60th Annual Merrie Monarch Hōʻike tickets go on sale later this month

Tickets for the 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival Hōʻike go on sale before the end of this month.

The festival announced late Wednesday night on its Facebook page that the public will be able to purchase tickets in person for the Wednesday night, April 12, non-competitive hula exhibition beginning Sunday, Feb. 26, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Don’t wait. The civic center’s box office, located at 323 Manono St., will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until tickets are sold out. Last year, there were no tickets left for the popular event after about three hours.

Ticket information is as follows:

• Price: $5 each (cash ONLY).
• Limit: Two tickets per person.
• Ticket purchasers must be at least 16 years old.
• NO re-issuing of lost tickets.
• NO refunds.

To help with the ticketing process, download, print and fill out this year’s ticket form by clicking here.

COVID-19 vaccination is not required to attend the Hō‘ike; neither are masks, but they are welcomed. No outside food or drink will be allowed. Stadium chairs also will not be permitted. The festival asks those who attend to stand when the Merrie Monarch Royal Court enters and exits the stadium.

This year’s Hō‘ike performances will begin at 6 p.m. on the festival stage at Hilo’s Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium, the night before the competition portion of the Super Bowl of Hula gets underway. Competition begins April 13 with Miss Aloha Hula. The hula kahiko competition is April 14, with the hula ‘auana competition and awards ceremony on April 15.

For more information about the Hō‘ike, contact the Merrie Monarch office at 808-935-9168. For additional details about this year’s festival, which takes place April 9-15, visit the Merrie Monarch website.