The Merrie Monarch Festival, held the week after Easter in Hilo, draws more than 30,000 visitors annually for what many consider the world’s most prestigious hula competition. If you’ve ever wanted to experience Hawaiian culture beyond the standard luau, planning a trip around one specific festival shifts your entire trip from sightseeing to genuine cultural immersion. This article walks through exactly how to build a trip around the Merrie Monarch Festival — from booking strategy to daily pacing — so you can attend the competition itself while also exploring the Big Island in a way that complements, rather than crowds, the festival schedule.
More than 30,000 people travel to Hilo each year for the Merrie Monarch Festival, and hotels within a 30-minute drive book out 6–12 months in advance.
Planning a trip around a festival like Merrie Monarch gives you a focused cultural anchor, but it demands early booking and flexible expectations — the festival itself is a spectator event, not an all-day interactive experience, so you need to balance competition tickets with off-stage exploration.
Culture-focused travelers
Return visitors
Families with older kids (10+)
| Day | Where | What | Time Needed | Key Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival Day | Hilo town | Settle in, explore downtown Hilo, attend the Hoʻolauleʻa street fair | Full afternoon + evening | Book a hotel within walking distance of the stadium or downtown — parking near the venue is extremely limited during festival week |
| Competition Day 1 | Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium | Hula kahiko (traditional) competition, daytime art fair at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (competition runs late afternoon into evening) | Bring a cushion for the bleacher seats and arrive by 8 a.m. if you want a good spot for the free daytime art fair |
| Competition Day 2 | Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium | Hula auana (modern) competition followed by the awards ceremony | 6 p.m.–11 p.m. (gates open around 5 p.m.) | This is the most popular session — tickets sell out first, prioritize securing these before the kahiko session |
| Recovery Day | Hilo side or Volcano Village | Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, or a quieter beach day | Full day | Book a Volcano Village rental for this night — it cuts morning drive time to the park entrance to under 10 minutes |
| Departure / Flex Day | Kona side or Hilo | Akaka Falls, Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, or start the drive to Kona for a sunset flight out | Half to full day | If flying out of Kona, allow 2.5 hours drive time from Hilo via the Saddle Road (Highway 200) |
Arrival Day — Landing in Hilo and Settling Into Festival Mode
Most visitors fly into Hilo International Airport (ITO) on the day before the festival officially starts. The airport is small — just a single terminal — and rental car pickup is a short walk from the baggage claim area. If you’re arriving from the mainland, the red-eye from Honolulu or a direct flight from the West Coast puts you on the ground by mid-morning, which leaves the afternoon free to explore Hilo town before the evening Hoʻolauleʻa street fair kicks off.
Allow 20–30 minutes from landing to car. If you booked a hotel within walking distance of the stadium, you can park once and not move the car again until the competition ends. Hawaii Guide’s festival planning tips recommend booking Hilo accommodations 6–12 months out for Merrie Monarch week.
Walk down Kamehameha Avenue to the Hilo Farmers Market — it’s open Wednesday through Saturday, and the Saturday market is the biggest. Grab a plate lunch or a bowl of saimin at a local spot. The market is a great place to pick up a handmade lei to wear to the competition.
The free street fair on Kamehameha Avenue features live music, hula performances, craft booths, and food vendors. It’s family-friendly and a good warm-up for the competition itself. Arrive by 5 p.m. to avoid the heaviest crowds — the fair typically runs until 9 p.m.
Competition Day 1 — Hula Kahiko and the Art Fair
The first competition day focuses on hula kahiko — the ancient, traditional style performed to chanting and percussion rather than melodic instruments. This session carries a more reverent tone than the auana (modern) competition, and the audience tends to be quieter and more attentive. The daytime hours are filled by the free art fair at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, which is a short walk from the stadium.
Free and open to the public, the art fair showcases local artisans, craft demonstrations, and cultural exhibits. It’s the best place to see feather lei makers, wood carvers, and kapa (bark cloth) artisans at work. No ticket required — just walk in.
The stadium is an outdoor venue with bleacher seating. Bring a cushion, sunscreen, and a light jacket — the evening air cools down quickly. Concessions sell plate lunches and drinks, but lines can be long. HS Hawaii’s festival planning guide notes that tickets for the kahiko session are easier to secure than the auana session, but still sell out most years.
