Hilo Lei Day Festival
The Hilo Lei Day Festival again shares culture, lore, and artistry of the lei this May 1, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at Kalākaua Park. The event is free and open to the public.
Kahu Moses Kahoʻokele Crabbe will conduct the opening ceremony.
Hawaiian music by Ben Kaili and Friends will fill the park throughout the day. Three hālau, Emery Aceret with Hālau Nā Pua ‘O Uluhaimālama, Iwalani Kalima with Hula Hālau O Kou Lima Nani ‘E, and The Hula Sisters, will share their hula and joy of our traditions.
Lei makers will demonstrate their artistry, and teach techniques for creating lei, the iconic emblem of the Hawaiian Islands. The public is invited to come and learn from the different lei makers.
Shade is provided, please bring your own mat, chairs, beverages, and snacks.
At 1:45 pm, participants are invited to join in group hula of Hilo, My Home Town and May Day is Lei Day, followed by 2:00 pm closing with the singing of Hawaiʻi Aloha. Lyrics can be found at LeiDay.org
The first community Lei Day festival in Hilo was held at Kalākaua Park in 1928. Some years later the festival fell by the wayside and different schools each held their own. In 2005 it began again based around a small art show about the culture of the lei, held at the Wailoa Art Center. After being held at different locations for a few years, it returned to Kalākaua Park in 2010
- Event Area: East Hawaiʻi
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