Merrie Monarch Hula Festival

Male hula dancer with ti leave haku, lei and grass skirt with

The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival is a week-long festival that takes place in Hilo Hawaiʻi during the spring. This event was created back in 1963 by the Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce. After five years, a private Merrie Monarch Community organization took over to run and organize the event, today it is recognized as a non-profit organization that is registered with the State of Hawaiʻi. The original vision of the festival was to perpetuate, preserve, and promote the traditional culture of the Hawaiian people as well as the art of hula. The event has continued to grow and flourish over the years, it maintains its original vision, and is a celebrated part of the Hilo community and beyond. The highlight of the festival is a three-day hula competition with hula halauʻs from Hawaiʻi and beyond the islands. There are arts and crafts workshops, demonstrations, and exhibits that commemorates the knowledge of the Hawaiian culture.