The 2015 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival is an international hula competition in Hilo, Hawai’i. The festival starts with the Ho’olaule’a on Easter Sunday and ends with a parade through Downtown Hilo.
Hula and events surrounding the festival are held throughout Hilo during the week of the festival. Below is a preliminary schedule for 2015 Merrie Monarch events.
Sunday, April 5
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Ho’olaule’a (Music Festival): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. The music festival is a celebration of hula and Hawaiian chants performed by local Halaus and students. The event has food, drinks, and snacks for sale, as well as official T-shirts and the program guide.
Monday, April 6
Hula Free Demonstration: 12 p.m., Hilo Naniloa Hotel
Hula Free Demonstration: 1 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
Lei Contest: Display of Kahiko and Auana leis at Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center
Tuesday, April 7
Hula Free Demonstration: 12 p.m., Hilo Naniloa Hotel
Hula Free Demonstration: 1 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
Lei Contest: Display of Kahiko and Auana leis at Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center.
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Wednesday, April 8
Hawaiian Invitational Arts & Crafts Fair: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
Merrie Monarch Festival Workshops: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
Hula Free Demonstration: 12 p.m., Hilo Naniloa Hotel
Hula Free Demonstration: 1 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
Lei Contest: Display of Kahiko and Auana leis at Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center
Ho’ike Night Free Exhibition: Edith Kanaka’ole Multipurpose Stadium. The free event is open to the public in the same stadium and with the same pageantry as the competition. Individuals who were unable to get Merrie Monarch tickets are able to get a taste of the experience by attending the Ho’ike. Interested attendees are advised to arrive early to get in line, as seating is open and has a history of filling up quickly. The gates will closed during the entrance of the Royal Court and the Pule. It will reopen after.
Ho’ike Schedule:
6 p.m.: Entrance of Royal Court
6:15 p.m.: National Anthem and Hawai’i Pono’i
6:25 p.m.: Pule (prayer)
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: program
Thursday, April 9
Hawaiian Invitational Arts and Crafts Fair: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
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