Celebrating Hawaiian Tradition
Hālau Hula Ka Lehua Tuahine – Kumu Hula Ka‘ilihiwa Vaughan-Darval – Photograph by Tracey Niimi 2024
The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo, Hawaii is the most important celebration of hula wherever on the planet. This yr’s week lengthy competition runs from April 20-26, 2025.
With greater than 60 years of festivals accomplished, the competition organizers all the time placed on an incredible present! This week-long competition begins on Easter Sunday annually, and it’s greater than only a hula competition. It’s a vibrant show of the restoration and resilience of Hawaiian tradition.
I’m fortunate to reside in Hilo on the Big Island and have this superb competition close by yearly. Pleasure in the neighborhood begins constructing months upfront.
Again in 1963 when the competition started, Hawaiian tradition was declining after a long time of Western affect that suppressed conventional practices. The competition began as a technique to revitalize curiosity in hula and the Hawaiian language. This small neighborhood occasion is now a world-renowned extravaganza that draws hundreds of spectators and hula fanatics from dozens of nations. It’s now the Big Island of Hawai‘i’s largest occasion of the yr, and other people from throughout the globe watch it on TV and catch reside streams on-line.
King Kalākaua, the Merrie Monarch
The Merrie Monarch Hula Pageant honors King David Kalākaua, nicknamed the “Merrie Monarch,” who was instrumental in preserving and selling Hawaiian traditions through the late 19th century. He liked Hawaiian music, dance, and the performing arts.
Kalākaua famously stated, “Hula is the language of the guts, subsequently the heartbeat of Hawaiian individuals.”
He lived throughout a interval when Hawaiian tradition was subjugated by overseas influences. The Christian missionaries disapproved of the hula. In response, Kalākaua labored to revive and protect the artwork of chanting and hula. He held grand celebrations at ‘Iolani Palace the place Hawaiians could possibly be pleased with their music and dance traditions once more.
For extra on the lifetime of King David Kalākaua, go to the DAWSON web site.
Charming Hilo City
This beautiful little coastal town on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi overflows with inexperienced area because of the rain that retains all the things lush.
Nestled on the foot of majestic Mauna Kea, the tallest mountain in Hawai‘i, Hilo’s inhabitants doubles throughout Merrie Monarch Week. There are hula performances on the lodges on the town throughout lunch hour, and customers preserve the native shops and humanities and crafts gala’s busy.
Many locals request trip time throughout competition week in order that they’ll benefit from the full expertise of our hula competition. We name it ‘enjoying vacationer’. It’s one of many quirks of dwelling in a vacationer vacation spot.
For guests who come for the competition, it’s only a 40-minute drive to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The park is residence to Kilauea, one of many world’s most lively volcanoes.
Throughout Merrie Monarch Week, the scent of flowers and island greenery scents the air. Plumeria, tuberose, puakenikeni, orchid, maile, ginger, ohiʻa lehua, ʻilima, and different tropical flowers and vegetation are strung into leis and worn by everybody.
To seek out out extra about Hilo, take a look at the Hilo Downtown Improvement Association or Destination Hilo.
It’s All Concerning the Hula
Amedée Kauakohemālamalama Conley-Kapoi – Hālau Kekuaokalā‘au‘ala‘iliahi – Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes – Photograph by Cody Yamaguchi 2024
Hula is greater than only a dance. It’s a storytelling artwork type that conveys the historical past, family tree, mythology, and values of the Hawaiian individuals. A scholar of hula usually spends years inside a hula hālau (hula college) to self-discipline physique, thoughts, and spirit to turn out to be a Merrie Monarch dancer.
On the coronary heart of each halau is the kumu hula (hula trainer), a revered particular person who carries the duty of preserving and passing down the data of hula. The Merrie Monarch Pageant showcases the work of kumu hula, highlighting their experience, dedication, and mentorship. The relationships between kumu hula and their college students are deeply rooted in custom. The competition serves as a testomony to their lifelong dedication to hula.
This isn’t Hollywood hula. That is probably the most genuine hula you’ll see wherever.
To maintain it that approach, the competition has judges. These women and men are chosen for his or her data of Hawaiian tradition and language. Most are long-time kumu hula (hula academics). The judges sit at floor degree proper on the entrance fringe of the stage to allow them to examine all the things in regards to the dance performances.
Scorecards are picked up after every halau performs, and even the judges don’t know the end result till the awards are introduced on the ultimate night time of the competitors.
To be taught extra about Hula, go to the Hula Preservation Society web site.
Pageant Occasion Schedule
The competition is a week-long celebration that includes cultural occasions, exhibitions, the distinguished hula competitors spanning three nights, and a big neighborhood parade.
Sunday, April 20
Hoʻolauleʻa (celebration)
9:00 a.m. Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
Free admission to look at performances by native Large Island hālau
Free Mid-day Leisure
Each day (Monday by way of Friday)
Leisure on the Grand Naniloa Resort (Midday)
and the Hilo Hawaiian Resort (1 p.m.).
