Update:final ancient hula for Miss Aloha Hula now. ʻAuana (modern) hula after that. Merrie Monarch Livestreaming
on MM link top line in text below.https://www.democraticunderground.com/10473126
https://www.merriemonarch.com/2026-festival-live-stream-eng/
Copied from last night because it is Right NOW!
Headline was: Itʻs that time folks! Merrie Monarch! Countdown to Miss Aloha Hula tomorrow night, then...Miss Aloha Hula starts Kahiko (ancient hula) night Friday and ʻAuana (modern, so with instruments and singing v. Drums and chanting) night Saturday...Hilo is abuzz with hālau (hula groups) and awesome musicians verywhere. Folks talking story and making friends in line at Two Ladies (most ono (delicious) mochi you happily stand in line for to bring home for family and friends and ok maybe you may or may not eat some too…all over town people bumping into old friends, buying all kinds of *gorgeous* lole (clothing) and whatnot, beautiful handcrafted lauhala bags and hats, lei Niʻihau and earrings and stunning art and woodwork and just OH my goodness the creativity and beauty, all the special gifts you buy if you are so blessed to be able to do so…then suddenly, Sunday, everybody goes home! Or wherever, holoholo (take a journey?) around to the other side maybe, but mostly hele (go) back to your home island, Maui, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Lānaʻi, or afar, liʻdat. Spontanous hula breaks out everywhere, in the one of a kind Hilo airport waiting for flights you may just find Ledward Kaʻapana and friends playing their incredible music out in the wild, making people happy.
Itʻs a whole thing. So much astonishingly beautiful hula it brings tears and whoops of joy.
(In my 1st hula era we used to go as a competing hālau. Then in my 2nd hula era we went as a non competing hālau with the luxury to stay in one of our hula sisterʻs places in Volcano village and went to the craft fair and Naniloa etc together, then watched in the comfort of the home on TV! Instead of on the hard bleachers that made your elemu (butt cheeks, ha) and back soa. Ow. Plus which you can get up and go shishi whenever without all the fuss- not nothing!)
I went last year and was planning to go again this year but things happened. Writing to share the livestream
https://www.merriemonarch.com/2026-festival-live-stream-eng/
Walk in, hula out. So much beauty and aloha… hula comprises poetry (in Hawaiian so multiple levels of meaning, or kaona) song, dance, hisory, storytelling, history… it is wildly creative yet holds fast to ancient ways. Hula is life.
We lost some people this year lacking whom it is hard to even think of Merrie Monarch without, Kumu Hula and heartbeat of the islands Nālani Kanakaʻole among them. She was an intellectual amd cultural powehouse of wisdom, beauty and mana. Each one was a wonder. The loss some of these folks are bearing is immense and really exceeds my ability to describe. Auntie Nālani, the reach of her work of love and scholarship is in evidence worldwide. In my own studies as well,certainly…oli (chants) from her scholarship, generosity and creativity are found in countless hula books and living oli, mine as well as so many othersʻ. Oli (chants) for blessings, oli for Tutu Pele in her journeys, a whole blessing-filled long but too short lifetime of hula. A foundational person for future generations for sure. The whole stadium is named after her own mother Auntie Edith Kanakaʻole, a force and a spring of so much wisdom and beauty. Of her sister and co-Kumu Auntie Pua Kanakaʻole we have hreat Ted talks to illuminate the world as well as her presence among us, thank goodness, indeed.
Other communitieʻs immense losses too, beautiful kumu hula (hula leaders? Teacher falls a little shy as a translation, wehewehe aside.,) Leināʻala Pavao Jardine and lost *far* too young, to cancer. The love and inmense beauty continues. I plan to add more details tomowwor; it is past 3 am here and must kust sleep.
The livestream is pau (finished) for the evening. It will resume tomorrow evening. It is my fond hope that you may enjoy.
2024: https://bigislandnow.com/2024/04/04/merrie-monarch-hoike-night-more-than-simple-showcase-of-hula-folk-dance/
2026: https://bigislandnow.com/2026/04/07/living-celebration-of-hawaiian-art-culture-and-community-official-merrie-monarch-arts-crafts-fair-about-much-more-than-simple-commerce/
You will find hula overflowing on insta #merriemonarch2026. Etc. It is my hope that you enjoy. Good night! Stay safe, stay local. A hui hou, mālama pono.
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