Merrie Monarch Festival
Hula Competition
The premier hula competition held annually in Hilo, Hawaii
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Merrie Monarch Festival Links

General

Merrie Monarch Obituaries

Dorothy "Auntie Dottie" Thompson, Co-Founder of Merrie Monarch Festival

  • March 19, 2010
    Dorothy “Auntie Dottie” Thompson, cofounder of the Merrie Monarch Festival, died in Hilo on March 19, 2010. (Source: HonoluluAdvertiser.com)

George Na'ope, Co-Founder of Merrie Monarch Festival

  • November 7, 2009
    George Na'ope dies at 81; guardian of native Hawaiian culture (Source: latimes.com)
  • November 5, 2009
    George Na’ope, Master of Sacred Hula, Dies at 81 (Source: nytimes.com)
  • October 30, 2009
    George Lanakilakekiahiali'i Na'ope (Source: telegraph.co.uk)
  • October 26, 2009
    Merrie Monarch Festival co-founder, kumu hula George Naope dies (Source: hawaiimagazine.com)

Mae Ulalia Loebenstein of Ka Pa Hula 'O Kauanoe 'O Wa'ahila

  • July 1, 1997
    Noted kumu hula danced for 60 years; Her group was the overall winner at the Merrie Monarch in April (Source: Starbulletin.com)

Paleka Leina'ala Mattos of Hula Halau 'O Kamuela

  • May 27, 2002
    Kumu hula sought to instill culture in others (Source: HonoluluAdvertiser.com)
  • May 26, 2002
    Noted kumu hula Mattos dies; Paleka Leina'ala Mattos helped Hula Halau 'O Kamuela win the Merrie Monarch (Source: Starbulletin.com)

Thaddius Wilson of Na Wai 'Eha O Puna

  • February 5, 2004
    Thaddius Wilson, honored kumu hula, dead at 52 (Source: HonoluluAdvertiser.com)

Alice Puluelo Naipo Park of Puamana Hula Studio

  • August 29, 2004
    'Auntie Puluelo' put love into hula (Source: HonoluluAdvertiser.com)

Lydia Kauakahi of Halau Kahauola

  • January 31, 2005
    Lydia Kauakahi / 1955-2005: 'Keeper of Culture' blended family life into her hula (Source: Starbulletin.com)

34th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival (1997)

Related starbulletin.com stories

  • March 27, 1997
    Island Images: Hula aloha
  • March 31, 1997
    Spirit of Motion: The choreography of hula melds hands, feet, hips -- an entire body in motion
  • March 31, 1997
    The order of the dancers
  • April 3, 1997
    Da Kine: Hilo makes Merrie
  • April 4, 1997
    Island Images: Homage
  • April 4, 1997
    Kehaulani Enos: Miss Aloha Hula -- Her rollicking hula had the audience clapping along
  • April 7, 1997
    Oakland halau is a trend-setter -- The Hilo audience cheers the unique stylings of this kumu hula
  • April 7, 1997
    Power failure can't dampen spirits
  • July 1, 1997
    Mae Ulalia Loebenstein: Noted kumu hula danced for 60 years -- Her group was the overall winner at the Merrie Monarch in April
  • July 7, 1997
    Hundreds come to pay tribute to 'Aunty Mae' -- Mae Loebenstein, kumu hula, 'taught the value of being a total dancer'

33rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival (1996)

Related starbulletin.com stories

  • April 8, 1996
    Hula Family Tree
  • April 8, 1996
    Merrie Monarch Festival Contestants and Judges
  • April 8, 1996
    Merrie Monarch Festival Television Coverage
  • April 9, 1996
    The Bond of Hula
  • April 9, 1996
    Young dancers take their first steps
  • April 9, 1996
    Merrie Monarch Festival Television Coverage
  • April 10, 1996
    Plenty pork, it's fish that's harder to keep on the line
  • April 10, 1996
    Merrie Monarch Festival Television Coverage
  • April 11, 1996
    Auntie Dottie Thompson's tireless efforts keep the beloved festival hopping
  • April 12, 1996
    Oahu dancer wins hula prize in second try -- Rhona Ho, who was third in 1991, says that 'the time was right'
  • April 12, 1996
    Dancers pay their respect to deities at Kilauea Caldera
  • April 15, 1996
    When the hula festival's in town, Hilo hums -- The Big Island burg shines during the annual event
  • April 15, 1996
    Home town favorite left out of the winner's circle -- Everyone was asking 'Where's Johnny?'
  • April 15, 1996
    Restaurants roll the dice during festival week