The Oʻahu-based Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua, led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV, was named the overall keiki hula winner, and swept overall kaikamāhine and overall kāne awards, along with other honors, at the 51st Annual Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition & Festival on Saturday, July 25. The same hālau also won Merrie Monarch just a few months ago, in April.
This year, Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition, presented by Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts and Sheraton Waikīkī Beach Resort, brought 15 hālau from across the pae ʻāina, to participate in contests from Thursday, July 23, to Saturday, July 25, at the Neil S. Blaisdell Center. Participants of the invitation-only competition are between six and 12 years old. The structure of the competition resembles Merrie Monarch with Miss & Master Keiki Hula 2026 on Thursday, Group Hula Kahiko on Friday, and Group Hula ʻAuana on Saturday.
The three-day event is under the stewardship of Hawaiian Council, which brought the Native Hawaiian Convention to Honolulu for the first time in five years in the days before it, from Monday, July 20, through Wednesday, July 22, at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
“After a week celebrating Hawaiian culture, leadership and community through the Native Hawaiian Convention and the Queen Liliʻuokalani Keiki Hula Competition & Festival, we leave inspired by what we’ve witnessed on this stage,” said Kūhiō Lewis, CEO of the Hawaiian Council, in a written statement. “These performances reflect countless hours of preparation, the unwavering commitment of our kumu hula and the support of families who continue to invest in our keiki. We congratulate every hālau that participated and our award winners for carrying forward the legacy of Queen Liliʻuokalani through hula.”
Kiliʻohu Kahualauleʻa Celebrado, who is part of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, led by Kumu Hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes, was named 2026 Miss Keiki Hula, while Jahnathan Lāhiki Bareng, who is part of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, was named 2026 Master Keiki Hula.
The Hawaiian Language Award was captured by the Maui-based Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi, led by Kumu Hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes.
Here is the full list of winners:
Overall Keiki Hula Winner: Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
Overall Kaikamāhine: Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
Overall Kāne: Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
Hawaiian Language Award: Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi (Maui), led by Kumu Hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes
Hula Kahiko — Kaikamāhine
First: Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
Second: Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire
Third: Hālau Hula o Kamuela (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo and Kunewa Mook
Hula Kahiko — Kāne
First: Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
Second: Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi (Maui), led by Kumu Hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes
Third: Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua (Maui), led by Kumu Hula Kamaka Kukona
Hula ʻAuana — Kaikamāhine
First: Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
Second: Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire
Third: Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai o Ha‘eha‘e (O‘ahu), led by Tracie & Keawe Lopes
Hula ʻAuana — Kāne
First: Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
Second: Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi (Maui), led by Kumu Hula Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes
Third: Hālau Hula ‘o Nāpunaheleonāpua (O‘ahu), led by Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina and Blaine Nohara
2026 Miss Keiki Hula
First: Kiliʻohu Kahualauleʻa Celebrado (Maui), Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, led by Kumu Hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes
Second: Aliyah Keaohiwahiwaokalewalani Raymond (Oʻahu) of Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka, led by Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire
Third: Leianaikamalukoa Hiʻipoiikapoliokilohana Kuaulu Cuban (Oʻahu) of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
2026 Master Keiki Hula
First: Jahnathan Lāhiki Bareng (Oʻahu) of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, led by Kumu Hula Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV
Second: Logan Stephen Taulaʻi Crowell (Maui) of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, led by Kumu Hula Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes
Third: Kawelokūleʻa Nuikamahaʻo Kekipi-Aurio (Oʻahu) of Hālau Hula ʻO Nāpunaheleonāpua, led by Kumu Hula Rich Pedrina and Blaine Nohara
Katie Helland can be reached at katie@alohastatedaily.com.
