May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, and the Hilo Lei Day Festival returns to Kalakaua Park for its 18th annual event.
The celebration, always on May 1, is free and open to the public. Ho‘opuka ceremony is at 9 a.m,, when oli and ho‘okupu will be made by Halau LeiManu, and the event officially opens with blessing at 10 a.m.
The festival ends at 2 p.m. with a group hula and singing.
The theme for this Lei Day Festival is “He Mo‘olelo ko ka Lei,” “a story of the lei.”
This theme was selected to help remember that each lei tells a story, perhaps of farewell, of return, or a job well-done, and always, the story is of love.
“He Mo‘olelo ko ka Lei” was co-founded in 2005 by Kupuna Winona “Aunty Nona” Beamer and Leilehua Yuen. It depicts the story of the lei from different perspectives, incorporating storytelling, Hawaiian astronomy, the huaka‘i of Hi‘iakaikapua‘ena‘ena, goddess of lei making, and many other aspects.
The Hilo Lei Day Festival is essentially a ho‘ike, an opportunity for traditional Hawaiian lei makers to show their artistry. All He Mo‘olelo ko ka Lei and Hilo Lei Day Festival activities are green programs, and most have zero, or close to zero, waste.