High-energy hula excitement started buzzing midweek at Edith Kanakaole Stadium, with an exhibition of dance from around the Pacific. It got louder Thursday night, with one dozen Miss Aloha Hula contestants performing hula kahiko (ancient style), hula auana (modern style) and oli (chant).

The 55th annual Merrie Monarch fest continues this evening with group hula kahiko competition. And following a traditional parade in Hilo town Saturday morning, the weeklong event will wrap up with groups vying for hula auana recognition — as well as overall honors. Stadium seat tickets have been sold out for some time. For a hula live stream, visit www.k5thehometeam.com.

Ige avoids Legislature to fund HI-EMA

Gov. David Ige rummaged through the proverbial budgetary seat cushions of previously allocated funding and came up with the $800,000 he wanted for Hawaii Emergency Management Agency upgrades.

What makes that particularly a deft move — politically — is that this saves him from going, hat in hand, to the Legislature to get it. The failings of HI-EMA, culminating in its horrendous nuclear-missile false alert in January, comprise the governor’s biggest embarrassment to date.

And lately, the state Capitol seems chock-full of rivals who would have loved a chance to poke a stick at him.