The 60th Merrie Monarch Festival is on in April

• By Nina Wu
• March 20, 2023

“We’re just happy to be back, and to be able to celebrate hula again,” said Festival President Luana Kawelu. “The halau are also excited to return to the stage and just enjoy hula.” Read more

Kauai halau takes top prize at Merrie Monarch Festival

• By Star-Advertiser staff
• April 25, 2022

Ka Lei Mokihana o Leina‘ala of Kalaheo, Kauai, under the direction of kumu hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, also took first place in both the wahine auana and wahine kahiko divisions. Read more

Kauai halau takes top prize at Merrie Monarch Festival

• By Star-Advertiser staff
• April 24, 2022

Ka Lei Mokihana O Leina‘ala of Kalaheo, Kauai, under the direction of kumu hula Leina‘ala Pavao Jardin, also took first place in both the wahine ‘auana and wahine kahiko divisions Read more

Merrie Monarch Festival closes with hula ‘auana competition

• April 23, 2022

Pi‘ikea Lopes wins Miss Aloha Hula 2022, following in mother’s footsteps

• By Star-Advertiser staff
• April 22, 2022

Lopes, of Ka La ‘Onohi Mai o Ha‘eha‘e and under the direction of her parents and kumu hula, Tracie and Keawe Lopes, won the competition with a judges’ score of 1,168 points. Read more

Miss Aloha Hula competition highlights Merrie Monarch Festival’s second day

• April 21, 2022

Merrie Monarch kicks off with craft fair

• By Leila Fujimori
• April 21, 2022

The most celebrated annual hula competition hasn’t had a live audience in Hilo since 2019, but that changes today. Read more

Merrie Monarch Festival returns to Hilo

• April 20, 2022

Edith Kanakaʻole’s recognition on coin shows she is ‘just as alive now as she’s ever been,’ family says

• By Jayna Omaye
• April 16, 2022

Whenever Kuha‘o Zane dances with Halau o Kekuhi at the Merrie Monarch Festival’s ho‘ike, he always thinks about the Hilo stadium’s namesake — his grandma, Edith Kanaka‘ole. Read more

Merrie Monarch Festival 2022 will go on, but no public tickets will be sold

• By Nina Wu
• Dec. 2, 2021

Merrie Monarch Festival organizers are planning to move forward with a hula competition this April with a limited live audience, but will not be selling tickets to the general public. Read more

Merrie Monarch Festival plans up in air because of pandemic

• By Associated Press
• Oct. 15, 2021

In normal times, thousands of people from around the world descend on Hilo on the Big Island for the Merrie Monarch Festival. Read more

Oahu-based hula halau Kawaili‘ula captures overall title at 58th Merrie Monarch Festival

• By Nina Wu
• July 7, 2021

With a total score of 1,180 points, hula halau Kawaili‘ula under the direction of kumu Chinky Mahoe was named overall winner of the 58th Merrie Monarch Festival. Read more

Oahu-based hula halau Kawaili‘ula wins overall title at 58th Merrie Monarch Festival

• By Nina Wu
• July 6, 2021

With a total score of 1,180 points, hula halau Kawaili‘ula was named overall winner of the 58th Merrie Monarch Festival. Read more

Rosemary Kaʻimilei Keamoai-Strickland is Miss Aloha Hula 2021

• By Nina Wu
• July 2, 2021

It was the second Miss Aloha Hula win for the Kaneohe halau under the direction of kumu Tracie and Keawe Lopes, which also took the title in 2014. Read more

Merrie Monarch ‘worth every single struggle’ despite sweeping pandemic changes, kumu hula say

• By Jayna Omaye
• July 1, 2021

As kumu hula Meleana Manuel proudly watched her haumana (students) step onto the Merrie Monarch stage for the first time, she said she suddenly felt a breeze sweep across the hallowed Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium. It was cool and refreshing, and Manuel said she immediately felt the presence of her kupuna. Read more

Hula halau from around Hawaii navigate pandemic challenges in return to Merrie Monarch Festival

• By Nina Wu
• June 23, 2021

The stage is up at Edith Kanaka‘ole Multi-Purpose Stadium, and the halau are in Hilo for their isolation period as they prepare for the esteemed Merrie Monarch competition. Read more

Halau Ke Kai O Kahiki prepares for Merrie Monarch competition

• June 22, 2021

Merrie Monarch could be held in 2021 — but without live audience

• By Mark Ladao
• Nov. 29, 2020

With the coronavirus likely to stick around for the near future, the Merrie Monarch Festival’s organizing committee is working to develop a 2021 event without a live audience in Hilo. Read more