Merrie Monarch Festival 2023

Koili Point • April 1, 2023

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This world renowned 'Art of Hula' event is held each year in Hilo about 12 minutes away from Koili Point. This year it will be held from April 9th to the 15th.

The festival celebrates and honors King David Kalakaua who kept the hula and other cultural practices alive in the late 1800s. Many local customs and traditions had been suppressed by Christian missionaries since their arrival in about 1820 and it was the "Merrie Monarch" as he was appropriately named who revived them during his 20 years of reign.

This event rivals some of the best cultural events in the world and there is no other place to witness such talent other than in Hilo. I hope you get a chance to see it someday.

Hula is the Language of the Heart and therefore it is the Heartbeat of the Hawaiian People.

To leave you with a Hawaiian word of the Day: "Kalakaua" which in addition to being his name translates literally to the day [of] battle.

Aloha! Check availability for both houses at: https://www.airbnb.com/p/oceanfront-ac-pool

If there are topics you would like to know more about in future blogs, kindly let me know at koilipoint@gmail.com. Mahalo! Len

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