2016 Lei Queen Carol Ana Makana Lani Yamada, mother of famed female surfers Carissa and Cayla Moore. Photo: Dave Miyamoto, Dave Miyamoto & Co.
O‘ahu’s 90th Annual Lei Day Celebration will be held on Monday, May 1, at Kap‘iolani Park. The theme for the 2017 celebration is Lei Kula — the gold lei of the golden years.
Hawai‘i’s Lei Day has a very rich and colorful history, incorporating a variety of ethnic traditions.
The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is seeking applicants for the 89th Annual Lei Court Selection event, which will be held on March 4, 2017, at McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Regional Park. The event is free and open to the public.
Due to the overwhelming popularity of the city’s Lei Day and Lei Court selection events, the DPR has added a new age group to the three existing groups. The 2017 selection will accept applications from Nā Mākua ‘Ō‘ō (The Elders in Training) group.
Court applicants for 2017 must be between 46 and 60 years of age by Saturday, March 4, 2017. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 6, 2017.
Age groups will rotate each year to highlight a different phase of life.
The DPR staff will provide free lei-making workshops in preparation for Lei Day festivities and contests. The schedule will be available to the public by the end of December at www.honoluluparks.com.
LEI DAY CELEBRATION
Kaiulani Kauahi, Chairperson
808-768-3041 | rkauahi@honolulu.gov.
