Photos: 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival kicks off

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Merahi performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Merahi performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. (Photos by HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald)

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Lori Lei’s Hula Studio and Wai‘ohinu Hula Studio perform at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Lori Lei’s Hula Studio and Wai‘ohinu Hula Studio perform at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Above: Lori Lei’s Hula Studio and Wai‘ohinu Hula Studio perform. Below, Hula Halau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa keiki perform.

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau O Kekuki Keiki kicks off the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival with their performance Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Hula Halau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa keiki perform Sunday during the 2019 Merrie Monarch Ho‘olaule‘a.

Hula Halau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa performs Sunday.

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Hula Halau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa performs Sunday during the 2019 Merrie Monarch Ho‘olaule‘a.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald A dancer with Halau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaulea at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaulea at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau E Hulali Mai I Ka La performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau E Hulali Mai I Ka La performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau E Hulali Mai I Ka La performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Halau E Hulali Mai I Ka La performs at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Halau E Hulali Mai I Ka La performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Na Lei Liko O ‘Ola‘a performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Na Lei Liko O ‘Ola‘a performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Na Lei Liko O ‘Ola‘a performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Above: Lori Lei’s Hula Studio and Wai‘ohinu Hula Studio perform. Below, Hula Halau Ke ‘Olu Makani O Mauna Loa keiki perform.

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Lori Lei’s Hula Studio and Wai‘ohinu Hula Studio perform at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Lori Lei’s Hula Studio and Wai‘ohinu Hula Studio perform at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

Merahi performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo. (Photos by HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald)

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Merahi performs at the 56th annual Merrie Monarch Festival Sunday during the Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium in Hilo.

The Merrie Monarch festival kicked off Sunday once again.