For Jaedyn Pavao, being Miss Aloha Hula 2025 has been “an amazing, overwhelming experience in the best way possible.” Since winning the highest honor in hula at the Merrie Monarch Festival in April, the Kauai resident has had the opportunity to represent her title at local events such parades as well as nationally, including the Lilo & Stitch movie premier in Los Angeles in May. She’s been dancing for Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinaala since she was a keiki. At age 24, Pavao says she’s honored to carry on the hula tradition.
What kind of advice did you get from past Miss Aloha Hula contestants as you prepared for Merrie Monarch?
They said that when it’s your turn, you’re not going to be nervous. You’re going to feel so ready. And they were right. When I started dancing up that ramp to the stage, there was no turning back. I felt like it was my time with God’s good timing.
Jaedyn Pavao dancing kahiko at the 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival. Photo courtesy Mike Teruya
You grew up in a hula family. Many kids tend not to do what their elders do. What attracted you to hula?
It wasn’t something that my parents forced on me. My love for hula came from the people I look up to, such as my kumu (Leinaala Pavao Jardin) and all the aunties who danced when I was a little girl. They’re still around. I remember watching them for years. My love for hula came from watching them. And when I have kids, I won’t force hula on them. I’ll let them make their own decisions like I did. I’m glad that my passion continues.
How significant is it for you to have been the only contestant from Kauai?
It made me proud to represent not just Kauai but also Niihau. It’s been an honor and a blessing for my halau to be the only halau from Kauai. And I also got to share in my kahiko (ancient hula) and auana (modern hula), the places on Kauai that aren’t often mentionedthese days, such as Halauaola, Ainaike, and Kawaikoi. Kauai people were surprised to hear about these places. By actually visiting these placenames, I’m able to draw that picture with my emotions for the audience. I don’t think of myself being on a stage and thinking about the audience and judges. I imagine myself at these places in my hula so I can share these places with them.
Jaedyn Pavao dancing auana. Photo courtesy Greg Heller
What are your future plans for hula?
I’ll continue to perpetuate the culture and see whether I’ll move on to alakai (leader) in halau. But that comes with years of learning and knowledge.
Like hula, nursing is a calling for me to give back to people of the community who have set a foundation in my life. I got my bachelor’s degree in nursing at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and got my master’s degree in nursing with a focus on leadership and governance through an online school. In my work, we focus on health and wellness with kupuna and keiki in schools, provide education about emergency preparedness for natural disasters, and participate in community awareness of communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis and measles. We work to help prevent their spread throughout our community. Instead of reacting to challenges, we focus on outreach and prevention.
Jaedyn Pavao is a public health nurse on Kauai. Photo courtesy Jaedyn Pavao
How do you use hula to help patients in your job?
Hula has kept me in shape. As a nurse, I can’t tell patients to eat their vegetables and then go and pound fast food. I use being a good role model as a teaching tool. I tell patients who don’t want to go to the gym to join a hula class. Get physical. And make it fun. I don’t like going to the gym, but I stay in shape through hula practice.
How has hula shaped you overall as a person?
I believe my discipline, hard work, and commitment comes from hula. Being raised in hula, I learned early on how to take responsibility very seriously. So, from a young age, I was held to a high standard. Hula is not a game. It’s very intense. When you join a halau, you join with a responsibility. It also helps make me mentally strong and have a spiritual connection to ke akua (God) knowing He guides the way. Hula has really shaped who I am in many ways.
Celebrating hula
Read more stories in islandscene.com about Hawaii’s hula tradition.
- celebrating hula at the merrie monarch festival
- the heart of hula
- hula at the royal palace
- merrie monarch celebrates hula
- well-being at work: hawaiian airlines
Hero image courtesy Mike Teruya
