Rain or shine: Merrie Monarch Festival Royal Parade marches out soon

Rain or shine, the 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival Royal Parade rolls out at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 11.

This cherished tradition — one of the weeklong festival’s most entertaining and fun events for the entire family — celebrates Hawaiian culture, art of hula and rich heritage of Hilo Town.

For more than six decades, the Royal Parade brought together local organizations, cultural practitioners and community members to honor the legacy and spirit of the Merrie Monarch Festival. It is a vibrant showcase of Hawaiʻi’s people, stories and ʻike.

The route remains a familiar one for the procession of tradition, aloha and pageantry.

Parade marchers and riders stage at Piʻopiʻo and Pauahi Streets, near the entrance to Wailoa Center.

They then turn onto Pauahi Street and head for Kīlauea Avenue. The parade winds through the heart of Downtown Hilo, heading down Keawe Street before turning onto Waiānuenue Avenue.

It turns onto Kamehameha Avenue and then marches back to Pauahi Street, where it all started.

Be prepared when you go.

National Weather Service in Honolulu forecasts this year’s parade looks to be under mostly cloudy skies with a chance for rain likely at least for the first part of the march. The chance for precipitation falls after about 11 a.m.

Bring an umbrella and have a hat in hand, just in case.

If you can’t get downtown to make the parade in-person, there are at least a couple of ways you can still watch live.

You can watch here or check out Nā Leo TV’s live broadcast, accompanied with live commentary by Pomaikai Bartolome and Jackie Pualani Johnson.

You can stream it at Nā Leo’s website and on YouTube from wherever you are or catch it from your couch on Channel 54 for Hawai’i Island cable subscribers.

“Tune in from the comfort of your home, or while you’re in line at your favorite designer’s booth at a local mākeke,” said the Big Island community access channel and media group in a Facebook post announcing the live broadcast. “Nā Leo TV is honored to once again bring you a live broadcast of the 2026 Merrie Monarch Royal Parade through beautiful Downtown Hilo.”

It’s almost time. Don’t miss this Merrie Monarch favorite!

News reporter Nathan Christophel contributed to this story.