Hawaii
A look inside Hawaii's Merrie Monarch Festival, an energetic celebration of native art, dance, and music
- Merrie Monarch is an annual festival in Hilo, Hawaii.
- It celebrates Hawaiian traditions with craft fairs, parades, and hula competitions.
- This article is part of “Community in Focus,” a series highlighting Asian and Pacific Islander events.
As the sun set over the misty town of Hilo, Hawaii, on April 6, about 4,000 people stood up from their seats in the Edith Kanakaʻole stadium and joined hands.
They swayed in unison, their voices reverberating off the bleachers and walls to the tune of “Hawaii Aloha,” a song locals often sing to mark the end of a cultural celebration. This time, they were saying goodbye to Merrie Monarch, an annual weeklong festival for honoring native Hawaiian traditions such as hula and craft making.
When I was growing up in Hilo, attending Merrie Monarch was the highlight of my year. My grandmother would take me to hotels around Hilo, where my uncles would perform Hawaiian music and children would dance the hula, big smiles plastered on their faces. The hotels buzzed with excitement as artisans showcased their crafts, and the scent of traditional Hawaiian delicacies filled the air. At the Merrie Monarch Royal Parade, I was enchanted as horseback riders floated by wearing colorful leis and long pāʻū skirts.
The festival, which started on March 31 this year, is marked by a mass migration of Hawaiians to Hilo on the state’s Big Island, also called Hawaii.
These Hawaiians — largely hula dancers who have dedicated their lives to mastering the ancestral dance — overtake the small town of Hilo, bringing with them custom-made hula garments, intricate handmade goods, delectable eats, and goosebump-inducing song and dance.
“It truly is the finest time in Hawaii,” Dillon Ancheta, a Hawaiian-born journalist who has covered Merrie Monarch celebrations for the past five years, told Business Insider. “It feels like the entire state gets excited for Merrie Monarch, and the absolute best of our culture is on display.”
Take a look inside this year’s Merrie Monarch Festival.
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Hawaii
UCLA vs. Hawaii: Live updates, start time, how to watch and betting odds
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From NCAA Division III to the Big Ten: The unlikely rise of UCLA’s Luke Schuermann
UCLA defensive lineman Luke Schuermann takes part in a drill earlier this month during fall training camp.
(Isabella Serafini / UCLA Athletics)
Luke Schuermann often gets “the look” whenever he mentions his last football stop. It can be a quizzical expression or a blank stare based on the level of knowledge of the words just spoken.
Johns Hopkins? Wait, give me a second. Oh, you mean the school known for producing renowned journalists, doctors and scientists?
That’s right. That one. Among its most famous alumni are CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer, former President Woodrow Wilson and film director Wes Craven.
Something the Baltimore-based private research institution is not known for is its football program. Its first team, in 1882, had to play as the Clifton Athletic Club because of the school’s contempt for the emerging sport. For its first 13 seasons, students served as coaches.
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Hawaii
Kusch chosen to succeed Rep. Nakashima – West Hawaii Today
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HONOLULU — Gov. Josh Green on Friday announced the appointment of Matthias Kusch to fill the House District seat left vacant by the death of Rep. Mark Nakashima, who was unopposed in the recent primary election.
Kusch was among three candidates sent to the governor by the state Democratic Party, in accordance with state law. The other two were former state lawmaker Dwight Takamine and Kristen Alice Apruzzese, director of community relations for Hope Services.
Kusch is a retired Hawaii Fire Department Battalion Chief, a coffee and citrus farmer, affordable housing advocate, president of Hilo Bayfront Trails, Windward Planning Commission member and maintains a variety of other business and volunteer ventures.
In a press release, Green extended “a special appreciation” to Takamine for his “extensive history of service and his willingness to serve once more. We are considering asking him to serve in a different and perhaps more fitting role.”
After interviewing all three candidates, the governor selected Kusch given his experience as a firefighter and the state’s need to have someone with that experience and voice in the Legislature, according to the press release.
Kusch will represent House District 1 (Hamakua and a portion of Hilo, Kaumana).
“I am grateful to Governor Green for appointing me to this seat and will do my utmost to uphold the values and deep respect that the late Rep. Nakashima brought to our district,” Kusch said in the release. “As a former PTA and SCC president of EB deSilva Elementary School in Hilo, our team worked closely with Rep. Nakashima and Sen. (Lorraine) Inouye in their successful effort to secure nearly $3 million for classroom and related improvements and design.
“I have served my community during my career, and this is the next step to continue that service, on a larger canvas.”
Hawaii
PODCAST: The story behind Hawaii’s beloved morning reporter Casey Lund
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HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Hawaii News Now’s very own Casey Lund joins Guy Hagi on this week’s episode of “Upfront with Guy Hagi.”
The Idaho native explains his journey to Hawaii and how he handled adapting to the Hawaiian culture.
Plus, we find out the real reason why Casey didn’t fly with the Blue Angels and why Guy had to take his place.
Also included: a never-before-seen skit that Casey and Steve Uyehara made for the Blue Angels episode.
Each episode of “Upfront with Guy Hagi” features a local celebrity or personality joining Guy for a drive in the HNN weather vehicle.
Listen to the fourth episode below, watch the video podcast or get the episode wherever you get your podcasts.
You can also watch “Upfront with Guy Hagi” on YouTube by clicking here.
Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.
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