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Waikoloa Lei Day Festival
May 1, 2022 @ 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
The inaugural Waikoloa Lei Day Festival is on Sunday, May 1st from 9 am – 7 pm. The Waikoloa Lei Day Festival will celebrate the origin and art of lei-making in Hawaii. Festivities will take place at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, Kings’ Shops and Queens’ Marketplace. This free festival will include free lei-making workshops, a craft fair at the Marriott, sidewalk sales at Kings’ Shop and Queens’ Marketplace, keiki activities, live music, and hula performances.
Festivities at Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
9:00 am – 2:00 pm
In celebration of the Waikoloa Lei Day Festival, the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa will be hosting four Lei Making Workshops, a four category Lei Contest, and Craft Vendors on our intimate Aka‘ula Lanai.
Our two Lei Making workshops will focus on the history and technique of the Haku Lei, and the Wili Lei. These two workshops will be held in the morning from 10:00 am-11:00 am and will repeat in the afternoon from 1:00 pm-2:00 pm, allowing guests and public the opportunity to experience both.
The four Lei Contest categories will include Wili; Haku; People’s Choice; and Open. The contest will begin at 11:00 am on Sunday, May 1st with the winners announced at 12:00 pm. Each of the four category winners will receive a free night stay at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
Guests and the public are welcome to attend the workshops, vote for their favorite lei, or simply peruse our craft vendors that will be on display from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm.
Proceeds from the Waikoloa Beach Marriott’s workshop registrations, contest entries, and vendor fees, will benefit the Visitor Industry Charity Walk.
Festivities at Kings’ Shops
11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Kings’ Shops is celebrating Lei Day with free lei-making classes, including candy lei making for children. A hula show weaved in with a performance by Hawaiian musical trio featuring traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music rounds out the entertainment. Merchants will offer sidewalk sales and specials.
Festivities at Queens’ Marketplace
2:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Queens’ Marketplace is hosting free lei-making workshops from 2 – 5:30 on a first come, first served basis. Visitors can make a crown flower lei, maile style ti-leaf lei or plumeria lei. Keiki can learn to make plumeria leis and have their face painted with floral designs. A haku lei making demonstration will be hosted by members of Halau O Po’ohala. Merchants will spill out of their storefronts with a sidewalk sale. Radio station KWXX will broadcast live with a live performance by local musician Maka Gallinger. The festival ends with a hula performance by Halau O Po’ohala from 6 – 7 pm.