HILO, Hawaii: Its hula time on Hawaii Island….

The 2012 Merrie Monarch Festival has arrived in Hilo, kicking off with the traditional – and free – Ho’olaulea at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium.

A handful of well known local halau entertained the audience in this day long event. Here, Kumu Hula Emery Aceret’s Halu Na Pua O Uluhaimalama dances for the crowd.

Starting today, there will be daily entertainment at the Hawaii Naniloa Volcanoes Resort at noon, and the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel at 1 p.m.

The ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center gets into the spirit starting on Tuesday, when it begins holding various workshops and performances.

Art exhibits and craft fairs will also be held throughout the week, most noteably the Hawaiian Invitational Arts & Crafts Fair at the Hilo Civic, from 8:30 in the morning to 5 at night.

And coming up later in the week, the big hula events at the Edith Kanaka’ole Stadium begin, starting first with the free Ho’ike on Wednesday evening.

The competition nights – Miss Aloha Hula, Hula Kahiko, and Hula ‘Auana – will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, respectivley – and will be televised on K-5.

And dont forget the royal parade on Saturday… it begins at 10:30 am and will make its way through Downtown Hilo, providing a grand finale for the week long event.