This is the one golden week of the year when Hilo Town is party central. Hula hālau and hula fans arrive in droves to soak up the music, cultural events, the air scented with flower lei, and the shopping! Here’s a Calendar of Special Events celebrating the 60th Annual Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. All of the daytime events are free and open to the public. Tickets are needed for entry to the Wednesday night Hō‘ike, and the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival evening competitions.
Merrie Monarch 2023: Sunday April 9, 2023
Ho‘olaule‘a: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
9:00am Unukupukupu, Dr. Taupōuri Tangarō
10:00am Hula Hālau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa, Meleana Manuel
11:00am Hālau Nā Pua O Uluhaimalama, Emery Aceret
12:00 noon Hālau E Hulali Mai I Ka Lā, Chrissy Kama-Henriques
1:00pm Nā Lei Liko O Ola‘a, Kimo Kekua
2:00pm Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani, Debbie Ryder
3:00pm Hula Hālau ‘O Kealakahi, Camille Duebel-Mahuna
4:00pm Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko, Kathy Matsuda
Monday April 10, 2023
12:00 noon Ben Kaili and Band – Grand Naniloa Hotel
1:00pm Hula Hālau ‘O Kealakahi, Camille Duebel-Mahuna – Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
Tuesday April 11, 2023
12:00 noon Hālau Hula ‘O Nāpunaheleonāpua, Rich Pedrina – Grand Naniloa Hotel
1:00pm Merahi, Tiffany Dela Cruz – Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
Merrie Monarch: Wednesday April 12, 2023
9am-5:00pm Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts & Crafts Fair – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
10am-11:00am Lauhala Workshop I sponsored by Office of Hawaiian Affairs – register here – Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
11:00am Hula Hālau ‘O Kealakahi, Camille Duebel-Mahuna – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
11:30am-12:30pm Lauhala Workshop 2 sponsored by Office of Hawaiian Affairs – register here -Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
12:00 noon Hula Hālau O Kawānanakoa , Alberta Nicolas – Grand Naniloa Hotel
1:00pm Hālau Hula ‘O Leionālani , Debbie Ryder – Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
1:00pm-3:00pm “History of Kalākaua” presentation: Panel discussion exploring the history of King Kalākaua and his advocacy for hula, ‘ike kūpuna & other traditional & customary rights – seating is first come first served. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
Hō‘ike: Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium
6:00pm Entrance of Royal Court
6:15pm National Anthem/Hawai‘i Pono‘ī, Makoa Kalai
6:25pm Pule, Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard
6:30pm Hālau O Kekuhi, Nālani Kanaka‘ole
7:10pm Hālau Nā Kamalei O Līlīlehua, Robert Uluwehionāpuaikawēkiuokalani Cazimero
7:55pm Kumu Hula Johnny Lum Ho’s Haumāna pay tribute to their Kumu
Thursday April 13, 2023
9am-5:00pm Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts & Crafts Fair – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
9am-4:00pm 30th Annual Hawaiian Arts Crafts & Food Festival – Nani Mau Gardens
9am-5:00pm Kāko‘o Hawaii Market Craft Fair – Sangha Hall
10am-6:00pm Prince Kūhiō Plaza Craft Fair – Prince Kūhiō Plaza
10am-12:00 noon Kaulana mahina (Hawaiian moon calendar) workshop: Haunani Miyasato shares about pō mahina (moon phases), malama (lunar months), kaulana mahina in relation to mea kanu (planting) and hula plants such as ‘ōlena (turmeric), lā‘ī (tī), ‘ōhi‘a lehua and palapalai (a fern). Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
11:00am Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna Alu Like Hilo, Haunani Medeiros – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
12:00 noon Hula Hālau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa, Meleana Manuel – Grand Naniloa Hotel
1:00pm Hula Hālau O Kawānanakoa , Alberta Nicolas – Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
1:00-3:00pm “Kumu Kānāwai Pre- and Post-Hawaiian Kingdom” panel discussion: The panel will discuss the evolution of the Kumu Kānāwai, which translates to “fundamental law”; how people benefit from this today; and how it is incorporated into the lives of kānaka maoli (native person). Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
Miss Aloha Hula Competition – Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium
6:00pm Entrance of Royal Court
6:15pm National Anthem/Hawai‘i Pono‘ī, Makoa Kalai
6:20pm Pule, Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard
6:25pm Introduction of Judges
6:30pm Miss Aloha Hula Competition & Presentation of Awards
Merrie Monarch: Friday April 14, 2023
9am-5:00pm Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts & Crafts Fair – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
9am-4:00pm 30th Annual Hawaiian Arts Crafts & Food Festival – Nani Mau Gardens
9am-5:00pm Kāko‘o Hawaii Market Craft Fair – Sangha Hall
10am-6:00pm Prince Kūhiō Plaza Craft Fair – Prince Kūhiō Plaza
10am-12:00 noon “Waiwai ka ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i” panel discussion: The next generation of Hawaiian language speakers discuss the value of ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i today and its vital role in improving economic development, housing, heath care, education, stewardship and overall community development. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
11:00am Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo, Pelehonuamea & Kekoa Harman –
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
12:00 noon Hālau Nā Pua O Uluhaimalama, Emery Aceret – Grand Naniloa Hotel
1:00pm Hālau Ha‘a Kea o Kinohi, Paul Neves – Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
2:00-4:00pm Hula workshop: Kumu hula Kaenaaloha Hopkins will share her hula mo‘okū‘auhau and a discussion about Aunty Maiki Aiu’s definition of hula as the Hawaiian dance expressing what people see, hear, smell, taste, touch and feel. Participants also will learn a hula. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
Group Hula Kahiko Competition – Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium
6:00pm Entrance of Royal Court
6:15pm National Anthem/Hawai‘i Pono‘ī, Makoa Kalai
6:20pm Pule, Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard
6:25pm Introduction of Judges
6:30pm Hula Kahiko Competition
Saturday April 15, 2023
9am-4:00pm Merrie Monarch Hawaiian Arts & Crafts Fair – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
9am-4:00pm 30th Annual Hawaiian Arts Crafts & Food Festival – Nani Mau Gardens
9am-4:00pm Kāko‘o Hawaii Market Craft Fair – Sangha Hall
10am-6:00pm Prince Kūhiō Plaza Craft Fair – Prince Kūhiō Plaza
10:30am Royal Parade – Downtown Hilo (Begin at Pauahi St. -Kīlauea Ave. – Keawe St. – Waiānuenue Ave. – Kamehameha Ave. – end at Pauahi St.)
12:00 noon Ke Ola Pono No Nā Kūpuna Alu Like Pāhoa, Haunani Medeiros – Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
Group Hula ‘Auana Competition – Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium
6:00pm Entrance of Royal Court
6:15pm National Anthem/Hawai‘i Pono‘ī, Makoa Kalai
6:20pm Pule, Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard
6:25pm Introduction of Judges
6:30pm Hula ‘Auana Competition
Introduction of Kumu Hula
Presentation of Awards
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