As Hawaii Airlines left Honolulu on the last flight that you could get and still make the opening of Friday night’s kahiko competition, there was much Merrie Monarch talk. A lovely young woman was lamenting to her just-met seatmate that she longed for the Big Island country life of her childhood. He was saying this was his first MM; only after his daughters started to dance was his interest engaged.

The young lady looked at the window at the gloomy overcast of Honolulu. "Looks like a Hilo kind of day," she said. "Actually, a Merrie Monarch day," she amended. But when we landed in Hilo, the day was spectacular. So there!

At the stadium, many of the kahiko exhibition attendees choose to wear the green, kind of a chartreuse color of the year, which is the official T-shirt. Not an easy color to wear for many, but certainly works here.

Hair flowers were the most artistic and innovative that we’ve seen, both the homemade designs and those for sale at the entrance.

Dawn Pung reported on another day of craft fairs. The craftsmanship of instruments, hats and flowers should be subject of their own competition.

Dawn also shot the senior citzens dancing hula. Dawn herself studies hula. Many older ladies are taking it up or returning to it, some for cultural reasons, others for exercise/health. Whateva.