Highlights from Merrie Monarch Festival 2026: Hula Kahiko
Published on April 11, 2026.
The Hula Kahiko competition at the Merrie Monarch Festival 2026 in Hawaii brought the power and sacred beauty of ancient hula to Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. The event, marking the 63rd year of the festival, featured performances from hālau from Hawaiʻi and the continent. The performances included oli and hula rooted in genealogy, place, and moolollo. The mele was dedicated to Queen Emma, whose leadership enriched her people’s lives. The performance also included a mele dedicated to the chosen warriors who practiced the art of Lua, a traditional Hawaiian form of self-defence. Other highlights included a song by composer Kawaikuett that evokes the power of an eruption on Kanaloa, Kaho‘olawe.
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Highlights from Merrie Monarch Festival 2026: Hula Kahiko
The Merrie Monarch Festival 2026 celebrated Hawaiian culture with Hula Kahiko, featuring traditional Hawaiian hula performances featuring oli and hula, highlighting the importance of ancient Hawaiian culture to balance nature and sustainability.