Merrie Monarch Week is officially over on the Big Island now, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Wow, what an incredible week.

It’s tiring to attend all three nights of the annual Merrie Monarch hula competition, truthfully. We were there from about 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Thursday night, again from about 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, and 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday. It’s a lot of hours on a hard bench in pretty cramped quarters.

And yes, in some ways you get better views and hear more commentary when you watch the Merrie Monarch on KITV.

However. It is amazing to make the effort and attend in person. And it’s even cheap — did you know that tickets for all three nights only costs $15 (general admission) or $20 (reserved seating)?

Here’s some of what I liked this year about attending in person:

Experiencing all that energy up close. It fills the air and it’s absolutely thrilling.

Getting a close look at a hula baby who was making its first appearance at Merrie Monarch, and knowing that baby will probably be back someday as a dancer. This baby, dressed in a shirt that matched the dancers, was so new and he just could not keep his eyes open.

Appreciating Aunty Dottie Thompson and Uncle George Na‘ope, who started the Merrie Monarch Festival 46 years ago, and enjoying how Uncle George dresses. A lot.

Watching, up close, as emcee Kimo Kahoano called all former Miss Aloha Hulas in the house to come up on the stage (a Merrie Monarch first; there were 18) and enjoying seeing them interact and dance together. Even during the commercials.

Having a bird’s-eye view of the woman (white sweater, in foreground) who tallied the scores after each halau’s scores were walked over to her. Also, noting that the KOA security guys formed a tight, brawny line in front of her at the end, when she was tallying the final scores, so no one could peek.

And did I mention the hula and chanting and enormous respect for cultural ancestry, tradition and lineage, as well as all that dedication, perserverance, hard work, beauty, strength and power?

It was absolutely, hand-over-heart-in-appreciation, great. Mahalo a nui, e na halau!