May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i

[opihikao]

From the lei contests, to the exchanging of lei, to the art of making various kind of lei, to the meaning of our own "May Day", wishing all of you a wonderful "Lei Day"!


In the old days, there were parades on May Day, all the schools had May Day programs, the smell of fresh flowers everywhere! Here is some footage from a parade in 1958:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT3xClnVzTc


The art of lei making in Hawai'i nei:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPe7PQzFccc


There is a terrific book, "Ka Lei - The Lei of Hawai'i" written by Aunty Marie McDonald. Known as the best book (at the time) for the history of the lei, and explanations of what each lei symbolically means.

MAY DAY IS LEI DAY IN HAWAI'I! ENJOY!

Composed in 1928, this song was one of our first hula at 3 years old (right after "Little Brown Gal", and "Manu O'o"...lol.):


"...May Day is Lei Day in Hawai`i
Garlands of flowers ev'rywhere,
All of the colors in the rainbow
Maidens with blossoms in their hair
Flowers that mean we should be happy,
Throwing aside a load of care,
Oh, May Day is Lei Day in Hawai`i
Lei Day is happy day out there."
~ Red Hawke, 1928


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrzgglMjnaQ


Going to go make one puakenikeni lei, and one plumeria lei for my Tutu and Papa today.

Aloha kakou!

JMO.

[Kapoho Joe]

Naturally the Kanakas do not recognize May Day as a celebration of the workers of this world. Too busy playing with flowers.

[opihikao]

WTH is your problem? [!]

Ignoring you heretofore.

As a Hawaiian, I am beginning to be less tolerant of your continued snark, and judgemental, useless posts.

From Shakespeare:

"Is this a dagger which I see before me,
The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee.
I have thee not, and yet I see thee still.
Art thou not, fatal vision, sensible
To feeling as to sight? or art thou but
A dagger of the mind, a false creation,
Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?"
--Macbeth from "Macbeth" (2.1.33)



JMFO.

ETA: typo, blinded by ignorance.

[Kapoho Joe]

As an American this whole TMT BS has caused me to lose my previous reverence and respect for you Kanakas. As long as you continue to divide these islands with your illegal occupation babble you should count on more snark and judgement in the future.

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

Thanks for posting the old footage of vintage Lei Day festivities opihikao.
May Day is one of my favorite events in Hawaii.

My suggestion to anyone who doesn't enjoy a beautiful floral holiday, please just wait a month and celebrate June Day is Loon Day, in your own fashion.

[opihikao]

Aloha kakahiaka, HOTPE. (Stopping to smell the flowers...lol)

Here is another old, old, video (Pre-WWII) about Lei Day in Hawai'i, and although the sound is pretty awful, the footage is good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ufj5gfu-8Hc

Looking forward to the celebration of "Loon Day". LMAO! Mahalo for the levity. Again. Enjoy the day, HOTPE.

JMO.

[Kenney]

Aloha again Opihikao! Maikahi here!
Our Pakalana is finally getting happy after being squished by the Mango tree during Izelle. It smells like (I think) heaven does. Can those tiny little flowers be made into Lei or do you just sprinkle them around the house?

[opihikao]

My pleasure, dakine. []

Kenny, you are SO blessed to have pakalana growing! And, yes, you can make one of the most prized lei with the flowers, although the little bunches placed around the house is indeed heavenly.

If you have enough to make a lei, just carefully take off the bottom green stem, and sew the blossoms from front to back. It's a BIG help to have a lei needle, which is quite long, and can handle more than a few blossoms at once.

The pakalana is as prized as pikake for the scent. The song "Lei Pakalana", was performed and recorded by the Kingston Trio in the 50's. Written by Samuel Omar, he expresses the overwhelming sweetness of the pakalana.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xoolzx_Uxgo

Later, during the formation of "hapa haole" songs, and groups who performed at Waikiki, the "Hawaii Calls" show helped make the Kalima Brothers & the Richard Kauhi Quartette famous with this song. Here is their rendition:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfJ2pB9cb-A


Hau'oli Lei Day, Kenny!

JMO.

[beepbeep]

I have wanted to learn lei making for decades! Wish I were smelling plumeria right now

Pam in CA
May is Lupus Awareness Month

[Kenney]

Mahalo Opihikao! I'll give it a try.

beepbeep, sending flower essence your way!