The annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaii, is about to see something truly remarkable. This year’s elite hula competition has a deeper purpose, acting as a platform for healing and resilience for the Lahaina community, which was devastated by wildfires last August.
The local dancers from Maui’s hālau hula (hula schools) will join the competition and be enriched with dance, memories while carrying the spirit of their fire-stricken country. Among them is Jayda Lum Lung, a returning Merrie Monarch player, who, together with her family, managed to evade the disaster. A spectacular gesture of hand movements mimicking the earth’s attributes is what is meant to showcase her performance and a strong expression of the tribute to Lahaina.
“The dance gives me a special sense of connection,” says Lung. “It reminds everyone that we can overcome this together and emerge stronger.”
The impact of the wildfires goes beyond Lung’s narrative. Several hālau hula in Maui had dancers who lost their houses in the disaster. Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua’s kumu hula (master teacher), Kamaka Kukona, shared the story of a family with three girls who continue to dance despite financial challenges due to the fire. The hālau community raised funds to assure their participation in the festival
Lung’s dance troupe, Hālau Hula Kauluokalā, shares similar stories. Their boat ramp served as a vital supply point in the aftermath. For these dancers, hula is a haven, a place to clear their thoughts and handle emotional difficulties.
The spirit of aloha (love) extends the stage. Other hālau have dedicated their performances to survivors, including Lung’s family. Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka o Uka’s kumu hula, Napua Silva, declared their commitment to representing Lahaina on the Merrie Monarch stage, seeking to create a sense of shared power and love for their hometown.
The event will indeed be an effective way of helping Lahaina’s recovery. The free entry for the Ho’ike performances each Wednesday lets visitors donate their money and hence help recovery after the disastrous wildfire. Backstage, a unique area awaits Lahainaluna High School students who have missed months of school due to the fire. According to their kumu hula, Eva Palakiko, attending the hālau in person will reinvigorate their passion for hula.
Perhaps the most powerful benefit is the therapeutic power of hula itself. The effect of the fire on her festival participants seems to be on a personal level, according to Palakiko. The trip becomes a period of recovery for them, and it creates a space where they get a chance to stop their daily worries about rebuilding their lives.
This year’s Merrie Monarch Festival surpasses competition. It exemplifies the enduring spirit of Lahaina, a town that finds refuge and strength in the beauty and traditions of hula.
