The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural festival that takes place annually in Hilo, Hawaii in spring during the week after Easter. It is celebrated to honor King David Kalākaua, who was nicknamed the "Merrie Monarch" for his patronage of the arts and is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including the hula.
David Kalākaua was the last king of the kingdom of Hawaii and reigned for 17 years from 1874 to 1891. He was an avid supporter of all old Hawaiian traditions such as mythology, medicine, and chant including Hula.
The first Merrie Monarch festival was organized by Helene Hale, the then Executive Officer of Hawaii in 1963 to increase tourism to Hawaii.
Today, the Merrie Monarch Festival is an annual week-long event in Hilo, which also include three days of prestigious hula competition. Merrie Monarch is now a non–profit organization registered with the State of Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
The central purpose of the Festival is the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture. The proceedings from the festival support educational scholarships, workshops, seminars, symposiums and the continuation of the event itself.
he Merrie Monarch Festival is committed to:
1) Perpetuating the traditional culture of the Hawaiian people;
2) Developing and augmenting a living knowledge of Hawaiian arts and crafts through workshops, demonstrations, exhibitions, and performances of the highest quality and authenticity;
3) Reaching individuals who might not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in the festival through live broadcasts and social media; and,
4) Enriching the future lives of all of Hawaiʻi’s children.
This year the 55th Merrie Monarch Festival took place from April 1 to April 7 and included an invitational art fair, parade, and free midday performances, along with the hula competition which took place from April 5 to April 7.
This yearʻs Kamehameha High School Merrie Monarch student video production walks us through the significant events in Queen Kaʻahumanuʻs life. The story takes us to a period in Hawaiian History where major social and political changes occurred. During this time two historical events transpired that defined Queen Kaʻahumanuʻs life.
The festival kicked off on April 1st with the Hoʻolauleʻa (celebration), which showcased Hawaiian traditions and ceremonies to the public at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
This was followed by the opening of the arts festival and fair from Wednesday, April 4 to Saturday, April 7, during which the local artists and vendors displayed products made in Hawaii.
MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL
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MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL
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Wednesday was Hoike night means "an exhibition night of hula and folk dance from around the Pacific." No tickets were required for the event, so there was a large crowd of people who lined up early at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium in hope of getting a good seat.
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| Courtesy: Honolulu Star Advertiser |
This year special attraction of the Hoike night was honoring of the Hokule‘a original crew members of the maiden 1976 voyage to Tahiti by the festival president Luana Kawelu. The crew was presented with special canoe paddles, and the mele for the evening featured themes of voyaging.
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| Courtesy: Honolulu Star Advertiser |
The Hokule‘a itself was welcomed Monday morning with a formal homecoming ceremony at the Grand Naniloa Hotel pier in Hilo, where it will remain until April 28 as part of its “Mahalo, Hawaii Sail.”
Read more about the Hokule‘a voyage around the world here.
Merrie Monarch Royal Parade took place at Saturday, April 7, 10:30 a.m., Downtown Hilo. Starting on Pauahi Street, the jubilant parade moved through Kilauea Avenue, Keawe Street, Waianuenue Avenue and Kamehameha Avenue before ending back where it started. Marching down the roads were high school bands, pau horseback riders (women wearing long, colorful skirts) and local musicians.
The prestigious Miss Aloha Hula competition took place on Thursday. A total of 12 dancers vied for the for the Miss Aloha Hula title which was won by Shalia Kapuauʻionalani Kikuyo Kamakaokalani of Maui.
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Kamakaokalani represented Halau Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka under the direction of kumu hula Napua Greig.
Kamakaokalani, 21, is a Kamehameha Schools graduate studying Hawaiian at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has been dancing with kumu Greig since she was four years old.
The kahiko (ancient-style) hula group competition took place on Friday night followed by group auana (modern-style) hula competition on Saturday night for both wahine and kane, followed by the announcement of winners and awards.
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| Courtesy: Honolulu Star Advertiser |
The ladies of Na Lei Kaumaka O Uka are the 2018 overall Merrie Monarch Festival champions. Dancing under the direction of Kumu Napua Greig, the halau took first place overall in the wahine division, first place in wahine 'auana and second place in wahine kahiko.
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In men’s section, the kane of Ka Leo O Laka I Ka Hikina O Ka La won first place kane overall, first place kane auana and kahiko with their mele that honored Hokule’a and her Malama Honua voyage around the world.
MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL PRODUCTS
PRODUCTS
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