The prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival wrapped up this weekend in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island—and the hula and mele were nothing short of spectacular. Kaʻōnohikaumakaakeawe Kananiokeakua Holokai Lopes, who represented the Oʻahu-based hālau Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e, took home the title of Miss Aloha Hula 2024 on Thursday night. The Oʻahu hālau, under the […]
Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Merrie Monarch Festival returns in all its glory this year. After a mix of pandemic cancelations and hybrid festivals, competition hula performances are finally open those who snagged coveted general admission tickets. The event is set to run from April 9-15 in Hilo, on Hawaiʻi Island. Dedicated to perpetuating
While the action onstage at the Merrie Monarch Festival is revered as a visual masterpiece, the experience is a truly immersive one. Close your eyes for even a moment on ʻauana night in the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium and youʻll smell palapalai and pua mēlia (plumeria); you’ll feel the movement of fierce hula steps; and you’ll
The Merrie Monarch Festival has officially kicked off. The festival is a week-long celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture. For anyone unsure of terms and people referenced throughout the festival, this is your elementary guide to what you may hear and see. ʻAuana – Modern style of hula we see today. Haumāna – Student. Hiʻiaka
Since the first event in 1964, the Merrie Monarch Festival has been a vibrant celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture. Excitement builds during a week of festivities, including parades, performances and Hawaiian art fairs, and reaches its peak during three nights of hula competitions. It’s when the quiet town of Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, where
We chat with former Miss Aloha Hulas Natalie Ai Kamauʻu (1990), TeHani Gonzado (2000), Malia Petersen Arakaki (2002), Māhealani Mika Hirao-Solem (2010) and Manalani (English) Souza (2013) as the 2021 Merrie Monarch Festival competition airs today through Sunday. When the 2020 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival was officially canceled last March, the impact on the
When I first met Simply Sisters’ owner and designer, Regina “Lola” Miller in 2014 at the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, we instantly bonded over our shared love of hula, the festival and supporting Hawaiʻi’s thriving creative community. It was Merrie Monarch, after all, and I was making the craft fair rounds for all my Hawaiian
The Merrie Monarch Festival is back this year—and competition starts today in Hilo. There is one change: It will be broadcasted on television—meaning no spectators—due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The performances and announcement of winners will be broadcast on July 1 to 3. In 2020 festival president Luana Kawelu made the crucial decision to cancel
“Hi Meleana. This is Auntie Luana [Kawelu]. I’m calling to let you know that this is your formal invitation to participate in Merrie Monarch 2020.” This was the call that changed kumu hula Meleana Manuel’s life. A native of Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island, Manuel had competed in the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival, known as the Olympics
After three full days of competition, the 2019 Merrie Monarch Festival is officially over. Twenty-four hula halau (hula schools) competed in auana (modern) and kahiko (traditional) styles of hula, and schools were split into wahine (women) and kane (men) divisions. A panel of judges reviewed each performance and assigned points to each halau using the Merrie Monarch judging sheet before announcing who
It’s that time of year again, when humble Hilo town lights up and the Merrie Monarch Festival commences. For a full week, hoolaulea (celebrations), parades, performances, art fairs and hula competitions take over Hilo. However, with so much to do and see, creating an itinerary is a must, so check out our event guide below
If you didn’t get a ticket to watch the Merrie Monarch Festival, Hawaii’s premier hula competition, don’t feel bad, not many of us did. But just because you aren’t going to be able to see the hula halau (hula schools) perform in-person doesn’t mean you can’t see it at all. Below is the schedule of events for the three
