May Day Is Lei Day in Hawai`i

May 1 is a holiday known as May Day in most of the world but in Hawaii that holiday is known as "Lei Day" and it is celebrated by wearing a lei and also by organizing lei-making contests, festivals, and concerts, and other celebrations throughout the Hawaiian Islands

The History of Lei Day
The idea of designating a special day to celebrate and recognize the custom of giving and receiving lei was first presented by poet and Honolulu Star Bulletin writer Don Blanding in 1927. He and columnist Grace Tower Warren decided the event should be on May 1st and they introduced the phrase "May Day is Lei Day". That phrase inspired Leonard and Ruth Hawk to write a song called "May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii" which is still played at every Lei Day celebration in Hawaii. Only a few people wore a lei at the first celebration on May 1, 1972, but since then it has grown into a huge event.

Lei Day Today
On May 1st, nearly everyone in Hawaii wears a flower lei, from children in school to executives at Hawaii's top corporations. "Lei Day" has been celebrated since 1927, and it is a huge celebration in Hawaii. Special events on Lei Day include crowning a Lei Day Queen, adult and children's lei making contests, lei exhibits and workshops, and concerts.

http://www.hawaiiforvisitors.com/events/lei-day.htm
First Lei Day




http://maistamps.typepad.com/.a/6a00e54ed6366088330133ed1e8d48970b-pi

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video of Lei Day at a middleschool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbxyjQpKE8M&NR=1

:D

My first one was ridiculously lop-sided. But it smelled good. ^_^

And this cutie was a prize-winner:



Notice the po`o (head) lei on Tutu... making that can't be easy!

I remember the smell as well. :-)

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has these memories, but when my girls were young their 4-H leader had the youngsters in her group make May Day baskets out of construction paper. She then put flowers from her garden in them and transported the kids to houses in the rural area where we lived, hanging the baskets on door knobs. When I was a kid, I recall flower-bedecked May poles. I like the May Day is Lei Day celebrations--much, much better than all those tanks and weapons rolling through the streets of Moscow!

Aloha and Happy May/Lei Day to all!


:)

And now, for the pa`u riders... no animal left unbedecked:


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Interesting stuff and great pix! Thanks for sharing... :applause:

:hi:

And this is my actual dog, who's also reading this as I type... ;) :hi:

Jack :loveya:

browser for a VERY adorable pic (didn't in my FireFox but the link works)!

And the horses; oh, how I love horses in regalia!

Mahalo! I LOVE Hawai'i!

When I was there last January I watched the local news coverage of the opening session of the state legislature. Most present were wearing leis, even those in otherwise ultra-conservative suits. I'm still disappointed Obama didn't wear one for his inauguration (maybe next time): at least he wore one on his arrival home in December.

That is a time to be proud of your heritage, and educate the rest of the country!

A small thing but very sad, and very telling....

Did you ever see the Inauguration name chant?

He Inoa No Barack Obama!!! chicken skin when I heard that!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hm1QqWfiaeE

malama pono... :hi:

I miss walking 2 houses down to the beach.

I miss the plumeria trees and making leis on our front steps.

Why did you transfer to AZ Dad???????????

on Oahu and even though we never got away from Waikiki, I absolutely loved it--the most physically beautiful and genuinely friendly people I've ever encountered (and we traveled quite a bit).

I'm planning my itinerary now, even as I peek into DU as I type. This time it's just me and my son (14yo). I'm looking even more forward to it than I did now; sharing such a wonderful place with my son. :bounce:

Can you take me????

We're saving for a trip to Hawaii...and a fridge. :-)

Make sure you go to Hanama Bay for snorkeling!