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Lei Day 2022

The Inaugural Waikoloa Lei Day Festival

Lei-making is one of the oldest traditions in Polynesia, having come to Hawai`i along with the seafaring people who also brought canoe plants, tool-making knowledge, and deep-rooted cultural practices from other parts of the Pacific. But it wasn’t until 1928 that Lei Day became a tradition, proposed by a writer then working for the Honolulu Advertiser, Don Blanding.

Blanding, who later became known more widely as Hawai`i’s poet laureate, explained in his book Hula Moon: “Hawai`i observed all of the mainland holidays as well as those of a number of the immigrant nationalities in the Islands. But there was no day that was peculiarly and completely Hawai`i’s own. So, the bright idea that I presented was, ‘Why not have a Lei Day?’ Let everyone wear a lei and give a lei. Let it be a day of general rejoicing over the fact that one lived in a Paradise.”

The idea caught on and soon “May Day is Lei Day” was an annual celebration in the islands.

This year, the inaugural Waikoloa Lei Day Festival is on Sunday, May 1 from 9 am – 7 pm, celebrating the origin and art of lei-making in Hawai`i. Events 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.

(See schedule of events below.)

A GRACEFUL ACT

“Everything is meaningful in lei-making,” says Tani Waipa, a musician and cultural practitioner who will be leading lei-making sessions at Kings’ Shops as part of the Waikoloa Lei Day Festival. “In my classes, I share how to be mindful of every step, from what materials we use in the lei, to how to pick a flower with sensitivity, to keeping in mind that a lei is a gift of love, whether it’s for someone else or for yourself.”

“The first thing I do is take guests across the street where there’s a lovely stand of plumeria trees,” she says. “I share how to pick the flowers with care, gently, being mindful of not breaking a branch or over-picking a tree. You see every act has an impact on everything else in nature.”

Not only is the tree adversely affected if over-picked or damaged, according to Waipa’s way of teaching, but so is everything else that depends on that tree, including birds, insects and, of course, the next person who comes along looking for flowers. It is like over-fishing in the ocean. The entire cycle of life is affected.

“There are many styles and methods of lei-making throughout Polynesia,” she says. “My preferred method with plumeria is called ku‘i, which means ‘to pierce.’”

Other methods include hili (braiding a single material), often used when making ti leaf lei; haku (braiding multiple materials), a favored method for flower head lei; and hipu‘u (knoting), seen frequently in kukui leaf lei.

“One of the things visitors enjoy most about the lei-making classes is it makes them slow down, be more meditative, act with intent,” Waipa says. “Instead of running around the island seeing the sights, they are able to slo w down and be part of a true Hawaiian tradition. Those are the kinds of experiences that often make the best memories.”

Lei Day Festivities

SAVE THE DATE! Lei Day Festival, May 1 All day lei-making workshops, outdoor market, live music, and hula performances throughout Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Marriott Resort Waikoloa Beach | 9 am – 2 pm
The Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa will be hosting four lei-making workshops, a four category lei contest, and craft vendors on the Aka‘ula Lanai.

The 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 – 11 am and will repeat in the afternoon from 1 – 2 pm.

The four lei contest categories will include wili; haku; people’s choice; and open. The contest will begin at 9 am with the winners announced at noon. Each of the four category winners will receive a free night’s 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 the craft vendors that will be on display. 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 am – 2 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 – 7 pm
Queens’ Marketplace is hosting free lei-making workshops from 2 – 5:30 pm 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 lei 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. The festival ends with a hula performance by Halau O Po’ohala from 6 – 7 pm.

Resort Spotlight

After spending years at sea on commercial fishing and dive boats across the world, Sandra and Tim Heaton settled down on the Big Island of Hawai`i and started Gypsea Gelato in 2014. Their first store was in a tiny space in Kealakekua, and was so popular that growth soon followed. Today, they have three locations, with the most recent having opened in the Kings’ Shops in early 2022.

“We strive to use the best ingredients, sourced as close as possible to us on the Big Island,” they say. “We have close relationships with our farmers, whether that’s white pineapple for our sorbet, fresh mint for Mint Chip, or lemongrass and ginger for Tom Kha.

The menu features a delightful selection of hand-made gelato and sorbet using fresh, local, organic ingredients whenever possible. In addition to the staple flavors that are *almost* always available, there are daily rotating gelatos, sorbets, dairy-free, and reduced sugar options.

Among the most popular flavors are Makua Trail, an irresistible combination of a coffee and chocolate base with chocolate drizzle and macadamia nuts; Garden Mint Chip made with locally grown spearmint and peppermint; and Gypsea Mud Pie, with a coffee base, Oreos, brownie bits, and salted caramel.

Espresso and coffee drinks, pastries, and even milk shakes made from your favorite gelato flavors round out the offerings at this not-to-be-missed shop.

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