It's time to hele on the post office with a money order or cashier's check to order your tickets for the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition, set for April 8-10, 2010,in Hilo.

Ticket requests are ONLY accepted as of Dec. 26 and thereafter since the Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium has a limited seating capacity.

Anyone who does not get their orders in within a few days of deadline is unlikely to score a set among the 5,000 available seats (of which about 3,000 are reserved for hula halau, VIPs, judges and tour groups).

To print out a ticket application, go to the official web site merriemonarchfestival.org. Ticket prices range from as much as $30 per person for three nights to as little as $5 per person for Thursday's Miss Aloha Hula competition.

The event follows an almost sacred formula: A free international ho'ike (dance celebration) is offered Wednesday evening under the direction of Hilo-based Halau O Ke Kekuhi.

The subsequent evenings are opened with much pomp and circumstance, including a processional, chanting and prayer.

Thursday is Miss Aloha Hula night. Friday is ancient (kahiko) group competition.

Saturday is 'auana (modern) group competition and the overall prize will be presented.

Be aware that no checks, cash or credit card orders are accepted: only money orders are accepted (you can get them at supermarket customer service desk) or cashier's checks (from banks).

The Merrie Monarch Festival, which is a week-long celebration of all things cultural in Hilo dedicated to King David Kalakaua, is centered at 865 Piilani, Hilo, 96720.

The phone number is 808-935-9168.