Schedule and Miss Aloha Hula contestants, participating hālau hula for 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival

The 63rd annual Merrie Monarch Festival — a weeklong celebration of everything Hawaiian capped off by the “Super Bowl of Hula” — kicks off Sunday, April 5, in Hilo.

The festival starts Sunday with the Ho‘olaule‘a and culminates with three days of hula competition at Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium in Hilo.

Official events to begin the week

Hoʻolauleʻa (celebration)

• When: 9 a.m. Sunday, April 5
• Where: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, 323 Manono St.
• Free admission to watch performances by local hālau.

Free midday entertainment

• When: Daily (Monday through Friday)
• Where: Entertainment at Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo (12 p.m.), 93 Banyan Drive, and Hilo Hawaiian Hotel (1 p.m.), 71 Banyan Drive.

Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts and Crafts Fair

• When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, April 8-10; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 11
• Where: Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium and adjacent Butler Buildings
• An annual favorite, this event is free to attend and features local artists, crafters and entertainment.

Hōʻike

• When: 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 8
• Where: Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium, 350 Kalanikoa St.
• An exhibition night of hula and folk dance. Performances are free and open to the public; no tickets required.

Miss Aloha Hula — the solo hula competition — takes place April 9, followed by group kahiko, or ancient hula, on April 10 and the competition ends with group ‘auana, or modern hula, and awards ceremony April 11.

Each night of competition begins at 6 p.m.

This year’s judges

• Maelia Loebenstein Carter.
• Vicky Hanakaʻulaniokamāmalu Holt Takamine.
• Iwalani Kalima.
• Noenoelani Zuttermeister Lewis.
• Nani Lim Yap.
• Etua Lopes.
• Wallis Punua.

2026 Miss Aloha Hula contestants and kumu hula

• Samantha Makanani Aguon Newman, Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker & Michael Lanakila Casupang.
• Haily Kamakahukilani Nawahine Nascimento, Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera.
• Kēhaulani Kaleikaumakamaeʻiʻomakamae Rubonal, Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire.
• Mālie Kapuaonaonaikamauʻuuaolalokoikealohaokalaniākea Moe, Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe.
• Lilia Kaleialohaokealohalani Ka’ōnohi’ula Keohokapuakeakua Iokepa-Guerrero, Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine.
• Jovian Kauanoeokalaulani Range-Semisi, Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kau‘ionālani Kamana‘o.
• Keoe Momilani Michiko Hoe, Kumu Hula Robert Ke‘ano Ka‘upu IV.
• Lahela Hoʻokela Medina Maio, Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes.
• Faith Lynn Kealohapauʻole Paredes, Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes.
• Jelacia Naomi Waiauokalaniākea Peralta, Kumu Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao.
• Hiʻileilanikauakapukapuokeānuenue Puchalski, Kumu Hula Keli‘iho‘omalu Puchalski.
• Leimana Kaleinamanu Purdy, Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva.
• Līlianani Maya Rae Pi, Kumu Hula Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor.

2026 participating hālau hula and kumu hula

• Hālau I Ka Wēkiu, Nā Kumu Hula Karl Veto Baker and Michael Lanakila Casupang
• Ka Pā Hula O Ka Lei Lehua, Kumu Hula Snowbird Puananiopaoakalani Bento.
• Hālau Nā Mamo O Pu‘uanahulu, Nā Kumu Hula William Kahakuleilehua Haunu‘u “Sonny” Ching & Lōpaka Igarta-De Vera.
• Keolalaulani Hālau ʻŌlapa O Laka, Kumu Hula Keolalaulani Dalire.
• Hālau Ka Liko Pua O Kalaniākea, Kumu Hula Kapua Dalire-Moe.
• Hālau Mōhala ʻIlima, Kumu Hula Māpuana de Silva.
• Nā Pualei o Likolehua, Kumu Hula Niuliʻi Heine.
• Academy of Hawaiian Arts, Kumu Hula Mark Kealiʻi Hoʻomalu.
• Hālau ʻO Lilinoe & Nā Pua Me Ke Aloha (Kāne), Nā Kumu Hula Lilinoe & Pele Kaio.
• Hula Hālau ʻO Kamuela, Nā Kumu Hula Kunewa Mook & Kauʻionālani Kamanaʻo.
• Hālau Hiʻiakaināmakalehua, Kumu Hula Robert Keʻano Kaʻupu IV.
• Ka Lā ʻŌnohi Mai O Haʻehaʻe, Nā Kumu Hula Tracie & Keawe Lopes.
• Hālau Kekuaokalāʻauʻalaʻiliahi, Nā Kumu Hula Haunani & ‘Iliahi Paredes.
• Hālau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leināʻala, Kumu Hula Breeze Ann Kalehuaonālani Vidinha Pavao.
• Ke Kai O Kahiki, Kumu Hula Laʻakea Perry.
• Kawaiʻulaokalā, Kumu Hula Keliʻihoʻomalu Puchalski.
• Hālau Nā Lei Kaumaka O Uka, Kumu Hula Nāpua Silva.
• Ka Pā Hula Hawaiʻi, Kumu Hula John Renken Kahaʻialiʻiokaiwiʻulaokamehameha Topolinski.
• Hālau Kalaʻakeakauikawēkiu, Kumu Hula Kenneth Dean Alohapumehanaokalā Victor.

If you didn’t get tickets to this year’s hula extravaganza, there are two ways to live stream the event — one in English and another in Hawaiian:

• Click here for the Hawaiian stream.
• Click here for the English stream.

And don’t miss the annual Merrie Monarch Royal Parade the morning of Saturday, April 11:

• When: 10:30 a.m.
• Where: Through downtown Hilo, beginning and ending at Pauahi St. Parade route follows Kilauea Avenue, Keawe Street, Waiānuenue Avenue and Kamehameha Avenue.
• This is one of the festival’s most entertaining and fun events for the entire family.

Visit the official Merrie Monarch Festival website for additional information.