How to Watch the 62nd Annual Merrie Monarch Festival
Tune into Hawaiʻi’s premier hula competition this week.
Referred to as the Olympics of hula, the Merrie Monarch Festival is one of the biggest events in Hawaiʻi. The 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival kicks off this week in Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island, which features three consecutive days of competition: The Miss Aloha Hula competition on April 24, the kahiko division on April 25 and the ʻauana division on April 26.
READ MORE: What is the Merrie Monarch Festival? A Primer
But the Merrie Monarch Festival is more than a competition; it’s also a celebration of Hawaiian culture and art. Additional events take place throughout the week, like the popular Merrie Monarch Invitational Hawaiian Arts Fair and hōʻike performances. The week concludes with the annual royal parade through Hilo, a beloved tradition honoring the heritage of the town, the Islands’ vibrant culture and the art of hula.
Of course, you’ll want to see the events live. The 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival runs from April 20-26, 2025, with competitions held at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multipurpose Stadium. If you can’t get tickets, here’s how to watch the competitions live.
Where to Watch the 2025 Merrie Monarch Festival Live
The festival is conveniently streaming the competitions directly on its website, with versions in English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). Hawaii News Now is also streaming the competitions live on its website.
You can also tune in to K5 on channel 1006/06 with Spectrum and Hawaiian Telecom channel 1006/06.
Broadcasting Schedule
You don’t want to miss your favorite event or competition, so here is the broadcasting schedule for the Merrie Monarch Festival in 2025.
- Miss Aloha Hula Competition: Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m., HST
- Hula Kahiko Competition: Friday, April 25, 6 p.m., HST
- Hula ʻAuana Competition: Saturday, April 26, 6 p.m., HST
For more information about the the Merrie Monarch Festival, visit merriemonarch.com.
