Lei Day is a statewide celebration in Hawaii. The celebration begins in the morning of May first every year and continues into the next day. Lei day was established as a holiday in 1929. Each Hawaiian island has a different type of lei for its people to wear in the celebration.

May 1, 2023 · Leis are seen during everyday life in Hawaii. Hula performers wear leis around their necks and heads, called lei po‘o, to represent the mo‘olelo (story) they're dancing to. It's custom to give...

The first Lei Day was held on May 1, 1928 and was a resounding success. It took place in the lobby of Bank of Hawaiʻi and the official judges that day were: Princess Abigail Wahiikaahuula Campbell, Elizabeth Lahilahi Webb (lady-in-waiting for Queen Liliʻuokalani) and Aliʻi Lucy Kalanikiʻekiʻe Davis.

May 1, celebrated around the world as a workers’ holiday, and in England and parts of Europe as a festival of spring, in the Hawaiian Islands has been known for some four generations as Lei Day.

May 1 marks the 96th Lei Day. Local lei makers across the islands share how they see the future of their craft. Lei Day was born in 1929 amid a painful time for the Hawaiian people. Following the...

Whether you’ve visited the Pacific’s crown gem or not, Lei Day is a chance to daydream about the islands and plan a trip (or a return!) to the islands’ beautiful green coastlines. Big events mark the festivities across the islands including, as always, food and live music!

The first Lei Day was in 1928 and celebrated at the Bank of Hawai‘i in downtown Honolulu. The Honolulu Star Bulletin stated that the throng of people “taxed the capacity of the building.” From keiki to kūpuna, kama‘āina to malihini - it was a day celebrated throughout the islands.

Mar 5, 2025 · Lei Day in Hawaii began with Don Blanding’s 1927 proposal to celebrate the lei tradition. The first celebration was on May 1, 1928, at the Bank of Hawaii. Leis symbolize love and respect, reflecting status and honor.

Mar 1, 2025 · Over time, more and more people began to wear lei on May 1, and thus began the tradition of “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‘i.” The first lei Queen, Miss Nina Bowman, was crowned by then Honolulu Mayor Charles Arnold in 1928.

May 1, celebrated around the world as a workers’ holiday, and in England and parts of Europe as a festival of spring, in the Hawaiian Islands has been known for some four generations as Lei Day.