{"id":123057,"date":"2025-03-25T05:57:05","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T15:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hawaii.com\/?p=123057"},"modified":"2025-04-11T14:14:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-12T00:14:43","slug":"merrie-monarch-hula-festival-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hawaii.com\/merrie-monarch-hula-festival-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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H\u0101lau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine – Kumu Hula Ka\u2018ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval (Photo Credit: Tracey Niimi)<\/p><\/div>\n

Held annually on Hawai\u2018i Island, the Merrie Monarch Festival<\/strong><\/a> in Hilo is the largest and most prestigious celebration of hula in the world. This year, the week-long festival runs from April 20\u201326, 2025<\/strong>, beginning as always, on Easter Sunday.<\/p>\n

Now in its seventh decade, the festival is more than a hula competition \u2014 it\u2019s a powerful symbol of Hawaiian culture and pride. I\u2019m lucky enough to live in Hilo, where excitement builds months in advance for the highly anticipated event.<\/p>\n

Created to revive interest in hula and the Hawaiian language, what started as a small community gathering grew into an internationally acclaimed spectacle, drawing thousands of visitors and viewers from around the world. The Merrie Monarch Festival<\/a> is now the Big Island\u2019s largest annual event, with televised coverage and live streams bringing the spirit of hula to a global audience.<\/p>\n

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King David Kalakaua (Photo Credit: Hawaii State Archives)<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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King Kal\u0101kaua, the Merrie Monarch<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n

The Merrie Monarch Festival honors King David Kal\u0101kaua<\/strong><\/a>, who played a crucial role in preserving Hawaiian traditions in the late 19th century. Nicknamed the \u201cMerrie Monarch\u201d for his love of music, hula, and the performing arts, Kal\u0101kaua led a cultural revival during a time when Hawaiian customs were being suppressed by Western influence.<\/p>\n

Christian missionaries disapproved of dance, considering it inappropriate. In defiance, Kal\u0101kaua championed the restoration of traditional practices like chanting and hula. He hosted grand celebrations at \u2018Iolani Palace,<\/a> where Hawaiians were encouraged to embrace their heritage with pride.<\/p>\n

Kal\u0101kaua famously said, \u201cHula is the language of the heart, therefore the heartbeat of Hawaiian people.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Canoes waiting for the next races on Hilo Bay (Photo Credit: Hawaiianscribe)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Setting of the Festival: Hilo Town<\/h2>\n

Tucked along the lush East Coast of Hawai\u2018i Island, Hilo is a charming town that comes alive every spring for the Merrie Monarch Festival. Fed by abundant rain, the town is surrounded by green parks, tropical gardens, and waterfalls \u2014 the perfect backdrop for a celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture.<\/p>\n

Nestled at the base of Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in Hawai\u2018i, Hilo\u2019s population nearly doubles during festival week. Locals take time off \u2014 what we lovingly call \u201cplaying tourist\u201d \u2014 to fully embrace the events. Hotels host lunchtime hula performances, downtown shops bustle with festival-goers, and arts and crafts fairs showcase everything from handmade leis to locally crafted jewelry.<\/p>\n

For those visiting, Hilo is also the gateway to Hawai\u2018i Volcanoes National Park<\/strong><\/a>, a scenic 40-minute drive away. The park is home to K\u012blauea, one of the world\u2019s most active volcanoes, adding a dramatic natural element to your cultural journey.<\/p>\n

During Merrie Monarch Week, the air is filled with the scent of plumeria, tuberose, puakenikeni, maile, \u2018ilima, orchid, ginger, and \u2018\u014dhi\u2018a lehua \u2014 woven into leis and worn by nearly everyone. It\u2019s a week of beauty, tradition, and deep aloha.<\/p>\n

To learn more about what to do while you\u2019re in town, visit the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association<\/a> or Destination Hilo.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Amed\u00e9e Kauakohem\u0101lamalama Conley-Kapoi \u2013 H\u0101lau Kekuaokal\u0101\u2018au\u2018ala\u2018iliahi \u2013 N\u0101 Kumu Hula Haunani & \u2018Iliahi Paredes (Photo Credit: Cody Yamaguchi)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Heart of the Festival: Hula as Storytelling<\/h2>\n

Hula is more than just a dance \u2014 it\u2019s a sacred art form that tells the stories of Hawai\u2018i\u2019s people, places, genealogy, mythology, and values. To perform at Merrie Monarch, dancers often train for years in a hula h\u0101lau<\/em> (hula school), refining their body, mind, and spirit through disciplined practice.<\/p>\n

At the center of each h\u0101lau is the kumu hula,<\/em> the teacher and cultural steward who passes down the traditions of hula. The Merrie Monarch Festival honors the work of these kumu, spotlighting their knowledge, mentorship, and dedication to the craft. The bond between the kumu and the student is rooted in trust, tradition, and mutual respect \u2014 on full display during every performance.<\/p>\n