Performances are judged on precision, storytelling, and adherence to tradition. The session runs about 4 hours with a short intermission. If you’re attending with kids who might struggle with the seated format, the intermission is a good time to stretch legs outside the stadium.
Skip the stadium concessions and eat a hearty lunch at the art fair or a downtown spot before the gates open — the food lines inside the stadium can take 30–45 minutes during intermission.
Competition Day 2 — Hula Auana and the Grand Finale
The second competition day is the main event. Hula auana — the modern style performed to melodic instruments and singing — draws the largest audience and the most emotional response from the crowd. The awards ceremony follows the final performances, and the evening ends with the announcement of the overall winners. This is the session that most people picture when they think of the Merrie Monarch Festival, and it’s the one that requires the most advance planning.
The auana session doesn’t start until evening, so you have the morning and early afternoon free. Consider a visit to Rainbow Falls (a 10-minute drive from downtown Hilo) or a relaxed beach morning at Carlsmith Beach Park. Save your energy for the late evening.
This session requires a separate ticket from the kahiko session, and it sells out weeks to months earlier. If you’re buying from a reseller or the official ticket office, prioritize this session first. Bring the same cushion and jacket setup as Day 1.
The auana competition is the emotional peak of the festival. The audience is vocal and supportive — cheering, crying, and standing ovations are common. The awards ceremony starts after the final performance, and the overall winner is announced around 10:30–11 p.m. It’s a late night, so plan for a relaxed morning the next day.
Ticket scams are not uncommon during Merrie Monarch week. Only buy from the official Merrie Monarch Festival ticket office or a verified reseller. Avoid Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace listings for this event.
Recovery Day — Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
After two late nights at the stadium, a slower-paced day makes sense. The drive from Hilo to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park takes about 45 minutes, and the park’s Crater Rim Drive offers a straightforward loop that hits the main viewpoints without requiring long hikes. This is also a good day to switch lodging to a Volcano Village rental if you booked one, which puts you within a 10-minute drive of the park entrance for an early start the next morning.
Check the board for current eruption status and trail closures. Rangers give a short orientation talk several times a day. If you’re traveling with kids, pick up a Junior Ranger booklet at the desk — it keeps them engaged during the drive stops.
Allow 2–3 hours for the full loop with short stops. The Steam Vents, Kīlauea Overlook, and the Thurston Lava Tube are the most rewarding for a non-hiking visit. If you have energy, the 1.2-mile Kīlauea Iki Trail is a moderate hike across a crater floor.
If you stayed in Hilo, the drive back is straightforward. If you’re moving to Volcano Village, you’re already there — check into your rental and enjoy a quiet evening in the cool, forested air. Our 7-day Big Island road trip itinerary includes more detail on how to time these drives without rushing.
Departure / Flex Day — East Side Highlights or the Drive to Kona
Depending on your flight time and departure airport, you have a half-day to full-day to explore more of the east side or begin the drive to Kona. Akaka Falls State Park, about 20 minutes north of Hilo, is a short 0.4-mile loop to a 442-foot waterfall. Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, about an hour south of Hilo, is a reliable spot to see sea turtles basking on the shore. If you’re flying out of Kona, the Saddle Road route takes about 2.5 hours and passes through the saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa — it’s a scenic drive but has no services for long stretches, so fill up gas in Hilo before you leave.
If you’re flying out of Kona, build in a buffer for Saddle Road construction delays — the highway has periodic single-lane closures that can add 30–45 minutes to the drive. Check the Hawaii Guide road status page before you leave.
Practical Section — Booking, Costs, and Festival Logistics
| Expense | Estimated Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Merrie Monarch competition tickets (2 sessions) | $30–$50 per session | Prices vary by seat section; the auana session is more expensive and sells out first |
| Hilo hotel (3–4 nights, festival week) | $250–$500/night | Rates spike 2–3x normal; book 6–12 months out for the best options |
| Rental car (5 days) | $300–$500 | Book early; rental cars sell out during festival week |
| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park entry | $30 per vehicle | Valid for 7 days; included in the America the Beautiful pass if you have one |
If you’re booking a rental car for festival week, reserve it at least 3 months in advance — Hilo’s rental fleet is small, and cars often sell out completely during Merrie Monarch week, leaving late bookers with no option or a drive from Kona without a confirmed vehicle.
