were presented in both categories for both kane (men) and wahine (women) groups, as well as prizes for the kane overall and wahine overall winners.
There were 29 performances 鈥� 17 performances by wahine groups and 12 by kane.
The only halau representing 91直播 Island was Halau Kala鈥榓keakauikawekiu of Kailua-Kona, under the direction of kumu hula Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokala 鈥淎loha鈥� Victor.
The halau winning the competition鈥檚 overall title claimed the Lokalia Montgomery Perpetual Trophy until the 2027 competition.
The judging and awarding of cash prizes and ceremonial hula trophies occurred after the Tribune-Herald鈥檚 print edition deadline.
The results and additional photos can be found on the Tribune-Herald鈥檚 website at www.hawaiitribune-herald.com.
See Monday鈥檚 edition of the Tribune-Herald for a full wrap-up story about the festival.