May Day is Lei Day in Waikiki!

Kapiolani Park, Honolulu, HI 96815
(bandstand and surrounding area)
May 1, 9am – 5:30pm

Adding uniquely Hawaiian fragrance to the traditional spring holiday, May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii.  And you’re invited to join the festivities at Kapiolani Park on the edge Waikiki.  The holiday is celebrated with a free Hawaii festival at the foot of Diamond Head and various other commemorations.  You can enjoy live Waikiki entertainment, tasty Hawaiian treats, artisan crafts, and of course… those sweet-smelling floral garlands called lei.

By the way… the giving and wearing of leis isn’t limited to the May 1st “Lei Day”. Almost every occasion can be appropriately commemorated with one of these traditional Hawaiian garlands – except for local graduations… those usually require dozens to possibly hundreds of leis per graduate! I’m not exaggerating. Leis are considered to be a very classy and uniquely Hawaiian gift/accessory, and they come in dozens of styles – some of which are incredibly elaborate and beautiful. Better still (in my opinion) you can now order them online, which saves the time and hassle of running around looking for just the right style: Shop for Leis (link opens a new window/tab).

A brief history of Hawaii's first exclusively Hawaiian holiday:

Designating a special day dedicated to the uniqueness of Hawaii culture was the brainchild of two local writers who conceptualized the holiday based on the popular tradition of making and wearing lei.  In 1928, the idea was proposed in the local newspaper and scheduled for May first (in conjunction with May Day).  The idea was so popularly received that in 1929, Lei Day was named an official Hawaii holiday!

Although not necessarily a major holiday (we don’t get the day off from work or school), it is still commemorated every year.  People give one another lei.  There’s the annual festival at Kapiolani Park.  And many elementary schools put-on some sort of program for the parents.

I remember my sixth grade class learning to make lei and then dancing (in corduroy shorts) to one of the BeeGees' recent hits.  Although that performance was no doubt a spectacle to behold, I’m going to recommend that you skip the elementary school programs and stick with the real festival in Waikiki…

The annual celebration at Kapiolani Park:

Naturally, the festival performers and participants vary from year to year, but activities in general will usually include something similar to the following:

• Royal Hawaiian Band performance.
• Hula performance.
• Inauguration ceremony for the Lei Queen and Court.
• Lei contest and exhibit.

• Various live local entertainers.
• Storytelling.
• Hawaiian games.
• Lei making, lauhala weaving, and hula lessons.
• Food vendors.
• Craft vendors.

Then on the next day, lei from the contest are draped at Mauna Ala and Lunalilo’s Tomb at Kawaiahao Church.  For this year’s exact schedule of events, go to the City and County of Honolulu event calendar and click on the May 1 link to Lei Day Celebration.

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