Merrie Monarch Festival Schedule: April 2

Photo Credit: KAPA Hawaiian FM

The final day of Merrie Monarch Festival Week in Hilo brings many events for the entire family to enjoy.

Festivities begin with the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade in Downtown Hilo. Over 100 entrants, a combination of marching bands, floats, pa’u riding units, and various other presentations will take the 45-minute route through the traditional Hilo parade route, starting on Pauahi Street and going up to Kilauea Avenue, moving back down to Waianuenue Avenue, and finishing on Kamehameha Avenue near the beginning of the parade. The Royal Court is also present near the beginning of the route.

Additionally, the final day of the Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair will be held at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hālau O Mailelaulani will perform there at Noon, under the direction of Maile Canario.

Saturday is also the final day of competition at the Merrie Monarch Festival. The Group Hula ‘Auana competition will start at 6 p.m. inside the Edith Kanaka’ole Multi-Purpose Stadium. Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine from Mānoa, O’ahu will return to defend its Wahine Hula ‘Auana win in last year’s competition, performing a piece called “Puamana.”

Saturday, April 2

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

10:30 a.m. – Merrie Monarch Royal Parade in Downtown Hilo

12 p.m. – Performance by Hālau O Mailelaulani, under the direction of Maile Canario, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

Group Hula ‘Auana Competition – Edith Kanaka’ole Tennis Stadium

6 p.m. – Royal Court entrance

6:15 p.m. – National Anthem and Hawai’i Ponoʻī, sung by Meleana Manuel

6:20 p.m. – Pule by Kahu Brian Boshard

6:25 p.m. – Introduction of judges

6:30 p.m. – Hula ‘Auana Competition, followed by the Introduction of Kumu Hula and an awards presentation

Group Kāne Hula ‘Auana Participants

Hālau Hula ‘O Nāpunaheleonāpua, Kumu Rich Pedrina

Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine, Kumu Ka’ilihiwa Vaughan

Nā Pua Me Kealoha, Kumu Sissy and Lilinoe Kaio

Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Kumu Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu

Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi, Kumu Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes

Ke Kai O Kahiki, Kumu La’akea Perry

Hālau Nā Mamo o Pu’uanahulu, Kumu William Kahakuleilehua Haunu’u “Sonny” Ching and Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera

Kawaili’ulā, Kumu Chinky Māhoe

Hālau Hula ‘O Kahikilaulani, Kumu Nāhōkūokalani Gaspang

Group Wahine Hula ‘Auana Participants

Pukalani Hula Hale, Kumu Hi’ilei Maxwell-Juan

Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua, Kumu Kamaka Kukona

Moana’s Hula Hālau, Kumu Raquel Dudoit

Hālau Keali’i O Nālani, Kumu Keali’i Ceballos

Nā Pualei o Likolehua, Kumu Niuli’i Heine

Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Kumu Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu

Keolalaulani Hālau ‘Ōlapa O Laka, Kumu Keolalaulani Dalire

Hālau Kekuaokalā’au’ala’iliahi, Kumu Haunani and ‘Iliahi Paredes

Hālau Manaola, Kumu Nani Lim Yap

Hālau o Ka Ua Kani Lehua, Kumu Johnny Lum Ho

Hālau Hula Olana, Kumu Olana and Howard Ai and Shelsea Ai Apana

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinā’ala, Kumu Leinā’ala Pavao Jardin

Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima, Kumu Māpuana de Silva

Hālau Hi’iakaināmakalehua, Kumu Robert Ke’ano IV and Lono Padilla

Hālau Nā Mamo o Pu’uanahulu, Kumu William Kahakuleilehua Haunu’u “Sonny” Ching and Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera

Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea, Kumu Kapua Dalire-Moe

Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha’eha’e – Kumu Tracie and Keawe Lopes

Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine – Kailihiwa Vaughan

Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka – Kumu Nāpua Greig

Hula Hālau ‘O Kamuela – Kumu Kau’ionālani Kamana’o and Kunewa Mook