#Merrie Monarch Festival

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.

Piʻikea Kekīhenelehuawewehiikekauʻōnohi Lopes who is the reigning 2022 Miss Aloha Hula after earning the coveted title this past April at the Merrie Monarch Festival, was selected to represent the powerhouse brand’s special edition collection which celebrates Indigenous communities through footwear and apparel offerings and honors various Indigenous cultures and traditions.

In recent weeks, Senator Hirono introduced legislation to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month and combat price gouging on essentials like food, gasoline, and prescription drugs.

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea invites guests “Behind the Scenes of Hula” for a sneak peek into the practices of Maui’s Hālau o Ka Hanu Lehua.  Led by Kumu Hula Kamaka Kūkona, the hālau practice offers a unique opportunity to experience this special facet of Hawaiian culture.

Two Maui hālau hula are competing in this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival as the event takes place with modifications in Hilo at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium. Competition is set for April 21-23, 2022.

Hōʻike Night is usually free to the public, but in consideration of the long lines that event goers usually encounter, and health concerns related to COVID-19, event organizers have decided to sell tickets this year for $5 each.  The sale is for Hōʻike night tickets only; not competition nights, which are not being sold to the general public.

Pop-Up Mākeke, the online marketplace established to support Hawaiʻi’s small businesses struggling during the pandemic, has partnered with Amazon and Shopify — and is now accepting vendor applications for its third season.

To date, the Pop-Up Mākeke has put $1,963,889 million dollars into the pockets of hundreds of Hawaiʻi-based small and micro-businesses.

Crews of inspectors from across the state will be at airports in both Hilo and Kona to boost inspection capacity near the end of the Merrie Monarch Festival

By Wendy Osher Maui Halau Ke’alaokamaile under the direction of Kumu Hula Keali’i Reichel swept the wahine hula titles at the weekend Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo.  The 47th Annual event included a solo competition and men’s and women’s divisions for traditional and modern hula. Eighteen women from the halau performed He Mele Inoa No […]