Ho‘omaika‘i to the winners of the 2025 Lei Contest!
By
Nathan Serota
City News, DPR News
137 lei submitted as part of the 97th Lei Day Celebration
Ho‘omaika‘i (congratulations) to Dale Mar T. Acoba for winning the Mayor’s Grand Prize with his lei kui made of hypericum and yarrow.
Mayor Rick Blangiardi and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are proud to announce the winners of the Lei Contest presented during the 97th Lei Day Celebration held at Kapi‘olani Park today, May 1, 2025!
Ho‘omaika‘i (congratulations) to Dale Mar T. Acoba for winning the Mayor’s Grand Prize with his lei kui made of hypericum and yarrow. He joined the winners in 14 other lei categories, receiving nearly $5,400 in prize money, in one of the most renowned and exquisite lei-making competitions.
Lei Lipine Contest Winners 2025Lei Lipine 1st Place – Keiko MotegiLei Lipine 2nd Place – Shoko YamasakiLei Lipine 3rd Place – Junko Kobayashi-UyetakeLei Pāpale Winners 2025Lei Pāpale 1st Place – Ayesha Yasmin LiquorishLei Pāpale 2nd Place – Glenah SouthichackLei Pāpale 3rd Place – Leilani Kana‘auao HugginsLei ‘Ā‘ī – ‘Ākala / Hinahina Winners 2025Lei ‘Ā‘ī – ‘Ākala / Hinahina 1st Place – Melvin Tracy (Moki) LabraLei ‘Ā‘ī – ‘Ākala / Hinahina 2nd Place – William W. CharLei ‘Ā‘ī – ‘Ākala / Hinahina 3rd Place – Megumi MatsuyamaLei Po‘omana‘o Hau Winners 2025Lei Po‘omana‘o Hau 1st Place – Joel G. KelleyLei Po‘omana‘o Hau 2nd Place – Melvin Tracy (Moki) LabraLei Po‘omana‘o Hau 3rd Place – Reginald J. Dela CruzLei ‘Ā‘ī – Uliuli ‘Ōma‘oma‘o Winners 2025Lei ‘Ā‘ī – Uliuli ‘Ōma‘oma‘o 1st Place – Melvin Tracy (Moki) LabraLei ‘Ā‘ī – Uliuli ‘Ōma‘oma‘o 2nd Place – Dirk Kalae CampbellLei ‘Ā‘ī – Uliuli ‘Ōma‘oma‘o 3rd Place – Joel G. KelleyLei ‘Ā‘ī Mixed Winners 2025Lei Lanakila Mua 2nd Place – Masashi NegamiLei ‘Ā‘ī Mixed 1st Place – Ayesha Yasmin LiquorishLei ‘Ā‘ī Mixed 2nd Place – Megumi MatsuyamaLei ‘Ā‘ī Mixed 3rd Place – Yuko SatoLei ‘Ā‘ī – Ke‘oke‘o / ‘Alani Winners 2025Lei ‘Ā‘ī – Ke‘oke‘o / ‘Alani 1st Place – Yuko SatoLei ‘Ā‘ī – Ke‘oke‘o / ‘Alani 2nd Place – Yukio Otani Lei ‘Ā‘ī – Ke‘oke‘o / ‘Alani 3rd Place – Timothy Kimokea W. BarrusLei ‘Ā‘ī Melemele / Poni Winners 2025Lei ‘Ā‘ī Melemele / Poni 1st Place – Joel G. KelleyLei ‘Ā‘ī Melemele / Poni 2nd Place – Kanoelani Yuko EllisLei ‘Ā‘ī Melemele / Poni 3rd Place – Alison Grace HigginsLei ‘Ā‘ī – ‘Ula‘ula / Palaunu Winners 2025Lei ‘Ā‘ī – ‘Ula‘ula / Palaunu 1st Place – Honey Lalaina ColemanLei ‘Ā‘ī – ‘Ula‘ula / Palaunu 2nd Place – Serena L. ForvillyLei ‘Ā‘ī – ‘Ula‘ula / Palaunu 3rd Place – Melvin Tracy (Moki) Labra Lei Lanakila Mua Winners 2025Lei Lanakila Mua 1st Place – Yuko SatoLei Lanakila Mua 3rd Place – Serena L. ForvillyYouth Class IV Winners 2025Youth Class IV 1st Place – Sanoe Kamalelakalani KelleyYouth Class IV 2nd Place – Maria Bella Di Lorenzo KimitchYouth Class IV 3rd Place – Lillian P.R. Kaleikini-ThompsonYouth Class III Winners 2025Youth Class III 1st Place – Morian Joan LiquorishYouth Class III 2nd Place – Brayden K.R. Kaleikini-ThompsonYouth Class III 3rd Place – Pasen Kailihi ShieldsYouth Class II Winners 2025Youth Class II 1st Place – Tikehau Alilea MorikawaYouth Class II 2nd Place – Eden ‘Orihau K.O.K. TeriirereYouth Class II 3rd Place – Samuel SmithYouth Class I Winners 2025Youth Class I 1st Place – Sparrow Charis GarzaYouth Class I 2nd Place – Nicolas K.T. TeriiereYouth Class I 3rd Place – Charlotte Ann Leilani Young
This year there were 137 entries total in various categories based on the lei-maker’s age, lei style, color, and materials. Mahalo to all of the talented lei-makers who entered the contest, especially the talented keiki participants!
The fresh lei from the Lei Contest will be taken to Mauna ‘Ala (The Royal Mausoleum) and Kawaiāha‘o Church tomorrow, May 2. During that time, the 2025 Lei Court and members of the public will place the lei on the graves and tombs of Hawai‘i’s ali‘i.
Mahalo to the thousands of participants, performers, and lei enthusiasts who enjoyed today’s Lei Day Celebration at Kapi‘olani Park!
If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.
—PAU—
Follow the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation online and on social media:
