Trip Ideas Home
Merrie Monarch Festival
The mother of all Big Island festivals, the Merrie Monarch celebrates all things hula and completely overtakes Hilo for one fantastic weekend a year. The largest event of its kind in the world honors the legacy of King David Kalakaua, Hawaii's last king and the man responsible for reviving a lot of the fading Hawaiian traditions including the
hula (of which he was a big fan). The festival is staged at the spacious Edith Kanakaole Stadium during the first week following Easter Sunday. Hula halau (schools) compete in various classes of ancient and modern dance styles. You need to reserve accommodations and tickets up to a year in advance. If you're planning on being in Hilo during this time of year but not attending the festival, know that most accommodations will be booked about a year out and plan accordingly. April.
www.merriemonarchfestival.org