KAPALUA, Maui — Leilani A‘ana stepped onto the Merrie Monarch stage last night, her bare feet steady against the polished wood, carrying a story stitched into every sway of her hips. One of thirteen vying for the 2025 Miss Aloha Hula title, the 22-year-old from Maui didn’t just dance. She unraveled her life through hula, a performance that traced her path from a shy kid in Lahaina to a woman shaped by fire, loss, and the rhythm of her island’s traditions.
A‘ana’s kumu hula, Napua Greig, choreographed her solo to reflect the 2023 Maui wildfires that scorched Lahaina, where A‘ana grew up. The dance, set to a mele about resilience, wove in sharp, deliberate movements to mimic flames and soft, flowing gestures for healing. A‘ana trained for months, practicing in a community center still scarred by smoke damage. Her costume—hand-dyed kapa cloth in muted greens and golds—nodded to the land she calls home.
Born in 2002, A‘ana started hula at five, dragged to classes by her mom, a single parent who worked two jobs. She hated it at first. The drills felt endless, the chants like homework. But by ten, something clicked. Hula became her anchor through her parents’ divorce, the wildfires, and the grind of rebuilding. She told reporters on April 16 that every step she takes onstage is for her ‘ohana and the Lahaina families still displaced.
The Merrie Monarch Festival, held annually in Hilo, is no small stage. Since 1963, it’s been the Super Bowl of hula, drawing thousands to the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium. This year’s Miss Aloha Hula competition, judged on precision, expression, and cultural depth, kicked off on April 24. A‘ana’s performance earned a standing ovation, though the winner won’t be announced until tomorrow.
Her story isn’t just about dance. It’s about a community gutted but stubborn. Lahaina’s rebuilding efforts, documented in state reports from March 2025, show 60% of displaced residents still in temporary housing. A‘ana volunteers with a local nonprofit, teaching keiki hula to keep traditions alive. She’s studying cultural preservation at UH Maui College, juggling classes with late-night practices.
Backstage, A‘ana clutched a lei from her mom, her eyes red but her voice steady. She didn’t talk dreams or glory. She talked roots. Hula, she said, taught her to stand tall when the world burns down.
The Merrie Monarch Festival runs through April 26. A‘ana’s performance aired live on KITV. Results will be posted on the festival’s official website by April 27.