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Your Guide to Merrie Monarch Festival 2022

April 17, 2022, 8:06 PM HST
* Updated April 24, 4:40 AM

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What’s New:

Merrie Monarch Festival 2022 Results: Kauaʻi hālau wins overall; Maui sweeps kāne divisions. See Results.

Previous Updates:

Smiles. Laughter. Hugs. ‘Ohana. Aloha. Even a few tears — of joy. And that was all before walking in.

The Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo bristled to the brim inside and out with emotion and activity Thursday, April 21, as people from all walks of life and all over took in the sights, sounds and sales — in person — during the second day of the official Merrie Monarch Arts & Crafts Fair.

The craft fair returned this year to an in-person event for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More.

April 21, 2022:

A limited live audience returned to the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium Wednesday for the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival’s Hōʻike night.

After two years of health restrictions due to the pandemic, the festival has returned to near full force. The craft fair is sprawled out around Hilo Town for shopping, Hoike night welcomed back a live audience after two years of no spectators.

As in past tradition, the royal court opened Wednesday night’s event. Hālau O Kekuhi performed an ancient hula or kahiko. Read More.

April 20, 2022:
Periodic road closures for the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo are slated to start today at noon.

Motorists are advised that Kalanikoa Street between Piʻilani and Kuawa Streets will convert to a one-way traffic pattern (Northerly-Hilo bound) on a 24-hour basis till Saturday, April 23.

The normal traffic pattern will resume on Kalanikoa Street on Sunday, April 24 at 8 a.m. Read more.

Hālau Hi‘iakaināmakalehua. PC: Merrie Monarch 2019 Facebook

The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long celebration of Hawaiian culture, hula and traditions in Hilo, Hawaii. The festival is considered to be the most prestigious of all hula contests with many national and international hālau hula – schools – attending. The celebration of Hawaiian culture builds from arts and crafts fairs, festivities, exhibitions, and parades to a peak of hula competitions of three nights.

This year’s Merrie Monarch Festival event starts April 17 to 23, 2022.

Schedule

April 20th – 23rd, 2022

Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Crafts Fair
Wed. – Fri 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium & Butler Buildings in Hilo

Monday, April 18th, 2022

Ben Kaili and Band
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Naniloa Hotel

Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani, Debbie Ryder

Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Tuesday, April 19th, 2022

Merahi, Tiffany Dela Cruz
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Naniloa Hotel

Hālau Hula Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa, Meleana Manuel
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Wednesday, April 20th, 2022

Pūpū Jewelry Workshops
Times: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. & 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

Hula Hālau ‘O Kealakahi, Camille Duebel-Mahuna
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

Hālau Hula Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa, Meleana Manuel
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Naniloa Hotel

Hālau Nā Lei Hiwahiwa O Ku’ualoha, Sammye Ku’ualoha Young
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Thursday, April 21th, 2022

Lei Workshops
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Musical Performance with Kainani Kahaunaele
Time: 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna, Haunani Medeiros
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium

Hālau Nā Pua O Uluhaimalama, Emery Aceret
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Naniloa Hotel

Hula Hālau ‘O Kealakahi, Camille Duebel-Mahuna
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Friday, April 22nd, 2022

Lei Workshops
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Location: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
Hālau I Ka Leo O Nā Mamo, Pelehonuamea & Kekoa Harman
Time: 11:00 a.m.
Location: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
Hālau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama, Emery Aceret
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Grand Naniloa Hotel
Hālau Ha’a Kea o Kinohi, Paul Neves
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Saturday, April 23nd, 2022

Merrie Monarch Royal Parade
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Through downtown Hilo
Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna, Haunani Medeiros
Time: 12:00 p.m.
Location: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium