Photos: Merrie Monarch Festival kicks off with Ho‘olaule‘a

Dancers captivated the crowd at Sunday’s Ho‘olaule‘a at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. (TIM WRIGHT/Special to the Tribune-Herald)

Dancers chant Sunday during the Merrie Monarch Festival Ho‘olaule‘a at Hilo’s Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. (TIM WRIGHT/Special to the Tribune-Herald)

Dancers impressed the crowd Sunday during the Merrie Monarch Festival Ho‘olaule‘a at Hilo’s Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. (TIM WRIGHT/Special to the Tribune-Herald)