When to Book and What to Prioritize
The Merrie Monarch Festival falls the week after Easter Sunday, which means the date shifts each year. Mark your calendar for the ticket on-sale date — typically 2–3 months before the festival — and set a reminder. The HS Hawaii guide to festival planning recommends booking flights and hotels before tickets go on sale, since the accommodation market tightens faster than the ticket market. If you can’t secure auana session tickets, consider attending the free Hoʻolauleʻa and the art fair instead — you’ll still get a strong cultural experience without the seated competition.
Family Logistics and Festival Pacing
If you’re traveling with kids, the biggest challenge is the late-night auana session. Lily and Ethan managed the first evening well, but by the second night they were fading by the awards ceremony. If your kids are younger than 10, consider attending only the kahiko session (which ends earlier) and skipping the auana session, or taking turns with another adult so each of you gets to see the full competition. The Hoʻolauleʻa and the art fair are both free and family-friendly, so they’re good lower-stakes backups if the ticketed sessions don’t work for your family’s stamina.
If you’re still weighing where to stay on the Hilo side, this interactive map of the island’s hotels and vacation rentals makes it easier to compare options within walking distance of the stadium versus cheaper properties farther out.
Before You Go: Merrie Monarch Festival Questions Answered
Are the competition tickets hard to get?
Yes, especially the auana session. Tickets go on sale roughly 2–3 months before the festival and sell out within days for the auana session. The kahiko session has a slightly longer window. Sign up for the Merrie Monarch Festival email list to get the on-sale announcement directly.
Can I watch the competition online if I can’t get tickets?
The festival does not livestream the competition. However, local TV station KITV typically broadcasts a highlights reel a few days after the event, and the festival’s official YouTube channel posts select performances from past years. That’s a good backup if you strike out on tickets.
What should I wear to the competition?
There’s no strict dress code, but locals dress up — many women wear a muʻumuʻu or a nice dress, and men wear an aloha shirt. For visitors, a clean aloha shirt or a sundress with comfortable shoes fits right in. Avoid shorts and flip-flops for the evening sessions; the stadium bleachers are cold, and the event has a formal tone.
Is the festival appropriate for kids?
The Hoʻolauleʻa and art fair are very family-friendly. The competition itself requires sitting still in a quiet audience for several hours, which is tough for younger kids. If your children are under 8, the free daytime events are a better fit than the evening competition sessions.
What’s the biggest downside to planning around a festival?
Everything costs more and books out earlier. Accommodation prices in Hilo triple during Merrie Monarch week, and the town’s small restaurant scene gets overwhelmed — expect 45-minute waits at popular spots. If flexible dates and budget are priorities, a non-festival trip might serve you better.
Let the Festival Shape Your Trip, Not Dictate It
The real value of building a trip around a festival like Merrie Monarch isn’t just the competition itself — it’s the way the festival forces you to slow down and stay in one place long enough to feel the rhythm of a community. Instead of island-hopping at a sprint, you spend five days in Hilo, you learn the names of the bakery owners and the farmers market vendors, and you leave with a sense of place that no road trip can replicate. If you’re ready to trade breadth for depth, our wellness-focused Hawaii itinerary offers another way to slow down and sink into island life.
References
Hawaii Guide. “Aloha Festivals Hawaii Statewide Celebration Guide.” Hawaii Guide, 2025. ↗
And You Creations. “Hawaii Festivals: A Complete Guide to Island Celebrations.” And You Creations, 2025. ↗
Holoholo Emily. “Planning a Trip to Hawaii Around Festivals and Events.” Substack, 2025. ↗
HS Hawaii. “How to Plan a Trip Around Hawaiian Festivals.” HS Hawaii, 2025. ↗
If you’re still piecing together your island itinerary, our 6-day Maui itinerary that balances upcountry and the south shore offers a completely different pace for a future trip, while our multi-generation Hawaii itinerary is built around the kind of flexible pacing that works when you’re traveling with a wide age range.
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