HILO >> Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka of Maui, under the direction of kumu Napua Greig, took the overall winner title of the 55th Merrie Monarch Festival early this morning at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium.

Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka had the highest combined score of 1,200, earning it the Lokalia Montgomery Perpetual Trophy.

A total of 29 hula troupes — nine kane (men) and 20 wahine (women) — competed in the group kahiko competition on Friday, followed by the group auana competition on Saturday.

On Thursday night, Greig’s solo dancer, Shalia Kapuauʻionalani Kikuyo Kamakaokalani, also won the Miss Aloha Hula title among 12 contenders.

Among the criteria that judges used to score the halau were the adornments, expression, interpretation, posture, precision, hand gestures, foot and body movements, authenticity of costume and overall performance. The panel of judges this year included Cy Bridges, Maelia Loebenstein-Carter, Ainsley Halemanu, Nalani Kanakaʻole Zane, Mae Kamamalu Klein, Piʻilani Lua and Kalena Silva.

55TH ANNUAL MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL

Overall Winner

>> Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu Napua Greig, 1,200.

>> Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, kumu Kaleo Trinidad, 1,198.

>> Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaʻala, kumu Leinaʻala Pavao Jardin, 1,188.

Wahine Kahiko

>> Halau Hiʻiakainamakalehua, kumu Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla, 600.

>> Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu Napua Greig, 596.

>> Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaʻala, kumu Leinaʻala Pavao Jardin, 592.

>> Halau Mohala ʻIlima, kumu Mapuana de Silva, 583.

>> Hula Halau ʻO Kamuela, kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionalani Kamanaʻo, 582.

Wahine Auana

>> Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu Napua Greig, 604.

>> Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaʻala, kumu Leinaʻala Pavao Jardin, 596.

>> Hula Halau ʻO Kamuela, kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionalani Kamanaʻo, 593.

>> Halau O Ka Hanu Lehua, kumu Kamaka Kukona, 589.

>> Halau I Ka Wekiu, kumu Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, 586.

Wahine Overall

>> Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka, kumu Napua Greig, 1,200.

>> Ka Lei Mokihana O Leinaʻala, kumu Leinaʻala Pavao Jardin, 1,188.

>> Hula Halau ʻO Kamuela, kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionalani Kamanaʻo, 1,175, 1,633.

>> Halau Hiʻiakainamakalehua, kumu Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla, 1,175, 1,633 .

Kane Kahiko

>> Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, kumu Kaleo Trinidad, 594.

>> Halau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi, kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes, 590.

>> Halau Na Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, kumu Lopaka Igarta-De Vera and William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu “Sonny” Ching, 586.

>> Halau I Ka Wekiu, kumu Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, 585.

Kane ‘Auana

>> Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, kumu Kaleo Trinidad, 604.

>> Halau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi, kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes, 584.

>> Halau Na Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, kumu Lopaka Igarta-De Vera and William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu “Sonny” Ching, 583.

>> Halau I Ka Wekiu, kumu Karl Veto Baker and Michael Casupang, 582.

Kane Overall

>> Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La, kumu Kaleo Trinidad, 1198.

>> Halau Kekuaokalaʻauʻalaʻiliahi, kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes, 1,174.

>> Halau Na Mamo O Puʻuanahulu, kumu Lopaka Igarta-De Vera and William Kahakuleilehua Haunuʻu “Sonny” Ching, 1,169.