Merrie Monarch would have been in full swing if this year had been a “normal” year, not the year of COVID-19.    Sadly, Executive Director Luana Kawelu made the decision–the right decision– to cancel the event because of COVID-19.  Merrie Monarch would have begun on Sunday April 12 with the ho’olaulea at Hilo Civic Auditorium.   Wednesday night…tonight…would have been the Ho’ike night at Edith Kanaka’ole Stadium.   It’s a free event,  a night of celebration, of seeing the music and dances from several cultures as well as first-rate hula.  Here’s a look back at one of the 2019 Ho’ike night’s performances — Awhina of Waikato, New Zealand as a way to look to 2021 as hopefully getting back to normal.