HILO — Even the Easter Bunny couldn't compete with the gods and goddesses of hula as the 46th Annual Merrie Monarch Festival kicked off yesterday with a free hoolaulea at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.

Hula enthusiasts — and those who know little or nothing about the art — got a taste of the coming week with songs, dance demonstrations and traditional Polynesian music.

The difference was, you didn't have to hand over one of those scarce tickets to get in the door. And while the performers came off the floor gleaming with sweat, this was no competition. Other free performances will take place around Hilo this week, including the Ho'ike on Wednesday night at the Edith Kanaka'ole Multipurpose Stadium.

Keiki performers got to strut their stuff in a lower-pressure environment.

Audience members in shorts and sneakers even got to gyrate alongside stunningly attired Tahitian dance partners to the thunderous applause of those watching.

"We have to leave before the competition, but at least we got to see some of the training," said Albert Sadoine, who was visiting Hilo for two weeks from China with his wife, Hong.

"It's very nice, very soothing, almost hypnotizing. The movements bring you a lot of peace,"Sadoine said.

It was a satisfying day for kumu hula Lori Lei Shirakawa, who heads Lori Lei's Hula Studio and Waiohinu Hula Studio in Naalehu, as well as halau in Hilo. Her keiki, clothed in colors of the sky with strings of kukui nuts and clinking cowry shells, performed "Kahuli Aku," a song about the shells, and "Pupu Hinuhinu," a lullaby about glittering shells on the shore.

"I think they got startled when the audience started clapping, but overall, they did very well," said Michelle Yadao, parent of performer Alyxia, 5, who has been doing hula for about a year.

"I think it's a really good experience for the kids," added Yadao, who planned to take her family to watch free performances on Wednesday.

The popular Hilo-based Tahitian group Merahi interpreted a story about Pele's early days, when she was chased from Tahiti by her older sister, Namakaokahai, an ocean goddess.

Namakaokahai and Pele had been quarreling, explained Kevin Curry, a musician and interpreter with the group. And where Pele created craters, Namakaokahai sent down deluges of water, smothering fire and bringing life. At last, on Maui, Namakaokahai vanquished Pele, who then attained her status as a goddess.

Also performing were Unukupukupu, with kumu hula Taupori Tangaro; Halau Na Pua O Uluhaimalama, with kumu hula Emery Aceret; Halau O Ka Ua Kani Lehua, with kumu hula Johnny Lum Ho; Halau O Ke Anuenue, with kumu hula Glenn Vasconcellos and Leo Nahenahe O Pohai Kealoha, with kumu hula Stan Kaina.