Editing Hala

{{Character
| name=Hala
| image=
| caption=
| bgcolor=#660000
| fgcolor=#FFFFFF
| real name=
| species=Human
| hair=Gray
| eyes=Brown
| relatives=[[Hau]] (Grandson)
| base=Melemele Island
| height=5'7"
| age=
| affiliation=Pokémon League (Alola)
| voiced by=Unknown (2021)
| debut=''[[Pokémon Sun and Moon|Pokémon Sun/Moon]]''
|}}

'''Hala''' is a Pokémon trainer who was featured as a supporting character and opponent in ''[[Pokémon Sun and Moon|Pokémon Sun, Moon]]'', ''[[Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon|Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon]]''. He was one of the four [[kahuna|kahuna]] of the [[Alola]] region, being the kahuna of Melemele Island, and he also provided the player with their starter Pokémon. Hala also acted as an inaugural member of Alola's Elite Four in ''Sun''/''Moon'' only. He specialized in Fighting-type Pokémon and holds the Fighting-type Z-Crystal, Fightinum Z.

=Background=

Hala resided in Iki Town at Melemele Island, where he was renowned for being powerful and dedicated in his training, both as a Pokémon trainer and as a sumo wrestler. He was chosen by [[Tapu Koko]] to act as the kahuna of Melemele Island and took that trial seriously. Thus, he hosted the island's ceremonies related to the island challenge, which included giving out starter Pokémon to new challengers. During any years in which there were no new challengers, Hala would hold sumo matches instead. He was only known to appoint one trial captain for the island, [[Ilima]]. He also helped to calm down any Pokémon that started to become hostilearound the island.

He also had a grandson named [[Hau]], who looked up to him and wanted to become as strong as him. Hala encouraged Hau's aspirations. One other villager felt that Hala went easy on Hau due to feeling guilty about one time when he was harsh with the child when he was younger.

===Sun/Moon===

Hala initially appeared after [[Elio/Selene]] and [[Cosmog]] had been rescued by [[Tapu Koko]]. He was impressed with Elio/Selene and saw them as having the potential to be a great trainer, so he allowed them to choose from three starter Pokémon. He then watched as Hau, who had already received a Pokémon from Hala, showed up to challenge the new trainer to a battle. In the aftermath of the battle, Hala noticed that Elio/Selene had a Sparkling Stone that was receieved from Tapu Koko, and he had it made into a [[Z-Ring]] that the young trainer could use. Hala then held a festival to set off the island challenge, with its main event being another battle between Elio/Selene and Hau.

Afterwards, Hala was encountered several times during the trainer's travels across Melemele Island, when he repeatedly tried to calm down an unruly [[Tauros]] and then allowed Elio/Selene to pet it. After Elio/Selene had cleared Ilima's trial, they were able to challenge Hala to a battle as the Grand Trial. After being defeated, Hala gave them Fightinum Z and demonstrated the pose that went with it. He also placed the Melemele stamp in their passport, as proof that they had completed that island's trial. Hala also gave Elio/Selene a Ride Page and registered Tauros to it.

Later in the game, he made an appearance when the Ultra Beasts began to attack Alola. While strolling on Mahalo Trail, he encountered an Ultra Beast ([[Buzzwole]] in ''Sun'' or [[Pheromosa]] in ''Moon''), and Tapu Koko appeared to help him to repel it. Afterwards, Hala was convinced by Professor Kukui to join Alola's newly-minted Pokémon League as one of the members of its [[Elite Four]]. He resided in the Fighting Chamber and chose not to hold out for these battles. Elio/Selene defeated him on their way to the championship. After Elio/Selene became the champion, Hala congratulated the trainer and then hosted a big celebration at Iki Town. He could also be battled again in rematches of the Elite Four.

In the postgame, Hala also made an extra appearance in a scenario involving [[Guzma]]. After defeating Guzma at Hau'oli City's beach, Hala would appear and offered to help Guzma to become a better trainer and a better person. He saw this as penance for the wrongdoings of Guzma and [[Team Skull]].

===Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon===

While much of Hala's role in the early part of the ''Ultra Sun''/''Ultra Moon'' was the same as in the original games, there were some alterations to the storyline. One notable difference was how the starter Pokémon were dispensed. While Hala was off settling down some [[Rockruff]], he had left the starter Pokémon in Kukui's care, who ended up distributing two of the Pokémon to Elio/Selene and Hau. Beyond that, Hala's role during the Melemele Island portion of the game was the same as in ''Sun''/''Moon''. Another change was made to the Ultra Beast encounter, as he instead was confronted by [[Blacephalon]] (in ''Ultra Sun'') or [[Stakataka]] (in ''Ultra Moon''), and Hau was with him at the time. He even felt that Hau had grown enough to handle it on his own, although Tapu Koko still came to their aid.

After Elio/Selene had completed all of the trials, Hala showed up at Seafolk Village to congratulate them and to report on Hau's progress, as Hau had managed to defeat him in an all-out battle. In these versions, Hala did not join the Elite Four, and [[Molayne]] acted as one of its members instead. It was not made clear if,in this version of events, Hala had declined or was just not invited to begin with. Hala still held a celebration at Iki Town after Elio/Selene became champion. After that, he could be challenged to a rematch in Iki Town. After being defeated, he would reward the player with two Z-Crystals (the Z-Crystals for the fully evolved forms of the starter Pokémon that the player did not choose).

==Pokémon Roster==

Hala uses the following Pokémon in battle:

*[[Mankey]]/[[Primeape]]: He uses these Pokémon in ''Sun''/''Moon'' only. It is used during the first battle and evolves by the Elite Four battle.
*[[Machop]]/[[Machamp]]: He uses Machop instead of Mankey in ''Ultra Sun''/''Ultra Moon'', and it evolves into Machamp by the rematch.
*[[Makuhita]]/[[Hariyama]]: It is first used in the first battle and evolves by the second battle.
*[[Crabrawler]]/[[Crabominable]]: It is first used in the first battle and evolves by the second battle. This Pokémon uses Fightinium Z.
*[[Bewear]]: This Pokémon is added to this roster starting in his second battle.
*[[Poliwrath]]: This Pokémon is added to his roster starting in his second battle.

Hala also holds the generation's three starter Pokémon ([[Rowlet]], [[Litten]] and [[Popplio]]), which he gives out to new trainers.

=In Other Pokémon Games=

In ''[[Pokémon Masters EX]]'', Hala and Crabominable appeared as a playable sync pair that could be recruited at random through the game's Sync Pair Scout feature, starting in June 2021. He appeared during the "Town Square Street Fair" Solo Event, where he bested [[Silver]] in a Pokémon Sumo battle.

=Other Appearances=

==Other Media==

*In the ''Pokémon'' anime, Hala made a number of appearances throughout the ''Sun''/''Moon''-based series. He oversaw all of Ash Ketchum's trials on Melemele Island (as the anime did not include the trial captain rank), and Ash was able to best him in his grand trial. He was interrupted from giving out Fightinium Z by Tapu Koko, which switched it with Electrium Z. His other appearances included a battle with [[Pheromosa]], mentoring [[Lillie]] and refrereeing or judging a number of battles. A flashback in one episode revealed that he was the mentor of both Kukui and Guzma, and he attempted to keep the peace between them.
*In the ''Pokémon Adventures'' manga, Hala appeared during the ''Sun''/''Moon'' arc. He was shown seeking ways to calm the guardian deities' rage. He and the other kahunas decided to hold an imitation of the island challenge in an attempt to appease the deities, and they later ended up working together against the Ultra Beasts.

=Trivia=

*He is named after a Hawaiian name for a type of fruit-bearing tree.
*His Pokémon are kept in Ultra Balls.
*Within the main ''Pokémon'' game, he is the first character to give out a starter Pokémon who is not either the region's professor or someone acting on behalf of the professor. The ''Ultra'' versions of the games fall back to the original tradition by having Kukui give out the starters, although he does so on Hala's behalf.

{{Elite Four}}

[[Category: Pokémon Characters]]