Events

Hawaiian traditions inspire cultural education at the 97th Lei Day Celebration!

Legacy event now offering “Meet the Masters” demonstration of elite lei-makers 

Showcasing Hawai‘i’s vibrant traditions to inspire future generations. The 97^th Lei Day Celebration will weave in new elements this year to progress the legacy of lei-making amidst the time-honored displays of this marquee event. Mayor Rick Blangiardi, the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and the Royal Hawaiian Band welcome everyone to celebrate Native Hawaiian culture and all things lei at the Kapi‘olani Park on Thursday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year’s Lei Day theme of Hoʻokahi ka ʻilau like ʻana (Wield the paddles together), invites everyone to enjoy this free, family-friendly event throughout the namesake park of Queen Kapiʻolani Napelakapuokakaʻe.

A wide variety of events showcasing the skill and artistry of some of Hawai‘i’s lei makers, cultural practitioners, and performers will be on full display. Including an exciting new educational opportunity called “Meet the Masters”, where a select group of elite master lei makers will offer their knowledge and wisdom in a lei making demonstration.

To help plan your Lei Day, here’s a schedule of the notable displays and performances:

Bandstand Schedule:

Other Event Highlights:

🌺 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Shows: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. between the Waikīkī Shell and Bandstand.

🌺 Kūlana Lei Village: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. a village of Hawaiian artisans sharing their talents

with exhibits, demonstrations, and lei sewing, including…

• Meet the Masters: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. at the edge of the village near the waʻa (canoe).

🌺 Lei Contest Exhibit: 1 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. a showcase of some of the world’s most exquisite lei

in a variety of materials, colors, and styles. Located in the open area near the Waikīkī Shell parking lot.

🌺 Local Craft, Lei, and Food Vendors: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. support your local businesses!

In addition to the new “Meet the Masters” opportunity, the Lei Contest will showcase new categories, with lei primarily featuring the following color combinations:

• Uliuli (blue)/‘Ōma‘oma‘o (green)
• ‘Ula‘ula (red)/Palaunu (brown)
• Melemele (yellow)/Poni (purple)
• Ke‘oke‘o (white)/ ‘Alani (orange)
• ‘Ākala (pink)/Hinahina (gray)

Those wishing to enter fresh flower lei for the contest must submit them between 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Lei Receiving Booth (by the Waikīkī Shell Box Office) on the day of the celebration. For more information about the contest and the entire celebration event please visit bit.ly/HonoluluLeiDay

Don’t forget, the Lei Day Celebration is not just a one-day event! The celebration is finalized the morning of May 2 during the closing ceremony at Mauna ‘Ala (at 9 a.m.) and Kawaiāha‘o Church (at 10:30 a.m.). At that time, flower lei from the Lei Contest are placed on the graves of Hawai‘i’s ali‘i (royalty) as a final display of mahalo and aloha. The Lei Court also provide hula and oli (prayer).

Support for this event is provided by Hawai‘i Tourism Authority through the Community Enrichment Program. Mahalo to additional sponsors of this year’s celebration, including: Hula Grill Waikīkī, Handcrafters and Artisans Alliance, Friends of Honolulu Parks and Recreation, and Salon 808.

The lei is known the world over as a symbol of aloha. Great care is taken into the gathering of the materials to make a lei before they are prepared and fashioned into a lei. As this is done, the mana (spirit) of the creator of the lei is sewn or woven into it. Therefore, when you give a lei, you are giving a part of yourself. Likewise, as you receive a lei you are receiving a part of its creator.

While lei have been crafted and given in Polynesian culture for thousands of years, the first Lei Day Celebration was celebrated on May 1, 1927 with a few people wearing lei in downtown Honolulu. Over time, more and more people began to wear lei on May 1st, and thus began the tradition of “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‘i.” The first lei Queen, Miss Nina Bowman, was crowned by then Honolulu Mayor Charles Arnold in 1928.

For more information, visit the celebrations dedicated website at: bit.ly/HonoluluLeiDay