2015 Merrie Monarch Schedule

The 2015 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival is an international hula competition in Hilo, Hawai’i. The festival starts with the Ho’olaule’a on Easter Sunday and ends with a parade through Downtown Hilo.

Sunday, April 5

Ho’olaule’a (Music Festival): 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. The music festival is a celebration of hula and Hawaiian chants performed by local Halaus and students. The event has food, drinks, and snacks for sale, as well as official T-shirts and the program guide.

Monday, April 6

• Hula Free Demonstration: 12 p.m., Hilo Naniloa Hotel
• Hula Free Demonstration: 1 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
• Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
• Lei Contest: Display of Kahiko and Auana leis at Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center

Tuesday, April 7

• Hula Free Demonstration: 12 p.m., Hilo Naniloa Hotel
• Hula Free Demonstration: 1 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
• Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
• Lei Contest: Display of Kahiko and Auana leis at Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center.

Wednesday, April 8

• Hawaiian Invitational Arts & Crafts Fair: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
• Merrie Monarch Festival Workshops: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
• Hula Free Demonstration: 11 a.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
• Hula Free Demonstration: 12 p.m., Hilo Naniloa Hotel
• Hula Free Demonstration: 1 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
• Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
• Lei Contest: Display of Kahiko and Auana leis at Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center
• Ho’ike Night Free Exhibition: Edith Kanaka’ole Multipurpose Stadium. The free event is open to the public in the same stadium and with the same pageantry as the competition. Individuals who were unable to get Merrie Monarch tickets are able to get a taste of the experience by attending the Ho’ike. Interested attendees are advised to arrive early to get in line, as seating is open and has a history of filling up quickly. The gates will closed during the entrance of the Royal Court and the Pule. It will reopen after.

Ho’ike Schedule:
6 p.m.: Entrance of Royal Court
6:15 p.m.: National Anthem and Hawai’i Pono’i
6:25 p.m.: Pule (prayer)
6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.: program

Thursday, April 9

• Hawaiian Invitational Arts and Crafts Fair: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
• Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
• Hula Free Demonstration: 11 a.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
• Merrie Monarch Festival Workshops: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
• Hula Free Demonstration: 12 p.m., Hilo Naniloa Hotel
• Hula Free Demonstration: 1 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
• Lei Contest: Display of Kahiko and Auana leis at Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center
• Miss Aloha Hula Competition: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., Edith Kanaka’ole Multipurpose Stadium – tickets required.

Friday, April 10

• Hawaiian Invitational Arts & Crafts Fair: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
• Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
• Merrie Monarch Festival Workshops: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
• Navy Greeting Hula: 11a.m., Kuhio Wharf
• Hula Free Demonstration: 11 a.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
• Hula Free Demonstration : 12 p.m., Hilo Naniloa Hotel
• Hula Free Demonstration : 1 p.m., Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
• Lei Contest: Display of Kahiko and Auana leis at Wailoa Arts and Cultural Center
• Group Hula Kahiko Competition: 6 p.m., Edith Kanaka’ole Multipurpose Stadium – tickets required.

Saturday, April 11

• Hawaiian Invitational Arts & Crafts Fair: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic
• Native Hawaiian Art Exhibit: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Merrie Monarch Festival Office
• Merrie Monarch Royal Parade: Begins in downtown Hilo at 10:30 a.m.
• Hula Free Demonstration : 12 p.m., Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
• Group Hula ‘Auana Competition: 6 p.m., Edith Kanaka’ole Multipurpose Stadium, tickets required.