{"id":232272,"date":"2026-04-14T15:03:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T01:03:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=232272"},"modified":"2026-04-14T15:05:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T01:05:23","slug":"hilos-kipuka-director-royal-court","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/04\/14\/hilos-kipuka-director-royal-court\/","title":{"rendered":"UH<\/abbr> Hilo\u2019s K\u012bpuka director steps out of \u02bb\u014dlapa line into Royal Court"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> < 1<\/span> minute<\/span><\/span>
\"Merrie
(Third from right) Rachel Hualani Loo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For nearly 20 years, Rachel Hualani Loo has graced the Merrie Monarch stage on H\u014dʻike<\/span> night as an ʻ\u014dlapa<\/span>, or dancer, with H\u0101lau o Kekuhi. This year, she returned to the Edith Kanakaʻole<\/span> Stadium in a profoundly different role: as the 2026 M\u014dʻ\u012b<\/span> Wahine (Queen) of the Merrie Monarch Royal Court.<\/p>\n

A University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo political science<\/a> alumna and the director of the K\u012bpuka Native Hawaiian Student Center<\/a>, Loo has spent over a decade supporting Hawaiian students on their educational journeys. But when the Merrie Monarch Festival committee asked her to serve in this role, the weight of carrying this kuleana (responsibility) for her community felt different.<\/p>\n

“Just to be included in all of this\u2014not just the honor on an individual and personal level, but the real honor is continuing to be part of this community in a different capacity,” Loo expressed.<\/p>\n

One of the most special things about being in Hilo during Merrie Monarch week is the opportunity to witness the community\u2019s hospitality and ability to hoʻokipa<\/span>, to host. Whether welcoming family, friends, or h\u0101lau hula, Hilo\u2019s community shows up year after year to graciously welcome everyone. Growing up in Hilo and being part of the Merrie Monarch in different capacities has shaped Loo\u2019s own commitment to this practice.<\/p>\n

What the Merrie Monarch Festival and its stage represent isn\u2019t lost on her. Loo recalled the words of her Kumu Hula N\u0101lani Kanakaʻole<\/span> Zane, whose legacy continues to permeate the festival: “She would remind us that this is the biggest stage for hula: an opportunity to share our language, culture, and dance in excellence. It\u2019s an example of Hawaiian excellence at its highest level.”<\/p>\n

For more go to K\u016bkala N\u016bhou<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Rachel Hualani Loo served as the 2026 M\u014dʻ\u012b<\/span> Wahine (Queen) of the Merrie Monarch Royal Court.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":232269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[90,679,1041,185,14],"class_list":["post-232272","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","tag-alumni","tag-alumni-recognition","tag-hula","tag-political-science","tag-uh-hilo","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t