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Posted: Thursday, March 31st, 2005 1:18 PM HST

Hula festival gets underway

By Associated Press

HILO (AP) The Merrie Monarch hula festival got underway last night in Hilo with a hoike, or exhibition program, at the Edith Kanakaole Stadium. The mood of the festival will turn more serious tonight as 11 young women vie for the title of Miss Aloha Hula. Women's and men's group competition in kahiko, or traditional, hula is scheduled for Friday night and the same groups will compete in the auana, or modern, hula on Saturday night. At last night's hoike, a group of Japanese men performed at the festival for the first time. Also performing were dancers from Halau O Kekuhi, led by Pualani Kanakaole Kanahele and Nalani Kanakaole. (Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved.)