Merrie Monarch Festival : The First 30 Years
Merrie Monarch Festival: The First 30 Years looks at the history of the festival since its inception in the early 1960s under the administration of Helene Hale, Chairman of Hawaiʻi County, with her Administrative Aide George Wilhelm and Promoter of Activities, George Naope, to bolster the Big Island economy. By 1970, the festival transforms into a program for hula competition under the direction of Dorothy Thompson [Dottie Thompson] and George Naope. The program highlights award-winning performances by: the 1991 winner of hula ʻauana, wahine division, Nā Lei o Kaholokū under the direction of Kumu Nani Lim Yap and Kumu Leialoha Lim Amina, 1981 overall winner, wahine division, Hālau ʻO Nā Maoli Pua under the direction of Kumu Alicia Smith and Kumu Mae Loebenstein, 1980 first place tie for hula kahiko, wahine division, Hauʻoli Hula Hālau under the direction of Kumu Leilani Sharpe Mendez, 1989 winner of hula ʻauana, wahine division, Kealiʻikaʻapunihonua Keʻena Aʻo Hula under the direction of Kumu Leimomi Ho and Kumu Tony Conjugacion, 1980 overall winner, wahine division, Hālau o Ka Ua Kani Lehua under the direction of Kumu Johnny Lum Ho, 1980 hula kahiko, wahine division Hālau o Kekuhi under the direction of Kumu Nalani Kanakaʻole and Kumu Pualani Kanakaʻole Kanahele, 1989 winner hula ʻauana, kāne division, Hālau Nā Kamalei under the direction of Kumu Robert Cazimero, 1980 winner of hula kahiko, kāne division, Men of Waimapuna under the direction of Kumu Darrell Lupenui, 1981 winner of hula kahiko, kāne division, Nā Wai Ehā o Puna under the direction of Kumu Kihanuilulumoku Thaddius Wilson [Thaddeus Wilson] and Kumu O'Brian Eselu [O'Brien Eselu], 1983 overall winner, kāne division, Hālau o Ka Ua Kani Lehua under the direction of Kumu Johnny Lum Ho, 1982 winner of hula ʻauana, wahine division, Hālau ʻO Kahanuola under the direction of Kumu Lydia Kauakahi, 1984 winner of hula kahiko, wahine division, Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima under the direction of Kumu Māpuana de Silva, 1985 winner, hula ʻauana, wahine division, The Ladies of Keʻala ʻO Kā Lauwaʻe under the direction of Kumu Darrell Lupenui, 1986 winner of hula kahiko, wahine division Keolalaulani Olapa ʻO Laka under the direction of Kumu Aloha Dalire, 1986 winner, hula kahiko, kane division, Men of Waimapuna under the direction of Kumu Darrell Lupenui, 1987 first place tie for hula ʻauana, wahine division, Hālau ʻO Kawailiʻulā under the direction of Kumu Chinky Mahoe, 1988 winner of hula kahiko, kāne division, Hālau o Ka Ua Kani Lehua under the direction of Kumu Johnny Lum Ho, 1990 winner of hula ʻauana, wahine division, Hālau Hula ʻo Kahikilaulani under the direction of Kumu Ray Fonseca. For the 30th anniversary of the festival, Hui Ho'oulu Aloha under the direction of Kumu Cy Bridges dedicates their mele to director Dottie Thompson [Dorothy Thompson]. Interviews include Kimo Kahoano, Leinaʻala Kalama Heine, Leimomi Ho, Dottie Thompson [Dorothy Thompson], Aloha Dalire, George Naope, and Darrell Lupenui.
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