Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 4, 1 April 2017 — MERRIE MONARCH PREVIEW What's Your Favorite Merrie Monarch Tradition? [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MERRIE MONARCH PREVIEW What's Your Favorite Merrie Monarch Tradition?

Merrie Monarch is a week-long festival that offers mueh to love: a hula competition that brings together the best hāau in the world, an invitational Hawaiian arts fair, hula shows and a grand parade through Hilo town. Here are some favorite Menie Monarch traditions from our readers and staff at OHA. - Compiled by Office ofHawaiian Affairs Sīaff

"The plaee, the environment, the rain, the people. I especially love the fresh lei. Everyone walking around with lei po'o, lei 'āT...nobody asks, 'ls it your birthdayp' Everyone all decked out in fresh lei. I love it. I also love the pāpale lauhala that people seem to wear a bit more, and being able to interact with the people who make all of these beautiful adornments. And the food! Nori's. - Kēhaulani Enos

"I love watching the online live commentary on Facebook almost as mueh as the hula! The crowdsourced comedy about the fashion, personalities, traditions and surprises builds community among those watching from home and totally enriches the experience. Plus, that's where you ean get the best Memie Monarch drinking game ideas!"

- Kamaile Maldonado

"My favorite tradition is dancing on the Memie Monarch stage! I love that we're forced to create a space solely focused on and dedicated to hula. It's one of the few times that hula - the practice and the processes - are paramount and at the forefront of our community."

- U'ilani Tanigawa

"l've never been to Merrie Monarch; it would be a dream to watch it live. But I watch online with my kids. We love watching the different hula styles and listening to the chants and explanations about the story of eaeh hula." - Melvin Palmiano

"The Hawaiian plate in the stadium. You gotta time it just right so you don't go get food in the intermission when the lines are long, but also so you don't miss your fave hālau." - Louisa Opeiaia

Catchthe2017 Group Hula Kahiko on April 21 starting at 6 p.m. - Photo: KWO archive

"I enjoy visiting all the craft fairs around Hilo town and seeing all the beautiful handcrafted art, jewelry and original locally designed fashion! It's a great opportunity to talk story with, appreciate and support the creativity of our loeal artisans." - Aliee Silbanuz

"I don't always play at Memie Monarch, but usually my favorite thing to do is to make time during the Miss Aloha Hula night and the Auana night to sit in the musicians standby area and talk story with old friends and new friends while sharing old memories and making new ones. Although we have a lotoffun performing, it really ean be stressful. Talking story helps relieve some of stress and helps me to focus and prepare to make things beautiful from a musical standpoint for the dancers." - Kama Hopkins