Craft Gala’s and Cultural Demonstrations
All through the week, craft gala’s and cultural exhibitions present alternatives to discover Hawaiian artistry. Conventional artisans showcase their work, together with kapa (bark fabric) making, featherwork, lauhala weaving, and lei making.
Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Truthful
9:00 a.m. to five:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 23rd by way of Friday, April 25th
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 26th
Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium
An annual favourite, this free occasion options native artists, crafters, and leisure.
You’ll be able to’t flip a nook wherever in Hilo with out seeing Hawaiian arts and crafts on the market. They’re in all places throughout competition week. There are additionally official Merrie Monarch T-shirts, occasion packages, tote baggage, and posters that command a excessive worth as collectors’ gadgets after the competition ends annually.
Wednesday, April 23
Hōʻike Night time
6:00 pm Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium
An exhibition night time of hula and island dances from the Pacific
The performances are free to the general public, no tickets required
Hō‘ike Night time is standard with Hilo’s neighborhood. Nobody competes that night time. After work, individuals rush to face in lengthy strains to get in, and there’s no have to make dinner that night time. The meals distributors are busy making Hawaiian laulau and poi, chili and rice, or spam musubi — all native favorites.
Thursday, April 24
Miss Aloha Hula Competitors
6:00 pm Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium
Particular person competitors for the title of Miss Aloha Hula with contestants performing hula kahiko, hula ʻauana, and oli (chant).
The title of Miss Aloha Hula is likely one of the most coveted honors within the hula neighborhood, recognizing excellence in approach, interpretation, and cultural understanding. The dance performances are televised in Hawai’i starting on Thursday night time of competition week.
Every hula hālau chooses their most expert dancer to enter the Miss Aloha Hula Competitors. A couple of dozen ladies compete on this solo competitors yearly. A lot of those that have gained this contest have gone on to turn out to be kumu hula (hula academics).
Hula Kahiko and Hula ‘Auana Group Competitions
Ke Kai o Kahiki – Kumu Hula La‘akea Perry (Kāne) – Photograph by Bruce Omori 2024
The guts of the Merrie Monarch Pageant lies within the group hula competitions. Female and male teams carry out in two classes:
- Hula Kahiko: That is the traditional fashion of hula with dancers carrying conventional apparel, performing chants and utilizing percussion devices. The actions are highly effective, exact, and deeply rooted in historical past.
- Hula ‘Auana: This contemporary fashion of hula incorporates Hawaiian melodies and up to date influences. The performances are swish, fluid, and emotionally expressive.
The dancers are judged on interpretation, precision, posture, and total presentation. The competitors is intense, with hālau spending months, generally years, making ready for this prestigious occasion.
Friday, April 25
Group Hula Kahiko
6:00 pm Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium
Hālau carry out ancient-style dances
Saturday, April 26
Group Hula ʻAuana & Awards
6:00 pm on the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium
Hālau carry out modern-style dances, adopted by an awards presentation for all group winners.
Saturday, April 26
Merrie Monarch Royal Parade
10:30 am by way of Historic Downtown Hilo
One of many competition’s most entertaining occasions for all the household
With everybody excitedly ready for the ultimate night time of performances on Saturday night time, the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade is a welcome break in competitors. Marching bands, a Royal Court docket with an honorary King and Queen depicting King Kalākaua and his Queen Kapiʻolani, the brand new Miss Aloha Hula, Hawaiian entertainers on floats, and pāʻū riders — all wind by way of downtown Hilo. Pāʻū riders are ladies on horseback wearing flowing satin robes that just about attain the bottom. Even the horses are dressed up!
The best way to Get Tickets to the Merrie Monarch Pageant
Planning forward is the important thing. Tickets are solely offered by mail in December of the earlier yr. An announcement will likely be made on the competition’s official website a number of weeks earlier than the sale begins. They solely settle for cost the old school approach—cash order or cashier’s examine. And so they examine postmarks. In case your envelope is postmarked earlier than the sale begins, your request will likely be returned to you.
The Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium’s capability is simply 5,000 individuals and tickets are restricted. Regardless of the recognition of the competition, tickets are nonetheless at an inexpensive $40 complete to attend all three nights of competitors.
If attending in individual isn’t doable, the Merrie Monarch website hosts free streaming on-line throughout competitors nights.
The World Attain of Hula
The Merrie Monarch Hula Pageant has performed a significant function within the resurgence of Hawaiian tradition and id. The competition has restored authenticity to hula, reinforcing its sacred and historic significance. Moreover, the competition has impressed a brand new technology of Hawaiians to be taught and perpetuate their cultural heritage and Hawaiian language.
Hawaiian kumu hula now have hula hālau in states throughout the U.S. and in overseas nations like Japan, Canada, and Mexico. Hula and the Merrie Monarch’s imaginative and prescient has turn out to be a world phenomenon.
