City Parks and Recreation staff that are working on the Lei Day celebration and the 2012 Court. Picture by Bob Rock, City and County of Honolulu.
By Staff Reports
(Honolulu)– Mayor Peter Carlisle and Department of Parks and Recreation Director Gary Cabato announced details about the 85th annual Lei Day Celebration during a ceremony in the Mayors Office. The Lei Day festivities are planned for Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at the Queen Kapiolani Regional Park and Bandstand from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“I continue to be impressed on how important Lei Day is to us,” said Mayor Carlisle. “This wonderful event perpetuates the very essence of what makes our state and our island unique in the world.”
The theme for the 2012 Lei Day Celebration is Lei Ui Onaona (Sweet Lei of Youth). This free event features the coronation of Lei Queen Pômaikainokeakua Lenore Klein and her court, First Princess Kalai Sina Chow, Second Princess Christian Lei Ui Kaholokula, and Princesses Catelin Kawahinekoa Aiwohi, Lorene Yoshimi Gima, and Courtney Ellen Lynn Kuuleilani Lynch.
Entertainment and Hawaiian music, including a steel guitar concert, is offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lei exhibit, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., boasts some of the most exquisitely crafted lei in a variety of colors and methods. Kûlana Lei is new this year and includes a village of Hawaiian artisans sharing their talents and skills with exhibits and demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. While at Kûlana Lei, moopuna (grandchildren) may visit with Tûtû (grandmother) at Tûtûs Hale and hear stories, play Hawaiian games, learn a song, hula, lei making, and lauhala weaving.
The Mayor discusses the importance of Lei Day celebrations. Photo by Bob Rock, City and County of Honolulu.
EVENTS SCHEDULE
| 9:00-9:50 a.m. | Royal Hawaiian Band |
| 10:00-10:50 a.m. | Nâ Wahine O Ka Hula Mai Ka Puuwai |
| 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Investiture Ceremony for the 2012 Lei Queen & Court |
| 12:30 p.m. | Official Opening of the Lei Contest Exhibit |
| 12:45-1:30 p.m. | Kapena |
| 1:45-2:30 p.m. | Weldon Kekauoha |
| 2:45-3:30 p.m. | Manao Company |
| 3:45-4:30 p.m. | Hâlau Hula O Hôkûlani |
| 4:45-5:30 p.m. | Nesian N.I.N.E. |
| 5:30 p.m. | Announcements and Closing |
Although the lei lipine category is now closed, it is not too late to enter the Hawaiian lei or youth lei contests. The material selected for the theme lei, one of the categories of the Hawaiian lei contest, is pîkake and/or pakalana. The deadline to submit all Hawaiian lei and youth lei entries is May 1, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.
This celebration is presented by the Department of Parks and Recreation, and sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Company, Times Supermarkets, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.
For more information, please visit www.honoluluparks.com or call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 768-3041.