For the first time, the Merrie Monarch Festival will be charging admission for the Wednesday night Hōʻike to be held on April 20.
Hōʻike nights feature non-competitive exhibitions showcasing Hilo’s hometown favorite Hālau O Kekuhi, and international dance groups from New Zealand and Japan.
Organizers say the move to charge for tickets was prompted in part by health concerns related to COVID-19, as well as consideration for the long lines that event-goers usually encounter on Wednesday.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in person, cash only, at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium beginning Tuesday, March 15. There is a maximum of 10 tickets per person.
Update: Tickets sold out within a few hours Tuesday, Merrie Monarch announced.
