The week-long Merrie Monarch Festival runs from March 31 - April 6, 2013.

Hoʻolauleʻa (celebration)

9:00 a.m., Sunday, March 31st at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium.  Free admission to watch performances by our local hālau.

Coronation Pageant

6:00 p.m., Sunday, March 31at the Hilo Armory.  A tribute to the pageantry of the festival's early years, with performances dedicated to our ali'i.

Kalākaua Beard Look-Alike Contest

5 p.m., Monday, April 1^st at the Mo'oheau Park Bandstand.  A lively whisker competition for our men.

Free Mid-day Entertainment

Daily (Monday through Friday) entertainment at the Hawaiʻi Naniloa Volcanoes Resort (12 p.m.), and the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (1 p.m.).

Barbershop Quartet Competition

5 p.m., Tuesday, April 2nd at the Mo'oheau Park Bandstand.  A musical a cappella competition.

Arts and Crafts Fair

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 3rd through Friday, April 5th, and 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday, April 6th, at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

An annual favorite, this free event features local artists and crafters.

Hōʻike Performances

5:45 pm, Wednesday, April 3rd at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium.  An exhibition night of hula and music.

Miss Aloha Hula

5:45 pm, Thursday, April 4th at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium.  Individual competition for the title of Miss Aloha Hula with contestants performing hula kahiko, hula ʻauana and oli (chanting).

Group Hula Kahiko

5:45 pm, Friday, April 5th at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium.  Hālau hula perform ancient style dances.

Group Hula ʻAuana & Awards

5:45 pm, Saturday, April 6th at the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium.  Hālau hula perform modern style dances with an awards presentation for all group winners.

Merrie Monarch Royal Parade

10:30 am, Saturday, April 6th.  One of the festival's most entertaining and fun events for the entire family, the parade begins and ends at Pauahi St. and winds through downtown Hilo (Kilauea Ave. - Keawe St. - Waiānuenue Ave. - Kamehameha Ave.).

Event Locations

Edith Kanaka‘ole Tennis Stadium
350 Kalanikoa Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium
323 Manono Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720

Hilo Armory
28 Shipman Street
Hilo, HI 96720

Mo‘oheau Park Bandstand (Downtown Hilo, next to the bus terminal)
329 Kamehameha Avenue
Hilo, HI 96720

Merrie Monarch Festival Office
865 Piʻilani St.
Hilo, Hawaii 96720