Halau Scrambles For New Way To Merrie Monarch

HONOLULU -- Aloha Airlines' abrupt shutdown had passengers heading to the Merrie Monarch Festival on the Big Island scrambling to make new flight arrangements on Monday.

Shelsea Apana was at church Sunday morning when members of her halau started calling her to tell her about the closure. Halau Hula Olana was scheduled to fly Aloha to Hilo for the competition.

Apana had to find new reservations for almost 100 people.

"I packed up my things and went to my mom's house and got on the computer and just looked for flights. I called the reservations and waited on hold for 20 minutes, and they said, 'Oh sorry. You have to wait until tomorrow. It's just too large of a group,'" Apana said.

Hundreds of Merrie Monarch fans booked their flights months ago.

The festival starts Thursday and airs on KITV.