HONOLULU (KHON2)

The Merrie Monarch Festival cancelled this year’s event weeks before the festival was planned to kick off.

This is in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For all, from hula dancers to teachers to judges to vendors and beyond, this was a hard reality to accept, but agree with the precautionary action.

We caught up with a hālau hula who has been participating in the Merrie Monarch Festival for 3 decades.

Kumu Hula Chinky Māhoe of Kawaili’ulā is one of many who have been working hard and tirelessly to get ready for the prestigious hula competition.