Don't delay.

Yesterday was the first day to hele on to the post office with a money order or cashier's check to order your tickets for the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition April 8 to 10 in Hilo.

Ticket requests are only accepted as of yesterday and after and, since the Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium has a limited seating capacity, anyone who does not get their order in within a day or two of deadline is unlikely to score a set among the 5,000 available — of which about 3,000 are reserved for hula hälau, VIPs, judges and tour groups.

Ticket applications are available at the Web site www.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 Hälau 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 (you can get them at supermarket customer service desks) or cashier's checks (from banks).

The Merrie Monarch Festival is a weeklong celebration of all things cultural in Hilo dedicated to King David Kaläkaua. Phone number is 808-935-9168.