#merrie monarch festival

Annual Hoʻolauleʻa kicks off the weeklong celebration of everything Hawaiian at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 5, with competition in the ‘Super Bowl’ of hula beginning Thursday, April 9, with Miss Aloha Hula contest.

The festival’s capstone is three days of competition, featuring 19 hālau (hula groups) performing kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) hula to the world, and 13 women competing for Miss Aloha Hula.

The program is rooted in the legacy of Edith Kanakaʻole and her philosophy of “teach all who come to learn,” and the focus on hula has helped deepened the cultural identity of Native Hawaiians.

Next week is a big one for the Big Island. It’s Merrie Monarch time, celebrating all things Hawaiian. plus, it’s Easter Weekend. Check out this week’s top 10 things to do on the Big Island now!

Plant Quarantine Branch inspectors will be stationed at airports in Hilo and Kona on April 12 and 13 to collect any ʻōhiʻa material, which will be respectfully returned to the native forests on Hawai‘i Island.

Big Island musicians and Hawaiian music lovers mourn the loss of Ben Kaili, a legenday slack key guitarist from Hilo.

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.”

Several Hawaiʻi-born actors are hitting the big screen in the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” when it opens in theaters this Friday, May 23. Among them is Kaipo Dudoit of Oʻahu who plays the role of David Kawena.

The 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s competition ended Saturday night, but the pageantry, passion and poetry lives on in photos.

The parade is a cherished tradition that celebrates Hawaiian culture, the art of hula and the rich heritage of Hilo town. 

Before the final night of competition begins, however, there’s plenty of craft fairs, markets and other events that continue throughout Hilo in case you haven’t had a chance to check any out yet.

The Merrie Monarch Festival’s Hōʻike Night served as a reminder of the enduring power of dance to express identity and connect with others through performances from Hawaiʻi, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and California.

Ten Hawaiʻi-based designers showcased cutting-edge designs by blending spring trends with rich cultural narratives during the 3rd Hanau Hou Arts and Fashion Show.

Free daytime performances during the Merrie Monarch Festival feature the authentic spirit of hula and offer a unique glimpse into the artistry and tradition of this cherished Hawaiian celebration.

Thirteen participants will vie for the coveted Miss Aloha Hula title that kicks off the competition of this year’s 62nd Merrie Monarch Festival in HIlo.

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.

The Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture urges visitors to adhere to strict quarantine rules for transporting ʻŌhiʻa plants from Hawaiʻi to protect th fungal plant disease from traveling back overseas.

State Department of Transportation personnel at Hilo International Airport have worked with Transportation Security Administration staff in anticipation of the increased number of travelers heading to the Big Island for the 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival.

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.

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