Where: The Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo

When: Easter week, every year; except that in 2008, the festival will be held April 1-5 due to a volleyball tournament that's expected to crowd Hilo's hotels and make use of its public facilities.

Why go there: This is the Olympics of hula, the place to see the best of both modern and traditional styles, both men's and women's groups. But the Merrie Monarch, which was founded 40 years ago with the aim of celebrating all of Hawaiian culture and also bringing attention to then-sleepy Hilo, is much more than the three-day hula competition. It's also a craft fair lover's mecca and a chance to enjoy seaside Hilo.

The schedule: The festival follows roughly the same schedule each year: It kicks off on the Sunday (today) with a ho'olaule'a at the Ah Fook-Chinen Civic Auditorium; a free ho'ike (hula exhibition) is Wednesday evening; craft fairs open Wednesday; Miss Aloha Hula night is Thursday; and the group competition is Friday and Saturday nights. This year, the second annual He Launa Aloha No Ka Mo'i Kalakaua will honor the king called the Merrie Monarch with a daylong music and hula event Saturday at King Kamehameha Park in Hilo.

The problem: The hula competition sells out every year, as do hotels and lodgings all the way up to Volcano.

What to do: Start your planning now. Mark Dec. 26 on your calendar; that's the day you send in your ticket request. (Go to www.merriemonarchfestival.org for a ticket request form.) Next week, call the hotel or bed and breakfast of your choice and ask about reservations; some places have request forms and fill rooms by lottery. Make your airline and car reservations. Then cross your fingers that you'll get a seat.

More information: Merrie Monarch Festival, 101 Aupuni St., Suite 1014-A1, Hilo, HI 96720; www.merriemonarchfestival.org. Or check out Wanda Adams' Merrie Monarch blogs at www.honoluluadvertiser.com, starting Tuesday.

Reach Wanda A. Adams at wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.