Big Island

Hilo’s Merrie Monarch Festival & Hula Competition

Hilo, Hawaii in the spring is a magical time because it is Merrie Monarch time. This year will mark the 52nd anniversary of the first Merrie Monarch Festival. The festival started in 1963 in an attempt to revitalize the economy after the tsunami of 1960, and a hula competition began in 1971. Each year it has grown and today it is all about the hula competition, which is an international competition. Groups, or Halaus, will perform and compete over the week-long celebration starting April 5, 2015.

merrie monarch

Tickets

The hula competition runs from April 9th through the 11th. Tickets go on sale every year on the day of December 26th of the previous year and sells out quickly. Unfortunately, there is no way to buy tickets at the door. For that reason, each Wednesday during the festival is deemed to be a free night. Folks arrive early and line up to secure a seat. Should you be so fortunate to purchase tickets, you will find that all three nights of hula competition runs $30.00 total (or less) depending on your seat location.

Homemade Hawaii-type crafts are sold all over the town of Hilo throughout the entire week. This year, I am proud to say that Hawaii Life will be a sponsor. We at Hawaii Life are so excited and hope to build on this in the future. If you are unable to attend, the hula competition airs on TV and can also be streamed on your computer.

Here to Help

While here this year and future years to come, please talk to us at Hawaii Life to assist you with property purchase, or we may also be able to assist you with a beautiful vacation rental. If you have any questions about the Merrie Monarch Festival, please contact me.

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