#merrie monarch

On kahiko (ancient) night of the 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s hula competition, Friday, Hālau Kalaʻakeakauikawēkiu, the only group out of 19 competing from the Big Island this year, honored Pele with “Holo Mai Pele.”

Captivating performances from kāne celebrate 50 years of history at the Merrie Monarch Hoʻike.

Esteemed kumu hula Nālani Kanakaʻole, whose life’s work transformed Native Hawaiian cultural traditions globally, was honored in a traditional Hawaiian ceremony, underscoring her far-reaching influence in hula and Hawaiian values.

Co-owners and childhood friends Martha Duerr and Stephanie Tait sell art and handmade gifts from 51 Hawaiʻi-based artists as well as independent makers they have met throughout their lives at the Seaweed Snack Shop.

Several Hawaiʻi-born actors are hitting the big screen in the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” when it opens in theaters this Friday, May 23. Among them is Kaipo Dudoit of Oʻahu who plays the role of David Kawena.

The 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s competition ended Saturday night, but the pageantry, passion and poetry lives on in photos.

The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival concluded Saturday at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo with ‘auana (modern hula) performances from 20 hālau across the state of Hawai‘i and California.

The parade is a cherished tradition that celebrates Hawaiian culture, the art of hula and the rich heritage of Hilo town. 

The 62nd annual Merrie Monarch is underway with Hoʻolaulea opening a week full of free performances.

ALTRES provides top-tier staffing that work well with vendors traveling to the Big Island for Merrie Monarch and eliminate the stress of hiring, or flying employees for the week.

The prequel to the festival’s 3 days of hula competition, which kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday with the individual Miss Aloha Hula contest, also celebrated Native Hawaiian culture by honoring 40 years of efforts by ‘Aha Pūnana Leo to revitalize and normalize ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language). The festival also collected donations to help recovery efforts in Lāhainā, Maui, after a deadly wildfire devastated the community in August 2023.

To kōkua (help) the people from West Maui, many of whom lost loved ones, their homes or both, the Merrie Monarch organizers decided to allow free admission to this year’s Hō’ike Night at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium tonight, with the option to donate to the Lāhainā community at the door.

Hula still connects people today to the foundation of Hawaiian knowledge and culture. It is a vehicle for historical and social commentary and passing down stories and information.

Get ready, world. The festival that celebrates everything hula and Hawaiian returns to Hilo on the Big Island from March 31 through April 6.

Plant quarantine inspectors will be stationed at airports in Hilo and Kona to collect any ʻōhiʻa material which will be respectfully returned to the native forests on Hawai‘i Island. During last year’s Merrie Monarch travel period, PQB inspectors intercepted 31 lei poʻo (head lei) in Hilo and 12 lei poʻo in Kona.

The festival will take place on the resort’s 22-acre Bayview Grounds, showcasing various styles of hula by students from across Hawaiʻi, Europe and Japan.

Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged two men for breaking into the Merrie Monarch Festival office in Hilo and stealing numerous items valued at more than $2,700, including eight replica medals of King Kalākaua.

Hawai‘i police are investigating a break-in at the Merrie Monarch Festival office in Hilo where several items were stolen, including replicas of King David Kalākaua medals.

This year marks the full return of the annual event since the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the competition in 2020 and forced gathering restrictions in 2021 and 2022.

If hālau do have lehua or liko in their lei, the dancers can return it to the ‘āina on their own by leaving it at mile markers 12 and 16 along Daniel K. Inouye Highway on the Big island.