The Merrie Monarch Festival is a perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture. The Merrie Monarch originated in 1969 in honor of Hawaii's King David Kalakaua. King Kalaukaua was flamboyant and known as the Merrie Monarch. Each year thousands of people flock to Hilo Hawaii to watch the yearly Merrie Monarch hula competition. People who are from Hilo Hawaii refer this time as HULA Hawaii. Hula dancers representing all of the Hawaiian Islands, California, Japan and around the continental US participate in the annual festivities.
Merrie Monarch is all about the love of hula and the Hawaiian culture. It begins on Monday and ends on Sunday around midnight. The festivities include an individual competition for the title of Miss Aloha Hula with contestants performing hula kahiko, hula ʻauana and oli (chanting). One evening groups perform kahiko, an ancient style of dance. On another evening groups also perform 'auana, modern style dancing. There is a parade (Hilo is known for its parades) through downtown Hilo.
Hula dancers were exquisite, wearing either a mu'umu'u, holoku, holomu'u, tee-leaf hula skit or traditional garment. Attire is adorn with leis made of fragrant, popular blossoms that fill the air with perpetual aromas. Attending the festival requires some preparation. If you can get a hotel room, make your reservation early. Bring a lawn seat, wear your favorite Hawaiian attire, and be sure to have a Haku for your head.
Tickets to the Merrie Monarch can be obtained only when postmarked on December 26, not a minute before. If your envelope is selected you will get the pleasure seeing the best hula dancers in the world. Many years I've tried to obtain tickets, only to get my envelope returned. Posted on the Merry Monarch website "Requests postmarked on December 26, 2010 and later will be accepted. Requests postmarked prior to December 26, 2010 will NOT be accepted, and will be returned to the sender." Ticket envelope must contain certified funds, money order or cashiers check. In 2010 I sent my ticket envelope to my cousin, asking that he mail it for me from Hawaii on the 26th. I was elated when I received my tickets in March 2011.
My men's kuhiko video shook a whole lot. Here's a little taste of kuhiko hula performed at the 2009 Merrie Monarch Festival from Waianae Oahu, the men of E KAI O KAHIKI under guidance of kumu hula O'brien Eselu
After attending the Merrie Monarch for several days, the two people in front of me commented that next time they will not forget to bring their good stadium seats. They told me that they were from Goodyear Arizona. They are Realtors with Mary Couzens Realty in Pebble Creek." Pebble Creek AZ is 15 miles from Surprise Arizona. Who would have thought that a Realtor in Sun City Grand in Surprise Arizona would be sitting next to Realtors from Pebble Creek, 2,000 miles away in Hilo Hawaii. It's a Small World.
Leolinda Bowers TM
Associate Broker
Ken Meade Realty
Cell (602) 403-6865
Business (623) 937-5701
http://leolinda.com/
If you are thinking of buying or selling a home in any Phoenix Arizona retirement community, consider hiring me as your Realtor®. I am the 2011, 2010 and 2009 Top Producing Agent in Ken Meade Realty. In 2011, I successful closed 71 transactions. As a year-round Sun City Grand resident and full-time Associate Broker Realtor®, I am familiar with Phoeniz AZ retirement communities Sun City Grand, Sun City West, Corte Bella, Arizona Traditions, Sun Village, Pebble Creek and Trilogy at Vistancia.
