Traveling to Merrie Monarch from neighboring island? What to know

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation alerts travelers of busy times at airports as thousands will go to the Big Island for the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival.

The crowds at the Hilo festival, which runs now through April 15, are expected to be back to pre-pandemic levels.

For the modified traffic patterns and everything you need to know about the festival, click here.

If you are heading to Merrie Monarch from neighbor island airports, the department of transportation advises catching a ride to the airport. Parking stalls fill up during busy travel times:

• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on Oʻahu: 5,500 parking stalls. https://airports.hawaii.gov/hnl/getting-to-from/parking/

• Kahului Airport on Maui: 1,650 parking stalls. https://airports.hawaii.gov/ogg/getting-to-from/parking/

• Lῑhu‘e Airport on Kauaʻi: 570 stalls. https://airports.hawaii.gov/lih/getting-to-from/parking/

When leaving Hilo, travelers are advised to arrive at least two hours before their flight. The Transportation Security Administration has created a series of videos to help you before you go through security checkpoints.

See https://airports.hawaii.gov/hnl/flights/tsa-travel-tips/ for a collection and link to additional TSA resources.

Those departing Hilo must leave all ʻōhiʻa flowers, leaves and plant parts on the Big Island to reduce the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death. Warning signs about the fungal disease that has killed more than one million native ʻōhiʻa trees will be posted inside the Hilo Airport.