Miss Aloha Hula returned for its first night on Thursday, April 21st on K5 with a live audience for the first time since the pandemic had started.
The annual Merrie Monarch festival is a week-long event of festivities which honours King David Kalākaua and takes place during Easter.
Every year, the festival receives international recognition but last year’s event was hosted without an audience due to the ongoing health situation.
Let’s meet all 2022 contestants and get to know some of them better.
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Meet Miss Aloha Hula 2022 contestants
Here is the full list of all 10 contestants taking part in Miss Aloha Hula this year:
- Hiʻilei Puchalski of Kawaiʻulaokalā
- Shyla Victor, Hālau Kalaʻakeakauikawekiū
- Moanikeʻala Silva, Kawailiʻulā
- Marina Choi, of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua
- Renee Tataipu, Hālau Lilia Makanoe
- Manaia Dalire Moe, from Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea
- Auliʻionāpualokekūonaona Hisayo Faurot of Hālau ʻO Kamuela
- Riann Fujihara, Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua
- Kyleigh Manuel-Sagon, Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi
- Piʻikea Lopes from Ka Lā ʻOnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe
Two Maui contestants, Riann Nalani Michiko Fujihara and Kyleigh Hokuao Manuel-Sagon, have earned more media spotlight in recent days.
You can find an image of all participants in a picture uploaded from one Twitter account from a local newspaper.
Meet Riann Nalani Michiko Fujihara
Riann is a 21-year-old news editor at Ka Leo O Nā Koa who currently studies at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Her major is in Hawaiian language and her minor is in education and she is expected to graduate in May 2022.
Riann represents Wailuku-based Halau o Ka Hanu Lehua and she expressed her interest to pursue a career as a forensic photographer.
Talking more her part in the festival, Riann explained: “For me, hula is much more than a physical experience – it’s spiritual, it’s emotional, and it’s religious, just as it was for my kupuna (elders) before me. While winning would be extremely meaningful to her and her hālau she says, “For me, winning would be being able to portray the aloha that I have for my culture, my people, and for hula”.
Meet Kyleigh Hokuao Manuel-Sagon
Kyleigh is a 24-year-old management trainee at Enterprise, according to her LinkedIn profile.
She graduated from Western Oregon University in 2020 where she studied a BS course in Communication Studies. Prior to this, she graduated with a BASc degree in Organisational Communication from Portland University.
Kyleigh started dancing at the age of five and was crowned Miss Hula o Na Keiki in 2015.
Speaking to Maui News, she revealed that the festival is a dream come true for her, explaining: “Running for Miss Aloha Hula has always been a dream of mine since I was a little girl.”
“I have looked up to my hula sisters who have competed and many former Miss Aloha Hula contestants. I am so proud to be running this year as a Miss Aloha Hula contestant, and even more excited to share my aloha in my presentations this year,” she added.
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