Miss Aloha Hula 2025, Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao. PC: Merrie Monarch Festival (2025)
Jaedyn Janae Puahaulani Pavao was named Miss Aloha Hula 2025 at the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival on Thursday night at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaiʻi.
Pavao is both a haumana (student) and niece of Kumu Hula Leinā‘ala Pavao Jardin of Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala from Kalāheo, Kauaʻi. She accepted her award saying she is honored and blessed to share the Hawaiian cultural practice.
“As my kumu (teacher) said, we dance for an audience of one,” Pavao said during a broadcast interview of the festival on Hawaiʻi News Now / K5. “I came out here tonight to share my story and to just glorify God through my hula; and I thank him every day for this talent that we are all given to be here, and just represent not only my family, but also the whole island of Kauaʻi. So I am forever grateful.”
Pavao performed a hula ʻauana to the mele “Ka ʻAnoʻi” in honor of Queen Kapiʻolani, of whom she is a descendant. Her kahiko, “He Wahi Mele No Kapualeilahaʻoleināpali,” paid tribute to her island home of Kauaʻi, and her lineage.
She earned a total of 1,162 points for her entries as well as the competition’s Hawaiian Language Award. Her oli (chant), “Hānau Kamawailualani,” spoke of famous sayings about places on Kauaʻi from the island’s mountains and five moku (districts), according to the festival program.
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Last year, Kaʻōnohikaumakaakeawe Kananiokeakua Holokai Lopes earned the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2024, preceded by three additional years of top honors from Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, the hālau from Pūʻahuʻula, Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu.
Tiare-Jennings Iwalani Kamaluoluokatuahine Rebecca Kaʻaumoana Vaughan-Darval. PC: Merrie Monarch Festival
Emalia Pomaialoha KeleihanupīkakeiāPāoaehulaleʻaikalaninuiākea Dalire. PC: Merrie Monarch Festival
Marina La’akea Choi – Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua – Nā Kumu Robert Keano Ka’upu IV & Lono Padilla – PC: Merrie Monarch Festival / Photo by Cody Yamaguchi 
Marina Laʻakea Choi. PC: Merrie Monarch Festival 2025
Chloe Makanaleiliʻiliʻi Rei Cummins. PC: Merrie Monarch Festival 2025
The first runner up (second place) with 1,145 points was Tiare-Jennings Iwalani Kamaluoluokatuahine Rebecca Kaʻaumoana Vaughan-Darval of Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine under the direction of Kumu Kaʻilihiwa Vaughan-Darval from Mānoa and Waimānalo, Oʻahu.
The second runner up (third place) with 1,123 points was Emalia Pomaialoha KeleihanupīkakeiāPāoaehulaleʻaikalaninuiākea Dalire of Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka, under the direction of Nā Kumu Keolalaulani Dalire and Regina Mākaʻikaʻi Igarashi Pascua from Heʻeia and Kāneʻohe, Oʻahu.
The third runner up (fourth place) with 1,110 points was Marina Laʻakea Choi of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua under the direction of Nā Kumu Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV and Lono Padilla. Her kahiko performance described the Pāʻu o Hiʻiaka, the morning glory vine skirt that protected Pele’s youngest sister from the harsh rays of the sun. Kumu, Lono Padilla has ties to Maui as the son of respected Kumu Hula Hōkūlani Holt whose Hālau is named Pāʻū O Hiʻiaka.
The fourth runner up (fifth place), with 1,097 points was Chloe Makanaleiliʻiliʻi Rei Cummins of
Hula Hālau O Kamuela, under the direction of Kumu Kunewa Mook and Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo from Kalihi and Waimānalo, Oʻahu.
Lexi Mae Kamakanaokalani Pruse – Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi – Nā Kumu Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes. PC: Merrie Monarch Festival 2025 / Photo by Cody Yamaguchi
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Maui’s own Lexi Mae Kamakanaokalani Pruse of Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes was the only soloist representing the island of Maui.
Her kahiko performance, “Lani A Kahailiopua,” honored Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Her ʻauana, “Palisa,” is a mele said to have been composed by a patient of Kalaupapa who imagined the places depicted in a moving picture, including a balloon ride over Paris.
The festival continues on Friday night with group kahiko or ancient hula performances. Saturday night, groups will perform ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 62nd event. A total 20 hālau are participating, including 17 wahine and 10 kāne groups.
Maui has three hālau competing this year:
- Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes of Wailuku
- Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of Kumu Nāpua Silva of Kula
- Hālau o ka Hanu Lehua, led by Kumu Carlson Kamaka Kukona III of Waikapū
The men of Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, led by Kumu Carlson Kamaka Kukona III of Waikapū perform seventh in the lineup on both days.
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Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi, under the direction of Nā Kumu Haunani and ʻIliahi Paredes of Wailuku have their women appear 17th in the lineup, and their men will perform second to last (the 25th group) on both nights.
Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, under the direction of Kumu Nāpua Silva of Kula, Maui will appear as the 18th group on both nights.
Video of each performance will be available here via HawaiiNewsNow/K5.
Watch the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Hula Competition at merriemonarch.com. or on https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/merriemonarch/ or by clicking the Merrie Monarch icon on the Hawaiʻi News Now app each night beginning at 6 p.m. HST on April 24-26, 2025.
The Merrie Monarch Festival is carried on K5, Spectrum and Hawaiian Telcom (Channel 1006/06).
