Lei Day in Hawaii: May 1 Celebrations + Where to Watch (2026)

"May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi" — the song was written by Don Blanding and Leonard Hawk in 1928, and the holiday has been state-recognized ever since. Every May 1, Hawaiʻi puts down its work and celebrates the lei: the garland that carries aloha from the hands that made it to the neck of whoever receives it. ## What is Lei Day? Lei Day is **a statewide cultural celebration** held every **May 1**. The day blends: - **Lei-making contests** (categories by flower type, technique, and island) - **Hula performances** by hālau (hula schools) at every age level - **Hawaiian music** — slack-key, falsetto, ʻukulele - **Royal court ceremonies** with selected Lei Day queens and princesses from each island - **Storytelling and chant** in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) It is not a federal holiday — schools and most businesses are open. But the cultural significance for Native Hawaiians and locals runs deep. ## Where to celebrate Lei Day 2026 ### Oʻahu — Kapiʻolani Park (the big one) The flagship event is at **Kapiʻolani Bandstand** in Waikīkī. Runs roughly 9 AM to 5 PM. Free. Includes the official Lei Day queen and court, lei contest exhibit (over 100 entries judged across categories), continuous hula and music, food vendors. Get there before 10 AM for parking. ### Maui — Maui Mall + Bailey House Museum Smaller-scale but no less authentic. The lei contest at the Bailey House Museum in Wailuku draws entries from across the island, and the bandstand at Maui Mall hosts performances throughout the day. ### Hawaiʻi Island — Hilo and Kona Both sides of the Big Island host events. **Hilo** typically holds its Lei Day at the Edith Kanakaʻole Tennis Stadium with strong Hawaiian-language presence. **Kona** programs run at Hulihe'e Palace lawn. ### Kauaʻi — Kauaʻi Museum Lei contest exhibit + cultural demonstrations + keiki (children's) hula. Free admission to the museum on Lei Day itself. ### Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi Smaller community gatherings — usually at the local community center or library. Check community calendars locally. ## How to give a lei (and not embarrass yourself) A few rules of thumb if you're new to lei etiquette: 1. **Always give with two hands**, head slightly bowed. It's a gesture of respect — the same posture you'd use receiving something sacred. 2. **Lift the lei over the head** of the receiver, then drape gently. Never "throw" or place around the neck from behind. 3. **A kiss on the cheek** is the traditional accompaniment. Optional for strangers; expected for ʻohana. 4. **Never refuse a lei** unless you have a serious allergy. Even then, accept it graciously and remove it later out of sight. 5. **Pregnant women** traditionally wear open-ended (kupeʻe) lei rather than closed-loop ones. ## Common lei flowers (and their meanings) | Lei | Flower / material | Symbol | |---|---|---| | Plumeria | Tropical, fragrant five-petal | Easy aloha; everyday | | Pīkake | Jasmine, small white | Royalty, beauty (favorite of Princess Kaʻiulani) | | Maile | Glossy vine, no flower | Honor, respect (graduations, weddings) | | Lehua | Red puff of the ʻōhiʻa tree | Hawaiʻi Island, sacred to Pele | | Ilima | Yellow-orange, paper-thin | Oʻahu, royalty | | Kukui | White flower of candlenut tree | Molokaʻi | | Hala | Red-orange fruit segments | Sacred but ambivalent — "passing of an era" | ## A note on respectful participation If you're visiting on Lei Day, you are welcome. Sit and watch. Bring your camera, but ask before photographing kūpuna (elders) or hālau in ceremonial garb. Don't buy a $5 plumeria lei from the airport and call it Lei Day — make one if you can, or buy one directly from a maker at the event. ## Browse Lei Day events on AlohaCalendar - **[All Hawaii events this May →](/events?month=5)** - **[Free events this weekend →](/free)** - **[Cultural events on Oʻahu →](/island/oahu)** - **[Memorial Day in Hawaii (May 26) →](/blog/memorial-day-hawaii-2026)** > Mai poina i ke aloha — Do not forget the love. A lei is the easiest physical reminder of that.