Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 39, Number 1, 1 Ianuali 2022 — No Tickets Available for 2022 Merrie Monarch Festival [ARTICLE]

No Tickets Available for 2022 Merrie Monarch Festival

V POKE NŪHOU V ^ N EWS BRIEFS *

Merrie Monarch Festival organizers have announced that there will be no tickets available to the general puhlie for the 2022 festival. Due to ongoing caution and adherence to strict COVID-19 safety protocols, organizers are able to weleome some audience members back to Hilo, however seating capacity at the Edith Kanaka'ole Multipurpose Stadium is limited. Priority will be given to participating hālau and their 'ohana, and to longstanding festival supporters and sponsors. In a Facebook post Merrie Monarch Festival President Luana Kawelu wrote, "We apologize that we are currently unahle to weleome back more of you to experience the Merrie Monarch Festival in person. However, we want to ensure a safe event for our community, kūpuna, participating hālau, staff and volunteers, as well as audience members. We look forward to the time when we ean gather more freely, but until then we will proceed with caution, all the while ensuring that we are able to maintain our mission of supporting and promoting hula and Hawaiian culture." The 2020 Merrie Monarch Festival was cancelled due to the pandemic. In 2021, the festival resumed, but was held in late June with no audience. The performance was recorded and then broadcast in early July. This year, the 2022 Merrie Monarch Festival is scheduled for April 17-23 and will be broadcast live.