#Hula

Hilo on the Big Island once again becomes the hula capital of the world this week with the return of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival; the 63rd installment of the weeklong celebration of everything hula and Hawaiian runs from Easter Sunday, April 5, through April 11 this year.

Recently released new mele Hawaiʻi featuring duet between award-winning Hawaiʻi musician and University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Hawaiian language graduate student Nicholas Kealiʻi Lum and Japan-born musician and trained ʻōlapa hula Tom Noʻeau offers compelling example of how Hawaiian language is taking root far beyond the islands.

Kanakaʻole passed away peacefully on Jan. 3 in Hilo at the age of 79.

It’s that time of year — an even more most wonderful time for everyone who enjoys hula and hālau that perform. Ticket request forms postmarked Dec. 1 or later are being accepted for the 2026 “Super Bowl of Hula.”

“Under the New Moon” brings Native Hawaiian culture and tradition to life every last Tuesday of the month at the Outrigger Resort in Keauhou.

The competition culminates tonight, where hālau will perform ‘auana (modern) hula.

The soloists were scored by seven judges who looked at their kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) performances and critiqued them in various areas.

A University of Hawaiʻi study reveals that integrating more traditional practices can be an effective way to support health and wellness across the islands.

The Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts and Craft Fair kicks off on Wednesday and ends on Saturday. Vendors will be located at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium & Butler Buildings from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Hilo on the Big Island will once again become the hula capital of the world next week with the return of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival. The 62nd installment of the weeklong celebration of everything hula and Hawaiian runs from Easter Sunday, April 20, through April 26 this year.

Hilo will be the epicenter of all things hula and Hawaiian as the annual Merrie Monarch Festival — the weeklong celebration of island culture — returns for its 62nd year.

After 50 years of teaching hula, famed musician and Kumu Hula Robert Cazimero will be taking his Hālau Nā Kamalei o Līlīlehua to Hilo to compete for the eighth — and last time.

Beamer Solomon Halau O Po’ohala will explore the backstories of Hawaiʻi’s great historic leaders and current community leaders during the annual ʻEia Ka Hula on Saturday, March 22 in Waimea.

On Jan. 24 and 25, longtime artist Ed Kayton will have his first solo exhibit in 25 years at Big Island Living, a teak, hardwood furniture and art gallery in Kona.

While hula is emblematic of Hawai‘i, it is far less known that puppetry is a tradition within the world-famous form of dance.

SunRa Adziyaomamawu, a junior at Connections Public Charter School in Hilo, captured the hulas, music and other festivities with his camera.

No one choice received a majority of votes in our most recent monthly poll, but the option garnering the most was “All or a combination,” with 337, or 29% of the total vote.

A lineup of performers, hula performances and Hawaiian arts and craft demonstrations will be announced in the weeks ahead.

Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala was awarded second place overall at the prestigious hula competition held in Hilo on the Big Island.

The prequel to the festival’s 3 days of hula competition, which kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday with the individual Miss Aloha Hula contest, also celebrated Native Hawaiian culture by honoring 40 years of efforts by ‘Aha Pūnana Leo to revitalize and normalize ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language). The festival also collected donations to help recovery efforts in Lāhainā, Maui, after a deadly wildfire devastated the community in August 2023.