The weeklong 43rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival is under way in Hilo, with hula performances, craft fairs, exhibits and other activities. The hula competition that is the heart of the festival begins, as always, with tonight's free ho'ike (performance) organized by Hilo's Halau O Kekuhi, building to tomorrow's Miss Aloha Hula competition and finally the two nights of group competition.

Here's what to watch for, and what's new.

ON TV

Most Merrie Monarch hula viewing is on television, since only a couple of thousand people can score the coveted tickets. Many look forward to the broadcast's mini-stories about hula and about the contestants, crafted by producer David Kalama in partnership with KITV Channel 4.

This year, Kalama explores the structure of a halau (hula school) and the Hawaiian craft of kapa-making. He interviews kumu hula Pua Kanahele on how hula schools were organized in pre-contact times, and how they work now.

Among the disciplines that have been reintroduced into hula schools since the Hawaiian renaissance is creating the ornamentation for hula kahiko (traditional style). Two Miss Aloha Hula candidates are beating their own kapa (cloth made from wauke, the paper mulberry bark) to wear in their performance, a daunting task.

Kalama's cameras have followed Carly Makanani Ah Sing of Kaimuki throughout the process, from cutting down the wauke trees through stripping, fermenting, pounding and decorating. It's been a challenge, Kalama said: With all the rain of past weeks, the outcome of the story was still undetermined at press time.

SEVEN JUDGES

A couple of years ago, the Merrie Monarch organization decided to change its seven-member judging panel more frequently than in the past, and to bring in some of the younger kumu hula — including those whose halau still sometimes compete (of course, they don't compete in the years when they serve as judges). Last year, popular Hilo kumu hula Johnny Lum Ho took time off from competition to serve as a judge (he's taking off this year, too).

So it is that kumu hula William Sonny Kahakuleilehua Haunu'u Ching will be seated at the stage-level tables for the first time. Ching takes every fourth year off from Merrie Monarch competition, so his Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu, which earned the last three Miss Aloha Hula crowns and took second place in both men's and women's group competition in 2005, would have been sitting out the competition in any case.

Coming from Maui to judge this year is kumu hula Hokulani Holt-Padilla of Halau Pa'u O Hi'iaka and a founder of Ka 'Aha Hula 'O Halauaola, the World Conference on Hula.

Other judges are chanter and kumu hula Cy M. Bridges, kumu hula and University of Hawai'i professor Victoria Holt-Takamine, kumu hula Wayne Keahi Chang, kumu hula Kawaikapuokalani K. Hewitt and Nalani Kanaka'ole of Halau O Kekuhi and the University of Hawai'i-Hilo.

MISS ALOHA HULA

This year's Merrie Monarch Miss Aloha Hula competition is tied with 2003 for the most candidates ever: 16 dancers, each of whom will perform one old-style and one modern number in a single, long evening of competition. Look for the broadcast to barely squeak in under the 11 p.m. deadline — or maybe run over.

Two of the competitors have a double blessing — or burden: Their kumu hula is their parent.

Kumu hula Mapuana de Silva of Halau Mohala 'Ilima, known for its dignity, near-flawless line and period style, is showcasing her youngest daughter, Kapalai'ula.

And kumu hula Carl Veto Baker, who operates award-winning Halau I Ka Wekiu with Michael Nalanakila Casupang, will direct his daughter, Ka'enaalohaokau'i-kaukehakeha Aoe Hopkins, in Miss Aloha Hula competition for the second time; she competed in 2003.

Another interesting story, according to Kalama, is that of Stephanie Makalapua Lum Yee, who dances for Kapi'olani Ha'o's Halau Ke Kia'i A O Hula. Yee lives in Alaska, and both she and her kumu hula have been hopping north and south periodically for the past year; Ha'o has a class of students, mostly expatriate Islanders, up there.

GROUP COMPETITION

In the group competition, there is sure to be interest in the appearance of perennially controversial Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu and his Oakland, Calif.-based Academy of Hawaiian Arts. Ho'omalu is the kumu hula, chanter, hula instrument designer and recording artist whose last CD, showcasing his signature style of Westernized chant and song, was defiantly titled "Call It What You Like." Originally from 'Aiea, he studied and performed with the legendary halau kane Waimapua in the 1970s. Since moving to California, he has worked with two companies — Tiare Otea and Na Mele Hula 'Ohana. He brought Na Mele Hula 'Ohana to the Merrie Monarch in 2000. In 2003, he founded the nonprofit Academy of Hawaiian Arts.

Two other Mainland halau are participating this year: Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i, the Dallas, Texas-based troupe of Keli'i Chang, and Sissy Lilinoe Kaio's Hula Halau O Lilinoe.

Also back after an absence is kumu hula Leina'ala Kalama Heine, mistress of the comic hula and frequent star on the stage with the Brothers Cazimero, with her Na Pualei o Likolehua.

Altogether, it's an interesting mix of the three out-of-town halau, a handful of younger-generation crowd-pleasers (Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Lehua under Snowbird Bento; her former hula brother Kaleo Trinidad's Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La; and Manu Boyd's Halau O Ke 'A'ali'i Ku Makani), familiar favorites (Halau Mohala 'Ilima, Halau Hula 'O Kawailiula with kumu hula Chinky Mahoe) and powerhouses. (Will Hula Halau 'O Kamuela inch ahead of Na Lei O Kaholoku this year?)

Reach Wanda A. Adams at wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.