Celebrating innovative interpretations of today’s lei makers, the Kaua‘i Museum once again invites the public to join in its annual Lei Day Competition either as participants or in viewing the creations at the Museum on Saturday, May 2, 2009. The Museum will open its doors for viewing of lei at 11am until 3pm. Hawaii’s Lei Day was first celebrated over 80 years ago on May 1, 1928 at the suggestion of Don Blanding, a well known literary figure. Since then it has become an annual celebration of spring and all things Hawaiian represented by the iconic lei. The Museum, in addition to the lei contest, has activities on the lawn beginning at 10:30am. There are lei demonstrations and lei for sale. For a small fee, try your hand at making your own lei in our Lei Making Tent. Enjoy ono food and free entertainment by Kauai’s finest.
Offering one of the largest Lei Contest’s in the state and certainly on the island, Kaua‘i Museum has encouraged lei makers over the years to refrain from taking wild plants from areas that are heavily used and, instead, cultivate lei materials. Rare and endangered plants including maile and mokihana are excluded from the contest. Only fresh materials are accepted and there are 8 different categories to complete in not including numerous other prestigious special awards. Contest categories include: Orange and/or Yellow; Blue and/or Purple; Pink and/or Red; White and/or Green; Mixed Colors; Plumeria; Ti leaf; and Hat. Multiple leis may be entered by a lei maker.
The Kauai Museum is located on the corner of Rice and Eiwa Streets with the entrance on Rice Street across from First Hawaiian Bank. It is free to view the lei during the day, but be aware the Museum Exhibits are closed so make plans for another day to visit the Museum. The Gift Shop is open and pick up lei needles and how-to books on lei making and growing native plants. This year’s contest is sponsored, in part, by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.
Lei Day Schedule of Events
| 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. |
receiving of lei on front lanai of Museum |
| 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. |
judging of lei and awards posted |
| 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | entertainment and food vendors |
| 11 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
leis available for viewing |
| 1:00 p.m. | awards ceremony for lei makers |
| 11 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
silent lei auction |
| 3:00 p.m. | silent lei auction closes and leis may be picked up |
| 3:30 p.m. | live auction of lei |
| 4:00 p.m. | museum closes |
For additional information
Lei maker flyer and application (PDF)
May Day flyer (PDF)
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