While the rest of the country is celebrating May Day on May 1^st, Hawaiians are celebrating Lei Day. In fact, there is a popular phrase on the islands to remember this fact: “May Day is Lei Day.” Fresh flower lei play a huge role in Hawaiian culture, and May is the perfect time of year to give them to loved ones at weddings, graduations, and celebrations of all kinds.

The Origins of Lei Day

Writer Don Blanding first introduced the idea of Lei Day in a newspaper article originally published in the 1920s. He suggested Hawaiians establish a day to commemorate the various local customs surrounding lei. Writer Grace Tower Warren proposed that Lei Day be on May Day and came up with the rhyming slogan. Honolulu celebrated its first Lei Day in 1928. One year later, it was designated an annual holiday and has served to acknowledge a cornerstone of Hawaiian culture ever since. 

Receiving a lei from someone is both an honor and a gift, so it is considered rude to take it off in the giver’s presence. If someone tries to give you a fresh flower lei on May Day, do not refuse it.

Why not celebrate Lei Day this year by immersing yourself in Hawaiian culture at Waimea Valley in Haleiwa? On Saturday May 5^th Waimea Valley will hold a free event open to the public starting at 10 am. The day’s activities include a hula halua performance, a lei contest, and a cultural practitioner artisan craft fair. The Valley is also open from 9 am to 5pm. Come experience the breathtaking botanical garden full of native flora and fauna to authentic archaeological sites that provide a window into the past, Waimea Valley can teach everyone something about Hawaii. Visit their www.waimeavalley.net to learn more about their May Day Lei Day celebration, or call (808) 638-7766 to inquire about the upcoming events at this cultural site.