George Naope, a cultural treasure who is a Big Island-based kumu hula and a co-founder of the Merrie Monarch Festival, was honored in Washington, D.C., yesterday as one of 11 masters of the arts.

The awards ceremony was held in the Cannon Caucus Room in the Cannon House building on Capitol Hill. The nod to Naope was announced earlier this year; the recognition includes $20,000 for his contributions to hula, as part of the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship, the highest honor in folk and traditional arts.

Reach Wayne Harada at wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com.