Hawaiian traditions inspire cultural education at the 98th Lei Day Celebration!

Showcasing Hawai‘i’s vibrant traditions to inspire future generations, the 98^th Lei Day Celebration this Friday will progress the legacy of lei-making amidst the time-honored displays of aloha. Mayor Rick Blangiardi, the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), the 97^th Lei Court, and the Royal Hawaiian Band welcome everyone to celebrate Native Hawaiian culture and all things lei at Queen Kapi‘olani Park on Friday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

This year’s Lei Day theme of Mai ka hoʻokuʻi a ka hālāwai (From zenith to horizon), 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 the second appearance of our newest 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:

9 a.m.	Royal Hawaiian Band
10 a.m.	97th Lei Court Ceremony
11 a.m.	Nā Wāhine o Ka Hula Mai Ka Puʻuwai
11:45 a.m.	Anthony Pfluke
12:35 p.m.	Kahiau Lam Ho
1:25 p.m.	Bobby Moderow
2:15 p.m.	Mark Yamanaka
3 p.m.	Mana Maoli Youth Collection
4 p.m.	Hālau Hula ʻO Hōkūlani

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:11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. a select group of elite lei makers in this one-of-a-

kind demonstration opportunity.

🌺 Lei Contest Exhibit: 12:30 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!

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

Make sure to bring your own water bottle, and get free water fill-ups courtesy of hydration stations from Kōkua Hawai‘i Foundation’s Plastic Free Program.

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 1^st, 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. 

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—

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Website: honolulu.gov/parks