Keeping Hula Alive

Hula school celebrates rebirth of Kauai heiau (temple) at Merrie Monarch Festival

Before Hawaiians had a written language, they shared their histories, genealogies, their honor for kings and queens, their love for the ocean, for the land and for love itself through the chants and dance of hula.

During the Merrie Monarch Festival, hula’s most prestigious competition held each year in Hilo on the Big Island of Hawai’i, the world’s best hula dancers come together to celebrate hula and share their stories with a global audience in this invitation-only event.

This year, Kaua’i’s own hula school Halau Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina’ala, based in Kalaheo and led by Kumu Hula (hula instructor) Leina’ala Pavao Jardin, is the only halau (hula school) representing the Garden Island. Read more here