La Pietra Alum to Dance at Merrie Monarch with Halau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine
April 21st, 2022
La Pietra alum Makenna Kinsler at her graduation in 2021
The 59th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival will take place in Hilo this week, and this year the event returns with a live audience! La Pietra alum Makenna Kinsler ’21 of Halau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine will finally get to live out her dream of dancing during hula’s biggest night.
Kinsler has been dancing with Halau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine under the direction of Kumu Hula Hiwa Vaughan since she was five years old. In the 8th grade, she started doing hula competitively, and that’s when her passion really grew.
Watch to hear how La Pietra helped Makenna Kinsler '21 on her hula journey
While at La Pietra, Kinsler served as the leader of the Hawaiian Club, Na ‘Imi ‘Ike O Hawai‘i, as a freshman. She also had the opportunity to serve as May Day Director. The small school environment made it possible for Kinsler to explore her passions for dance and Hawaiian culture and share it with her peers, things she may not have been able to do at larger schools.
Good luck to Kinsler and Halau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine at this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival – we'll be watching!