This isn\u2019t Hollywood hula. It\u2019s the most authentic hula you\u2019ll find anywhere. To preserve that authenticity, the festival relies on a panel of judges, most of whom are experienced kumu hula themselves. Selected for their expertise in Hawaiian culture and language, they sit at the edge of the stage, close enough to observe every gesture, chant, and movement. Scorecards are collected after each h\u0101lau performs, and not even the judges know the final results until the awards are announced on the last night.<\/p>\n

To learn more about hula, visit the Hula Preservation Society<\/u><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Festival Schedule<\/h2>\n

The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long celebration of Hawaiian culture featuring hula competitions, exhibitions, craft fairs, and a vibrant community parade.<\/p>\n

Cultural Demonstrations & Craft Fairs (All Week)<\/h3>\n

Explore Hawaiian artistry through kapa (bark cloth), lauhala weaving, featherwork, and lei making. Artisans display and sell their handmade crafts throughout Hilo, creating a festive atmosphere around every corner.<\/p>\n

Sunday, April 20 \u2013 Ho\u02bbolaule\u02bba (Opening Celebration)<\/h3>\n

Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
\n9 a.m.
\nFree admission to performances by local Big Island h\u0101lau (hula schools). A lively kickoff to festival week.<\/p>\n

Monday, April 21 through Friday, April 25 \u2013 Free Midday Entertainment<\/h3>\n

Grand Naniloa Hotel \u2013 12 p.m.
\nHilo Hawaiian Hotel \u2013 1 p.m.
\nEnjoy daily live music and hula by local performers.<\/p>\n

Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair<\/h3>\n

Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
\nWednesday\u2013Friday (April 23\u201325): 9 a.m. \u2013 5 p.m.
\nSaturday, April 26: 9 a.m. \u2013 4 p.m.
\nThis free event is a fan favorite, featuring local artists, crafters, and live entertainment. Be sure to check out the collectible Merrie Monarch merchandise.<\/p>\n

Wednesday, April 23 \u2013 H\u014d\u02bbike Night (Exhibition Night)<\/h3>\n

Edith Kanaka\u2018ole Stadium
\n6 p.m.
\nAn evening of non-competitive hula and Pacific Island dance, free and open to the public \u2014 no tickets required. Locals line up early, and the food vendors stay busy with laulau, poi, chili and rice, and spam musubi.<\/p>\n

Thursday, April 24 \u2013 Miss Aloha Hula Competition<\/h3>\n

Edith Kanaka\u2018ole Stadium
\n6 p.m.
\nThis prestigious solo competition showcases the top female dancers from each h\u0101lau. Contestants perform hula kahiko, hula \u2018auana, and oli (chant). The title of Miss Aloha Hula is one of hula\u2019s highest honors. The competition is televised across Hawai\u2018i, and many winners go on to become kumu hula themselves.<\/p>\n

Friday, April 25 \u2013 Group Hula Kahiko Competition<\/h3>\n

Edith Kanaka\u2018ole Stadium
\n6 p.m.
\nThis is the heart of the Merrie Monarch Festival. H\u0101lau from across Hawai\u2018i and beyond perform hula kahiko, the ancient style of hula featuring traditional attire, chants, and percussion instruments. These performances are powerful and precise, rooted deeply in Hawaiian history and spirituality.<\/p>\n

Saturday, April 26 \u2013 Merrie Monarch Royal Parade<\/h3>\n

Historic Downtown Hilo
\n10:30 a.m.
\nA beloved, family-friendly tradition, the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade features marching bands, cultural groups, entertainers, and a Royal Court portraying King Kal\u0101kaua and Queen Kapi\u02bbolani. You\u2019ll also see the newly crowned Miss Aloha Hula and the stunning p\u0101\u02bb\u016b riders \u2014 women on horseback in flowing satin gowns, with horses adorned in lei and traditional dress.<\/p>\n

Saturday, April 26 \u2013 Group Hula \u2018Auana Competition & Awards Ceremony<\/h3>\n

Edith Kanaka\u2018ole Stadium
\n6 p.m.
\nH\u0101lau returns to the stage for hula \u2018auana, the modern form of hula known for its fluid, expressive movements and melodic songs. After the final performance, the awards are announced \u2014 culminating a year (or more) of preparation. Dancers are judged on interpretation, precision, posture, and overall presentation. The competition is intense and deeply respected.<\/p>\n

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Ke Kai o Kahiki \u2013 Kumu Hula La\u2018akea Perry \u2013 K\u0101ne) (Photo Credit: Bruce Omori)<\/p><\/div>\n

Hula Kahiko and Hula \u2018Auana Group Competitions<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The heart of the Merrie Monarch Festival lies in the group hula competitions. Male and female groups perform in two categories:<\/p>\n