Merrie Monarch Festival 2015

Merrie Monarch Festival Events begin on Sunday, April 5th and continue on through Saturday, April 11th. The Innkeeper’s at Volcano Village Lodge highly recommend going to the Hōʻike Performances (free!) on Wednesday, April 8th.

Check out www.MerrieMonarch.com for more information, including history, photos & videos from last year’s competition, and more!

2015 Schedule of Events

• Hoʻolauleʻa (celebration) begins 9:00 a.m., Sunday, April 5th at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium. Free admission to watch performances by our local hālau.
• Free Mid-day Entertainment
• Daily (Monday through Friday) entertainment at the Hilo Naniloa Hotel (12 p.m.), and the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (1 p.m.).
• Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair
• 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 8th through Friday, April 10th, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 11th, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
• An annual favorite, this free event features local artists, crafters, and entertainment.
• Hōʻike Performances
• 6:00 pm, Wednesday, April 8th at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. An exhibition night of hula and folk dance from around the Pacific. The performances are free to the public, no tickets required.
• Miss Aloha Hula
• 6:00 pm, Thursday, April 9th at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. Individual competition for the title of Miss Aloha Hula with contestants performing hula kahiko, hula ʻauana and oli (chanting).
• Group Hula Kahiko
• 6:00 pm, Friday, April 10th at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. Hālau hula perform ancient style dances.

Group Hula ʻAuana & Awards
6:00 pm, Saturday, April 11th at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. Hālau hula perform modern style dances with an awards presentation for all group winners.

Merrie Monarch Royal Parade
10:30 am, Saturday, April 11th. One of the festival’s most entertaining and fun events for the entire family, the parade begins and ends at Pauahi St. and winds through downtown Hilo (Kilauea Ave. – Keawe St. – Waiānuenue Ave. – Kamehameha Ave.).

Event Locations

Edith Kanaka‘ole Tennis Stadium
350 Kalanikoa Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium
323 Manono Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720