The Merrie Monarch Festival is one of the biggest events in Hawaiʻi. The 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival kicks off on April 5 in Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island, which features three consecutive days of hula competition: The Miss Aloha Hula competition on April 9, the kahiko division on April 10 and the ʻauana division on April […]
The 78th annual Aloha Festivals takes place in September, culminating in an annual floral parade on Saturday down Kalākaua Avenue in Waikīkī. This year’s parade—the 76th one, presented by ʻAlohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach—will feature a procession of festive floral floats, decorated vehicles, marching bands and, of course, traditional pāʻū riders. The parade runs from 9
Where spring brings the Merrie Monarch Festival on Hawaiʻi Island, summer brings the Prince Lot Hula Festival to Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi’s largest noncompetitive hula celebration presented by conservation nonprofit Moanalua Gardens Foundation. The free annual festival, which started in 1978, honors Hawaiʻiʻs centuries-old legacy of hula and chanting, which was perpetuated by Prince Lot Kapuāiwa during
After a five-year the Pan-Pacific Festival returns today through Sunday, June 9 at various spots on O‘ahu, including Ala Moana and Waikīkī. The free event, which will feature performers from Japan and local musicians and arts, showcases everything from taiko to hula to food. And yes, there’s a parade, too. “We are thrilled to be
While hula is the main attraction at the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, the gorgeous flowers used in lei and other adornment are show-shoppers, too. Many of these flowers are native to the Islands and have cultural significance to Native Hawaiians. Here are some flowers you might see on stage this year. Read More: 6 Iconic Tropical
Step back in time and into the heart of Hawaiian hospitality at the Old Lahaina Lūʻau, which reopened its doors on March 12 following a seven-month hiatus. The return of Old Lahaina Lūʻau marks a historic milestone and a beacon of hope after the Aug. 8 wildfire that destroyed Lahaina Town, including homes inhabited by
The 61st annual Merrie Monarch Festival runs from March 31 to April 6, with the competition held at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multipurpose Stadium in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island. One of the largest events of the year, the festival features three straight days of competition—the Miss Aloha Hula competition on April 4, the kahiko division on
Remember the old Kodak Hula Show at the Waikīkī Shell? Well, it’s coming back—sort of. The city, along with the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, announced yesterday that a new hula show at the same location will launch on Feb. 15. Called the Kilohana Hula Show, it will be a free, hour-long performance of authentic
It was a fantastic weekend of hula on Hawaiʻi Island. The 60th Merrie Monarch Festival showcased some of the best hula halau (hula schools) from around Hawaiʻi, with Ka Lā ‘Ōnohi Mai O Ha‘eha‘e under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes of Oʻahu taking the overall title at this year’s festivities.
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
It’s 1977. Jimmy Carter is sworn in as the 39th U.S. President. “Star Wars” opens in theaters. Elvis Presley dies. The H-2 Freeway and reef airport runway open. And for the first time, Kanoelehua “Kanoe” Miller steps onto the oceanfront stage at the Halekūlani in Waikīkī to dance hula. And except for the hotel’s yearlong
