Anela U’ilani Tanigawa of Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka of Kula placed in the top five Thursday night in the Miss Aloha Hula soloist competition at the Merrie Monarch Festival on the Big Island.
The 23-year-old Makawao resident and University of Hawaii at Manoa graduate student finished the competition with 1,065 points to round out the top five. The winner was Jasmine Kaleihiwa Dunlap of Hula Halau ‘O Kamuela of Oahu with 1,113 points.
Maui County’s other Miss Aloha Hula contestants were Kelsey Marie Ku’ulei Miliama Haina Galago of Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi of Wailuku and Larriley Kekahuna Rawlins of Moana’s Hula Halau of Molokai.
On Friday, the beginning of the group competition, halau performed kahiko, or traditional, hula. Tonight, the groups will perform ‘auana, or modern, hula.
Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of kumu Napua Grieg, and Moana’s Hula Halau of Molokai, under the direction of kumu Raquel Dudoit, both have wahine entered in the competition.
Halau Kekuaokala’au’ala’iliahi, under the direction of kumu hula Haunani and Iliahi Paredes, have both wahine and kane entered in the competition. This is the first time the halau is entering its wahine.
The competition will be televised live on KFVE, Channel 5. Today’s broadcast will be from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. (with the later part featuring the announcement of the winners).
There will be live streaming at www.kfve.com.
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