May Day is Lei Day across the Hawaiian Paeʻāina (hawaiionthecheap.com)

Lei Day is a uniquely Hawaiian celebration, honoring the tradition of making and wearing lei. The first Lei Day occurred in downtown Honolulu in 1927. Honolulu Star-Bulletin writer and poet, Don Blanding suggested the idea. In 1929, Lei Day became a state-wide celebration.

Always celebrated on May 1st, Lei Day is not a state holiday, so businesses are open as usual. The celebration is marked by making and wearing lei, parades, contests, music, and traditional hula. The largest Lei Day festival takes place in Honolulu at Kapiolani Park. Each of the neighbor islands also host celebrations.

About Hawaiian Lei

Lei is a Hawaiian word meaning garland or wreath. Lei are most often made of flowers. However, lei can be made from other types of natural and man-made materials, such as leaves, shells, feathers, beads, ribbon, paper, and money. Lei Po’o (haku lei) is a head lei or crown. A haku is formed with the flowers and/or greenery plaited or braided “face-out.”

In the Hawaiian language, an “s” is not added to make a word plural. So, you say one lei, two lei, three lei. Not two leis and three leis.

Lei are worn by men, women, and children. Often given as a symbol of affection or honor, lei are a traditional gesture for many Hawaiian occasions, including birthdays, graduation, weddings, anniversaries, retirement, contest winners, holidays and many other occasions. However, there does not need to be a reason or occasion. Anyone can wear a lei, anytime. You buy or make a lei to wear yourself.

Veteran lei makers maintain a lei garden and supplement their flowers with blossoms from the gardens of friends, florists, garden shops, and wholesale floral shops. It takes as much time (or more) to gather flowers as it does to make a lei. Many people also gather materials from the forest. However, be sure not to pick any endangered species. Know what you are picking and take only the amount you need.

How to give, receive, and wear lei

To give a lei, it is customary to place the lei around the neck of the recipient and then to kiss them on both cheeks.
You must always accept a lei when presented.
Don’t remove a lei from your neck in the presence of the person who gave it to you. If you must remove it (strong fragrance, allergy, or whatever reason), be discreet.
To wear a lei, drape the garland over your shoulders, with it hanging down equally in front and in back.

More info: Lei Make Methods.ai (honolulu.gov) and 7 of Hawaii’s Most Popular Lei and What Makes Them Unique – Hawaii Magazine

Big Island Lei Day events

Hilo Lei Day Festival is held at Kalākaua Park. The celebration is always on May 1st from 10am to 2pm and features live Hawaiian music, hula halau, lei making demonstrations, and more! No vendors or food trucks. The celebration is free and open to the public. Please bring your own chairs, mats, and snacks. Natural shade provided by Hilo’s wonderful, big old trees. Entry is on the Kalākaua Street side and the exit is on the Waiʻanuenue Avenue side of the restored 1930s hewn lava rock walkway. More info: KONAWEB’s Big Island Calendar of Events and May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi (leiday.org)

Maui Lei Day events

Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House in Wailuku hosts the largest Lei Day celebration on Maui.

Maui Arts and Cultural Center usually hosts an annual Lei Day concert featuring local musicians.

Kauai Lei Day events

Kauai Museum typically hosts annual May Day Lei Contest.

Oʻahu Lei Day events

Honolulu Parks & Rec Lei Day Themes

Each year, a particular theme and specific flower/plant are chosen that must be used in lei submitted the annual lei contest. Contest categories and rules are published in January each year. In addition, a Lei Court is chosen. Members of the Lei Court must be knowledgeable in the art of lei making, hula, and be able to convey the spirit of lei aloha with warmth and dignity. Listed below are themes for upcoming years:

2025 (97th Celebration). Theme: Hoʻokahi ka ʻilau like ʻana (1068). Translation: Wield the paddles together (work together). Theme material: hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus). Lei Court: Mākua (age 31 – 45).
2026 (98th Celebration). Theme: Mai ka hoʻokuʻi i ka hālāwai (2059). Translation: From zenith to horizon (invoking spirits form everywhere). Theme material: ʻuala or sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas). Age: Mākua oʻo (age 46 – 60).
2027 (99th Celebration). Theme: Pae mai la ka waʻa i ka ʻāina (2566). Translation: The canoe has come ashore (satisfied hunger, desire). Theme material: kou (Cordia subcordata). Age: Kūpuna (age 61+)

Lei Day in Honolulu

The City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation’s Annual Lei Day Celebration is held at the Kapi‘olani Park Bandstand on May 1st of each year, rain or shine, regardless of the day of the week.

May 1: The all-day event features a wide variety of island musical & hula performances, Hawaiian cultural protocol, the world renown Lei Contest, lei-making workshops, artisans and merchants all in a family friendly setting! The Lei Court ‘Ohana reign over the festivities, which begin with a performance from the fabled Royal Hawaiian Band (the only municipal band in the country). Then the court enters the parks bandstand, greeted with hula and giving of ho‘okupu (gifts), during the Lei Court Ceremony. Once the ceremony is complete, the court inspects and officially opens the Lei Contest for public viewing. The coveted Lei Contest Exhibit showcases some of the world’s most exquisite handcrafted lei in a variety of materials, colors, and styles. The public viewing of these lei lasts throughout the rest of the celebration. Mor info: 97th Lei Day Celebration! | Department of Parks and Recreation
May 2: Lei are taken to Mauna ‘Ala, the Royal Mausoleum. The public is invited to this ceremony, which begins at 9:00 a.m. As part of the ceremony, the public participates by draping lei on the crypts and tombs of Hawai‘i’s ali‘i.

More info: Lei Day (honolulu.gov)

Event calendar of free and cheap things to do

Listed below are all kinds of free and affordable events on our calendar for the next 30 days.

May Day is Lei Day across the Hawaiian Paeʻāina