Monday, April 25

On Merrie Monarch Monday, Hilo appeared to be in a “get ready” mood. There weren’t any official lime-green Merrie Monarch T-shirts sported around town but they were for sale here and there. By week’s end, the place will be awash with them.

Airport car rental companies are chock-full, with more than the usual inventory of large vans. Temporary food vendor shelters were being constructed near the stadium.

“But fun things ARE happening,” reports Dawn Pung.

Dropping by Basically Books downtown in late morning, she happened on Maui kumu hula Makua Napua making music.

Merrie Monarch week seems to be a catalyst for spiffing up. Bayfront is festooned with new banners, courtesy of DowntownHilo, which promotes our town’s art, history and culture.

Some shops and eateries are hanging out welcoming banners, like Ken’s Pancake House’s Merrie Monarch “E Komo Mai.” At Koehnen’s Interiors store, the Merrie Monarch himself is in the window.

At Puff City, a pastry shop on Kilauea Street, the plan is for another year of hula dancer cookies. “It’s a fundraiser for Kihei Pua Emergency Shelter in Hilo,” Fran Morales, Puff City’s owner says. A dollar from each $3 cookie will go to the shelter. It’s hard to consider buying a cookie when faced with her cream puffs, though.

Ladies of the Zonta Club of Hilo, who are contributing to these posts, report they are most looking forward to “the crafts fairs, of course,” which opens Wednesday; the Imiloa Astronomy Center’s Hawaiian entertainment running Tuesday through Friday, and Wednesday night’s free admission, despite the “humbug” of waiting in line for tickets.

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Compiled by Barbara A. Hastings for the Zonta Club of Hilo, part of Zonta International, a group of business and professional women who work to advance the status of women and girls locally and worldwide.