This Way In ➳
Rooted in Rhythm Outrigger women bring heart, heritage, and athleticism to Merrie Monarch CLUB HAPPENINGS, CELEBRATIONS & EVENTS LOBBY The
By Rachel Wagenman
6 AMA | JULY / AUGUST 2025 | MAY / JUNE 2025 “She has always been talented at hula— she has the rhythm ingrained in her,” says Makana, whose daughter has been dancing for 10 years. “It was such a different experience this time because I had to be a mom while also trying to be a teammate to her.” ➳ Each spring, all eyes turn to Hilo, where the Merrie Monarch Festival transforms the town into a weeklong tribute to Hawaiian culture. For a few Outrigger Canoe Club members, this year’s event wasn’t just about performing on an international stage — it was a moment of personal and cultural connection, rooted in tradition, family, and athletic excellence. This year’s festival marked a full- circle moment for Makana and Lelehune Reilly, a mother and daughter who share a meaningful connection to both hula and the Club. Dancing for Hālau Pua Ali‘i ‘Ilima, Makana took the Merrie Monarch stage for the third time this year — a journey that began at her first festival in 2010, when she danced while two months pregnant with Lelehune. Fourteen years later, it was only fitting that her daughter would follow in her footsteps, taking the same stage with the same deep love of dance.
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