Overview

Lei Day is a beloved Hawaiʻi tradition celebrating the beauty and cultural significance of the Hawaiian lei. Each year on May 1, residents and visitors gather at Kapiʻolani Park in Waikīkī for a day of music, hula performances, lei-making demonstrations, and a famous lei contest featuring some of the most intricate lei in the islands.

The celebration highlights Hawaiian culture, craftsmanship, and the spirit of aloha, inviting everyone to experience the artistry and meaning behind one of Hawaiʻi’s most cherished traditions.

Those wishing to enter fresh flower lei for the contest must submit them between 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at the Lei Receiving Booth on the day of the celebration.

The public will have an opportunity to view the exhibit from 1 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., following the judging of the lei and the official opening of the exhibit by the Lei Court.

Smooth sounds of Hawaiian Steel Guitar performers in the Lei Exhibit area from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and lei-making (while flowers and supplies last) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Nate Serota, Honolulu Parks & Rec