Come celebrate May Day from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday at the Volcano Art Center Gallery porch, featuring hands-on lei-making demonstrations with master lei makers Randy Lee, Kaipo AhChong and Jelena Clay.
May Day honors the unique way that Hawaii’s multicultural traditions are woven together to create a more interesting, more tolerant and more beautiful community. With hundreds of fragrant blossoms and plant materials provided by the VAC Gallery, learn tips for sewing the perfect lei, the proper protocol of giving and receiving a lei and more.
There also will be live music by Volcano resident Wes Awana and friends and impromptu hula dancing by Noe Noe Kekaualua. Awana is a popular area musician and ‘ukulele teacher, and will share his love of Hawaiian music.
One of Hawaii’s finest hula dancers, Kekaualua was born and raised in Hilo and has a love and passion for Hawaiian culture that has taken her around the world. She began studying the art of hula at age 4 and has been engaged in this art ever since.
Lee uses a variety of natural materials to fashion gorgeous lei from the freshest fern, leaves and flowers that he gathers from the rain forests of Pana‘ewa. Tropical agriculture farmer AhChong also will share his expert lei-making skills. As a member of Halau Na Kamalei, his unique experience marries the science of agriculture with Hawaiian lei and hula traditions. Hawaii Island artist Clay shares her aloha for Hawaiian culture and arts, and her extensive knowledge of lei-making styles.
This free event at the VAC Gallery in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is supported in part by a grant from the Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaii County and individual funding from members of the Volcano Art Center’s ‘ohana. National park entrance fees may apply.
For more information, visit www.volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.