The art of hula is celebrated every April at the Merrie Monarch Festival, the largest 3-day dance festival on the islands and named after the last monarch of Hawaii, King David Kalakaua. In addition to the hula competition, there's also a crafts fair, an art show, hula shows, and a grand parade through Hilo town.
The Pacific Aviation Museum stands on hallowed ground, in the area that signifies the thousands of lives lost at Pearl Harbor and the resulting demonstration of American strength and might that finally ended World War II. In fact, the museum on historic Ford Island occupies hangars from Wold War II and is ranked as the No. 8 aviation attraction in the nation.
The Manoa Valley Theatre specializes in producing Broadway and Off-Broadway plays and musicals, bringing many Hawaii premieres to the stage since its inception in 1969. The company was founded by a group of University of Hawaii graduate students, and in 1983 moved to its current 150-seat location.