The Merrie Monarch Festival is a week-long cultural festival that takes place annually in Hilo, Hawaii. It honors King David Kalākaua, who was called the "Merrie Monarch" for his patronage of the arts and is credited with restoring many Hawaiian cultural traditions during his reign, including the hula. Many hālau hula (schools), including some from the U.S. mainland and some international performers, attend the festival each year to participate in exhibitions and competitions. The festival has received worldwide attention and is considered the most prestigious of all hula contests.
Read more about Merrie Monarch Festival: History, Festival Activities, Cultural Impact
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The Christmas Log to the firing;”
—Robert Herrick (1591–1674)
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By good angels tenanted,
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In the monarch Thought’s dominion,
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—Edgar Allan Poe (1809–1849)
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—Laurence Stallings (1894–1968)