Hawaii: A big salute to the king who saved hula and other island traditions

The legacy of a long-dead king will be celebrated with joyous song and dance as the Merrie Monarch Festival returns to Hilo on the Big Island.

The festival runs from Sunday to April 2, and most of the events are free.

Nearly lost, ancient cultural traditions -- such as chanting and hula -- that King David Kalakaua helped revive in the late 19th century will be performed during the fest.

Activities kick off with Sunday’s Hoolaulea, the Hawaiian word for celebration. Local hula schools, called “halau,” will demonstrate the centuries-old dance beginning at 9 a.m. at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, 323 Manono St.

During the week, there will be further free entertainment with performances at noon Mondays to Fridays at Hilo Naniloa Hotel and 1 p.m. at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel.

The festival also hosts the Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair March 30 to April 2. Local artists, crafters and entertainers will gather from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (4 p.m. on Saturday) at the Civic Auditorium.

It seems like the whole town turns out for the annual Merrie Monarch Royal Parade, to be held April 2. Beginning at 10:30 a.m., the colorful parade will wind through the streets of downtown Hilo. The newly crowned Miss Aloha Hula will be introduced to the community.

King David Kalakaua reigned from 1874 to 1891. Remembered as a passionate patron of the arts, the king revived many cultural traditions that missionaries had suppressed for decades.

The Merrie Monarch encouraged his fellow Hawaiians to take pride in ancient traditions such as chanting and hula. They served as ways to share stories and preserve history before Hawaiian became a written language in the early 19th century.

Info: Merrie Monarch Festival, (808) 935-9168