Merrie Monarch Festival
- Dates
- Mar 28 to Apr 3, 2027
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Edith Kanaka'ole Multi-Purpose Stadium
- Price
- $10 to $60
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Nov 13, 2026
Merrie Monarch Festival returns to Hilo, HI, Mar 28 to Apr 3, 2027. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture in Hilo on Hawaiʻi island, running March 28 to April 3, 2027. It honors King David Kalākaua, the "Merrie Monarch," and began in 1964 as a boost for the island's economy. The hula competition, added in 1971, grew into an internationally known event held at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium since 1978. Alongside it come a free invitational Hawaiian arts fair, the Wednesday night hōʻike of hula and folk dance, and a Saturday Royal Parade through downtown Hilo. The festival is run as a non-profit and has been televised since 1981.
How it works
Tickets are needed only for the three competition nights at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium, each starting at 6pm: Miss Aloha Hula on Thursday, April 1, group hula kahiko on Friday and group hula ʻauana with awards on Saturday. Requests go by mail on the organizer's form, postmarked November 16, 2026 or later, with a limit of two tickets per person. Prices depend on section, and Thursday-only seats are $10. The hōʻike, arts fair and 10:30am Saturday Royal Parade are free. No stadium chairs or outside food or drink.
Who it suits
This suits people who care about hula and Hawaiian culture and will plan ahead, since competition tickets are requested by mail. Much of the week is free and family friendly, including the Royal Parade, the arts fair, the Wednesday hōʻike and daily hotel entertainment, so visitors without competition tickets still have plenty to see. Audiences are asked to stay quiet and not to photograph performances.
What people love
Google reviewers, summarised on Wanderlog, rate the festival 4.7 out of 5 across 66 reviews, with 55 of them five stars. They describe an immersion in hula and Hawaiian tradition, with beautiful music, flowers and dance, and praise the dancers' dedication and passion. The vendor booths, with regalia, art, instruments and local food such as poi balls and shaved ice, also draw praise. Reviewers advise planning which dances to see, because entry rules during performances are strict.
When it runs
Evening hula competitions begin at 6:00 pm at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium from Wednesday, March 31 to Saturday, April 3, 2027, and the Royal Parade is at 10:30 am on Saturday, April 3.
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Listen
No official playlist linked yet. Find Merrie Monarch Festival on Spotify.
Lineup
Getting there
How do I get to Merrie Monarch Festival?
Most visitors fly into Hilo International on the Big Island, and the festival fills the airport all week, so build in extra time on the way home and consider being dropped off rather than counting on a parking space. Once in town, the week is spread across Hilo: the stadium for the evening competitions, the civic auditorium for the arts fair, downtown for the Saturday parade and the hotel strip for the free midday shows. That makes a rental car or a reliable ride the usual choice, and the festival's airline sponsor has run a free shuttle between select hotels and the stadium on competition nights in recent years. The options below cover the airport, local buses and rides in more detail.
Nearest airport ITO.
By car
The nearest major airport is ITO, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
Route 101 stops directly at ITO and runs to Moʻoheau Bus Terminal downtown via Banyan Drive (Hilo's hotel row) roughly hourly, weekdays/Saturdays ~6:30am-7:30pm. Fare-free through 31 Dec 2028 per the transit agency. It reaches downtown Hilo and the Banyan Drive hotel strip well but does NOT have a stop directly at the stadium itself (~1.5 miles further, off Mamo St/Piʻilani St), a third-party 2026 visitor guide explicitly warns 'Public transit in Hilo is limited and won't get you where you need to be on a festival schedule,' so treat this as useful for hotel-to-airport legs, not the final stadium hop.
Book / infoFestival shuttle
Not a standing hotel amenity. Hawaiian Airlines, as a festival sponsor, has operated a complimentary shuttle specifically between select Hilo hotels and the stadium throughout the three competition days in past years (confirmed for the 2026 festival via the airline's own newsroom). Confirm current-year participation and hotel list closer to festival dates before relying on it, noted here rather than omitted since it's a real, officially-documented service, just seasonal and sponsor-run rather than a year-round transit option.
Book / infoTaxi & rideshare
National rideshare apps are not reliably available at ITO per multiple airport-guide sources; holoholo offers door-to-door ITO pickup with fixed fares, booked in advance or on demand, and is the practical alternative. The stadium is a comparable short hop.
Book / infoTaxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost Hawaii County's own Parks & Recreation facility directory describes the stadium as equipped with 'ample parking' as a standard site amenity. A third-party 2026 visitor guide warns to 'expect traffic' and allow extra time near the stadium on competition nights and along the Saturday parade route in downtown Hilo, since 'Hilo is a small town that suddenly has to handle thousands of extra visitors.'.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire at ITO
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
Search car hireCar hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the center of Hilo. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where do most people stay?
Nearly everyone stays in Hilo itself, because the week is a town-wide event and the stadium, the arts fair, the parade route and the daily hotel shows are all on that side of the island. Rooms fill quickly, so people who plan to come tend to book as soon as they commit to the dates. Some choose a hotel along the bay to be near the free midday entertainment, others a quiet lodge just outside town and drive in each evening. A few hotels are linked to the sponsor's shuttle to the stadium, which is worth asking about when you book. The options below list places to stay.
Where can I stay near Merrie Monarch Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Airport hotels 3
98 Apapane Road, Hilo, HI 96720
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates126 Banyan Way, Hilo, HI 96720
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check rates1875 Kalanianaole Street, Hilo, HI 96720
Typically $100-190 a night off-peak guide, higher on festival dates
Check ratesMore hotels nearby 4
Airbnb & private camping
Multiple third-party 2026 visitor guides independently confirm Hilo hotel rooms sell out months ahead of Merrie Monarch week and recommend fallback bases in Volcano Village (~30 min south), the Puna/Hamakua Coast (vacation rentals), or the Kona side (2+ hours west, day-trip only) once Hilo itself is booked out, a genuine, well-documented surge/scarcity pattern specific to this festival rather than typical seasonal pricing.
Search AirbnbHawaiʻi Island's Hipcamp listings run mostly around Volcano/Puna-district farms and off-grid land.
Search HipcampSearch all hotels near Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
What to bring
A week of free daytime events around Hilo and three evening competition nights at the stadium. The mood is casual and respectful, and the weather swings from sun at the parade to cooler evenings.
Accessibility & comfort
The organizer does not publish accessibility details. Ask them directly before you travel about step-free access, accessible toilets, seating and anything else you need.
Pricing
Price history and tiers
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Quick answers
When is Merrie Monarch Festival 2027?
Mar 28 to Apr 3, 2027
How much are Merrie Monarch Festival tickets?
$10 to $60 per person, from the official ticket page. Prices change, so confirm before you buy.
Where is Merrie Monarch Festival held?
Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium, Hilo, HI.