The 2nd annual Kauluwehi Lei Contest, a juried lei contest celebrating native species, Hawaiian culture and sustainable picking practices on Hawaii Island, will be held May 1, May Day, at the Wailoa Center in Hilo. ADVERTISING The 2nd annual Kauluwehi
The 2nd annual Kauluwehi Lei Contest, a juried lei contest celebrating native species, Hawaiian culture and sustainable picking practices on Hawaii Island, will be held May 1, May Day, at the Wailoa Center in Hilo.
The event is presented by the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Three Mountain Alliance and the Wailoa Center. The opening reception begins at 5 p.m. and winners will be announced at 6.
The contest and preceding lei workshops encourage lei makers and non-lei makers alike to explore the rich assemblage of extraordinary native plants and animals unique to Hawaii. The practice of lei making provides an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with the native ecosystems and build connections to our aina.
Kauluwehi 2015 will feature three main categories including Kahiko (traditional style lei), ‘Auana (contemporary lei), and Lei Hulu (feather lei). Lei entries may be dropped off at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife in Hilo, 19 E. Kawili St., on April 30 between 3 and 6 p.m.
Lei showed during the opening reception will be displayed through May 8. Everyone is invited to witness the craftsmanship and artistry that Hawaii Island’s lei makers have put forth in a display of intricate beauty and color that can be found nowhere else.
For information about the contest, workshops, rules and entry forms, visit dlnr.hawaii.gov.
