Merrie Monarch Festival Travel Guide
The 64th annual Merrie Monarch Festival runs March 28 - April 3, 2027, in Hilo on Hawaii Island, opening on Easter Sunday and building toward a three-day hula competition at the Edith Kanakaole Multi-Purpose Stadium. It is a week-long celebration of Hawaiian culture, honoring King David Kalakaua, and it is widely considered the most prestigious hula competition in the world. This guide explains what the week holds, how tickets have worked, how to enjoy the festival without them, and how a Kohala Coast stay on the west side of the island can fit around it.
A Festival Rooted in Remembrance
The festival honors King David Kalakaua, known as the Merrie Monarch, who championed the revival of hula and Hawaiian arts. The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce began the festival in 1963, and it is held each year during the week after Easter, opening on Easter Sunday. For 2027, that means March 28 through April 3. It helps to arrive with the right frame of mind. This is a cultural and competitive event first, a gathering where dancers and their teachers present the traditions they practice and pass on. Visitors are welcome as respectful guests, and the week rewards those who come to watch closely, listen, and learn.
Three Nights of Competition
At the heart of the week is a three-day hula competition at the Edith Kanakaole Multi-Purpose Stadium in Hilo. Thursday is Miss Aloha Hula, the individual competition. Friday brings group hula kahiko, the traditional style. Saturday closes with group hula auana, the modern style. Each night has its own character, and following all three gives you a sense of the range of the art form. Seats are sought after and hard to get, so many travelers build the rest of the week around the free community events and the broadcast, and treat a stadium seat as a welcome bonus rather than the plan.
Free Events and Festival Etiquette
Beyond the stadium, the week has traditionally included free community events: an invitational Hawaiian arts fair, cultural demonstrations, a free Hoike exhibition night on Wednesday, and the Royal Parade through downtown Hilo on Saturday morning. Confirm the current-year schedule on merriemonarch.com before you plan your days, since details can change from year to year. A few courtesies go a long way. Dress respectfully, arrive early for the parade, and follow the festival's photography and recording rules at the stadium. Give yourself time in Hilo itself, and let the pace of the town set yours.
Tickets, and Watching From Anywhere
Competition tickets have historically been sold by mail-in request only, with a limit on tickets per request, and they are hard to get. The 2027 ticket form had not been released as of this writing, so watch merriemonarch.com for the announcement and follow its instructions exactly as written. If you do not secure seats, you have not missed the festival. The competition nights have been televised and livestreamed free in recent years, so you can watch from anywhere. Streaming partners for 2027 are announced by the festival, and the official site is the best place to find them. Watching from your villa, with the evening to yourself, is a fine way to take it in.
Pairing Hilo With the Kohala Coast
Hilo lodging fills very early for festival week. KBM Resorts' Big Island properties sit on the opposite, west side of the island along the Kohala Coast: Halii Kai and Waikoloa Colony Villas, both in Waikoloa. Reaching Hilo from there is a cross-island drive, so plan for a substantial drive each way and give yourself extra time, especially on evening competition nights. A rental car is essentially required on the Big Island. A Kohala Coast stay suits travelers who want to pair a day at the free festival events, or an evening with the livestream, with a sunny west-side beach vacation.
Festival dates, events, ticket procedures, and streaming partners are drawn from merriemonarch.com and can change from year to year. Please confirm the current-year schedule with the festival before you finalize travel plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Merrie Monarch Festival in 2027?
The 64th annual Merrie Monarch Festival runs March 28 - April 3, 2027, in Hilo on Hawaii Island. It is held each year during the week after Easter and opens on Easter Sunday. The hula competition takes place Thursday through Saturday at the Edith Kanakaole Multi-Purpose Stadium.
How do you get tickets to the Merrie Monarch hula competition?
Competition tickets have historically been sold by mail-in request only, with a limit on tickets per request, and they are hard to get. The 2027 ticket form had not been released as of this writing. Watch merriemonarch.com for the official announcement and instructions.
Can you enjoy the Merrie Monarch Festival without competition tickets?
Yes. Week-long free community events have traditionally included an invitational Hawaiian arts fair, cultural demonstrations, a free Hoike exhibition night on Wednesday, and the Royal Parade through downtown Hilo on Saturday morning. The competition nights have also been televised and livestreamed free in recent years. Confirm the current-year schedule and 2027 streaming partners with the festival.
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