The winners have been announced for the 14th Annual Kū Mai Ka Hula Competition, held on Saturday, Sept. 14 in the Castle Theater at Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Award-winning hālau from Maui, O‘ahu, Japan and California shared their finest performances in front of an enthusiastic audience and a group of prestigious judges. There were a total of ten participating hālau this year.

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The 2019 KU MAI KA HULA final awardees are as follows, by division:

Ms. Hula Maui:

1st: Teressa Deneen Welolani Noury/Hālau Manaiakalani, Kahului, Maui /Kumu Hula Kapono & Kanoenani Kamaunu

2nd: Princess Jana Sumibcay/Hālau Hula Olana, Aiea, Oʻahu/Kumu Hula Shelsea Olana Ai & Olana Ai

Mr. Hula Maui:

1st: Brent Schwenke II/Hui Hoʻoulu Aloha, Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu/Kumu Hula Pōmaikaʻi Krueger

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Wāhine Group Kahiko:

1st: Hula Hālau ʻO Leilani, chigasaki-city, Kanagawa-ken, Japan/Kumu Hula Mihoko Ogawa

2nd: Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu, Wailuku, Maui/Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo-Pearson

Wāhine Group ‘Auana

1st: Hula Hālau ʻO Leilani, chigasaki-city, Kanagawa-ken, Japan/Kumu Hula Mihoko Ogawa

2nd: Hālau Kamaluokaleihulu / Kumu Hula Kahulu Maluo / Maui

Kūpuna

1st: Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, Wailuku, Maui/Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona

2nd: Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua, Kyoto, Tokyo, Japan/Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina

3rd: Ka Ua Tuahine, Berkeley, CA/Kumu Hula Mahealani Uchiyama

Kāne Group ‘Auana

1st: Hui Hoʻoulu Aloha, Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu/Kumu Hula Pōmaikaʻi Krueger

Kāne Group Kahiko

1st: Hui Hoʻoulu Aloha, Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu/Kumu Hula Pōmaikaʻi Krueger

Special Awards:

Palikumaikalewalani Oli Award (recognizes the hālau that exhibits excellence in oli): Hālau Manaiakalani, Kahului, Maui /Nā Kumu Hula Kapono & Kanoenani Kamaunu

Maui Nui Award (recognizes the hālau that participated fully in all aspects of the competition and has tried to be involved in as many divisions as possible): Hui Hoʻoulu Aloha, Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu/Kumu Hula Pōmaikaʻi Krueger

Leianaikaroselaniomaui Award (recognizes the hālau that exhibits overall excellence in hula): Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, Wailuku, Maui/Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona

The ‘Ōlelo Makuahine Award (recognizes the hālau that exhibits excellence in Hawaiian Language use by ho‘opa‘a (accompanist) and musician): Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, Wailuku, Maui/Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona

Kū Mai Ka Hula is presented annually by Maui Arts & Cultural Center in association with Kauahea Inc, a non-profit organization founded by Hōkūlani Holt to support Hawaiian arts and culture.

The judges were Kumu Hula ‘Iwalani Kalima, Kumu Hula Kapono‘aikaulikeikeao Molitau, Kumu Hula Cody Kapueola‘ākeanui Pata, and Kumu Hula Ulalia Woodside. Each is a kumu hula with award winning hālau, and renowned for their contributions to Hawaiian culture.