#Merrie Monarch Festival

Comparing different eruptions can be a bit like comparing apples to oranges. But no matter how you compare, the ongoing eruption made an impression in terms of its longevity, with two active vents and impacts to areas downwind, including the changing topography of the summit.

The kāne of Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, under the direction of Kumu Robert Keano Kaʻupu IV won the overall title at the 63rd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival, in Hilo Hawaiʻi. In an interview at the end of the broadcast, Kaʻupu, who was at a loss of words, said he was in “shock,” but also “grateful and humbled.”

Kahiko night at the Merrie Monarch Festival featured hula in the ancient style with 29 groups performing Friday night in the annual competition in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The festival continues tonight with ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 63rd event.

Hawai’i airports brace for an influx of interisland passengers traveling to Hilo for the 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival, ongoing until April 11.

The festival’s capstone is three days of competition, featuring 19 hālau (hula groups) performing kahiko (ancient) and ‘auana (modern) hula to the world, and 13 women competing for Miss Aloha Hula.

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo next week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawai‘i Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death, which is devastating to native forests. The Merrie Monarch Festival takes place from April 5 – 11.

As the Merrie Monarch Festival approaches, ALTRES, Hawaiʻi’s largest staffing, payroll and HR company, is ready to assist vendors participating in the various events taking place between April 5 to 11. With over 55 years of experience, ALTRES specializes in providing top-tier staffing services for businesses.

The Maui County Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday morning in the Council Chambers honoring kumu hula Iola Balubar for 50 years of excellence in hula and her dedication to the Maui community.

It’s that time of year — an even more most wonderful time for everyone who enjoys hula and hālau that perform. Ticket request forms postmarked Dec. 1 or later are being accepted for the 2026 Merrie Monarch Festival.

The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the official tourism agency for the state, has allocated $1.9 million to support 21 major festivals and sports events across the state through next summer, per an announcement this week.

Several Hawaiʻi-born actors are hitting the big screen in the live-action “Lilo & Stitch” when it opens in theaters this Friday, May 23. Among them is Kaipo Dudoit of Oʻahu who plays the role of David Kawena.

Kahiko night at the Merrie Monarch Festival featured hula in the ancient style with 27 groups performing Friday night in the annual competition in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. The festival continues tonight with ʻauana or modern hula, followed by results from the 62nd event.

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival next week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawaiʻi Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death (ROD), which is devastating to native forests. The Merrie Monarch Festival takes place in Hilo from April 20 to 26.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation reminds travelers to give themselves extra time at airports statewide during Easter weekend and the 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, which starts Easter Sunday, April 20, and culminates on Saturday, April 26.

The Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) Community-Based Economic Development (CBED) Program has awarded an $8,000 grant to the Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture (INPEACE) Center for Entrepreneurship. The funding will support nine Native Hawaiian-owned small businesses in participating as vendors at the Kākoʻo Hawaiʻi Merrie Monarch Market, taking place April 24-26, 2025 […]

The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival this week that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawaiʻi Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death, which is devastating to native forests. The Merrie Monarch Festival begins in Hilo on March 31 and ends April 6.

The Hawai‘i Department of Transportation reminds travelers to give themselves extra time at airports statewide during the upcoming Easter weekend and the 61st annual Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, which starts Easter Sunday, March 31, and culminates on Saturday, April 6.

Hawaiʻi Island police are investigating a burglary that occurred at the Merrie Monarch Festival office on Pi‘ilani Street in Hilo sometime between Sunday morning, June 18, and Monday morning, June 19, 2023. Police say unknown suspect(s) entered the establishment and removed numerous items valued at more than $2,700. One of the items removed was a distinct frame/board that contained 12 Merrie Monarch Royal Court Medals.

Travelers attending the Merrie Monarch Festival this week are reminded that quarantine restrictions remain on the transport of ʻōhiʻa from Hawaiʻi Island due to the fungal plant disease, rapid ʻōhiʻa death (ROD), which is devastating to native forests.

As part of its destination management kuleana to reinvest funding back into the community, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority announced its support of seven festivals and events occurring this spring on Hawai‘i Island and Kaua‘i.