Last week the week long Merri Monarch festival is held in Hilo. The Merri Monarch festival is a very famous hula festival. It is held once a year for one week. The major purpose of the festival is the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education. Friday night is the kahiko, or Men’s traditional hula competition. Saturday night is the Auana or Woman’s modern hula competition. The Kahiko is my favorite.

We wanted to see the hula competition live, so three years ago we went to Hilo to see it. I was very surprised. It was very difficult to see and hear live. It was a very good experience. It is much easier to see on television. Tonight I watched it on television.