Merrie Monarch

The Merrie Monarch Festival is the premier hula competition, featuring ancient and modern dances performed by groups from across the world.  The Merrie Monarch is a week-long cultural event held in Hilo each spring, with all hula performed at the Edith Kanaka`ole Tennis Stadium.  The festival was named after Hawai`i's King David Kalakaua, whose reign was marked by a resurgence in Hawaiian culture, especially music and dance.  During the week of the Merrie Monarch Festival, Hilo is abuzz with hula exhibitions, arts and crafts fairs, a ho`olaulea, and a parade though downtown Hilo.