Big Island of Hawaii

The Merry Monarch Festival - Hilo

The "Hula" tells stories through dance, preserving the oral history of the islands.It was originally performed before a king to honor the gods, or to praise the chiefs, butthe early missionaries considered it obscene and banned the hula.

The "Merrie Monarch", King David Kalakaua, revived the ancient art of hula in the 1890's.Beginning gradually as a local competition, it has grown to a 3 Day "Merrie Monarch Festival" held in Hiloduring the Easter season every year.

The kahilo hula is the interpretation of an ancient song with somber chanting. The motions of the huladepict the meaning of the words. Handmade percussion instruments, feathered rattles, split bamboo sticks,gourd drums and stone clappers,are played by the dancers and musicians. The auwana is contemporary.The dancers are smiling and happy, and their costumes have a western paniolo influence. Original Hula | Merrie Monarch Festival
Tsunamis - Many sea level villages are in a tsunami evacuation zone. Tsunamis occur any time there is an earthquake anywhere, travelling about the same speed as a jet plane. The Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo is worth a trip. Pacific Tsunami Museum "'lliki ke kai i ka 'ope'ope la, lilo;i lilo no he hawawa."

Aloha Hawaii | Big Island Petroglyphs | Hilo Big Island | Molokai Coffees of Hawaii | Hawaii Weather | Virtually Hawaii | Hawaiian Birds and Birdwatching | Hawaii Unclaimed Property | Hawaii Camping Permits | Hawaii Public Library | Hawaiian Archaeology | Hawaiian Airlines: Special Offers | An Alaskan Adventure | Free Genealogy Research | Free Civil War Research | Free Online Resources & Catholic Book Store |

All Rights Reserved
© 1998-2011