Lei Court Selection Event (92nd Annual)

March 07, 2020:
Lei Court Selection Event (92nd Annual). The first Lei Day was in 1927 and celebrated in downtown Honolulu with a few people wearing lei.  From that it grew and more and more people began to wear lei on May 1.  We are told that the first celebration and exhibit of lei was at the Bank of Hawaii.  In 1928, the first lei queen was Nina Bowman.  Mayor Charles Arnold crowned Lei Queen Nina Bowman here in Honolulu.
Each year, the lei court is selected from one of the four rotating groups:

18-30 years             Nā Opio (The Youth)

31-45 years              Nā Mākua (The Adults)

46-60 years             Na Makua Oo (The Elders in Training)

61 and over              Na Kupuna (The Elders)

This year (2020) is the year of Na Makua.  One lei king or queen and up to two lei princes and/or princesses will be selected.

Each contestant vying for top honors will be scored on:

·  Kumuhana o ka lei (lei making skills – they have one hour to make a lei wili on site);

·  Kūlana Lei (poise and personality);

·  Olelo Pelekane and Olelo Hawaii (speaking in both English and Hawaiian); and,

· Hula Auana (modern hula).

The schedule for the day is as follows (times approximate and subject to change):

·  9:00 a.m., Opening/Welcome

·  9:30 a.m., Kumuhana o ka Lei (lei making)

·  10:45 a.m., Kulana Lei (poise, personality, speaking in English and Hawaiian)

·  Noon, break for lunch on your own

·  1:45 p.m., Hula Auana

·  3:30 p.m., Announcement of 2019 Lei Court.

This event is free and open to the public.  For more information about the 92nd Annual Lei Court Selection Event and the 93rd Annual Lei Day Celebration, you may visit www.honolulu.gov or call (808) 768-3041.