From a festival of Floralia, the Roman goddess of flowers, to neo-pagan celebrations, to a workersʻ holiday, May Day has been celebrated around the world. In Hawaiʻi, it is most famous as Lei Day. May Day also has been observed as a day of protest.
However it is commemorated, it usually marks new beginnings and growth. Perhaps you will find your own unique beginnings to observe or celebrate on this special day.
In news on our beloved ʻōhiʻa-lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), researchers have identified two, apparently new, fungi which are the cause of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death, and given them Hawaiian names. This is the first time that Hawaiian has been used in binomial nomenclature (“scientific names”).
According the University of Hawaiʻi News:
When a new organism is found, the discovering scientist holds the responsibility of giving it a name. Because these fungi appeared for the first time in Hawaiʻi and attacked the revered ʻōhiʻa lehua, Keith felt it was important to consult with Hawaiian cultural experts in naming the new species. “I wanted to select Hawaiian names to reflect what was happening to the ʻōhiʻa. I consulted with Kekuhi [Kealiʻikanakaʻoleohaililani, of the Edith KanakaʻoleFoundation] and she consulted with her researchers and provided a short list of suggestions.”
Through a collaborative process, Keith and her team settled on the new names for the two fungal species: Ceratocystis huliohia (changes the natural state of ʻōhiʻa), and Ceratocystis lukuohia (destroyer of ʻōhiʻa). This marks the first time Hawaiian names have been given to plant pathogens. “In the Hawaiʻi world view, the presence of the fungus is a product of more than just the physicality of the disease,” says Kealiʻikanakaʻoleohaililani. ”The names are necessary because the “thing” we need to confront and remove from our reality must have a name.”
Find more information at:
ʻŌhiʻa-killing Fungi Get Hawaiian Names
Listen to The Wave 92FM as you drive through Hilo, and then park in the spacious Moʻoheau parking lot.
From 11:00 to Noon each Tuesday, the Moʻoheau Bandstand fills with Hawaiian music and hula, and on Lei Day will feature Leinaʻala Lassiter.
Enjoy a stroll through Downtown Hilo, and plan your shopping and lunch as you head for Kalākaua Park (The festival opens at 9:00am).
Take note of the historic Palace Theater, which will be screening historic film clips of Hilo and lei making.
At the festival, enjoy Hawaiian music and hula – you can even try a little hula, yourself! Make a lei. Experience lomilomi – traditional Hawaiian massage. Learn about the Native plants of Hawaiʻi and how they are used as medicine. Shop for fine hand-crafted locally made gifts.
Enjoy a relaxing day at Hilo’s hidden gem of a festival this Lei Day – Tuesday, May 1.
Kalākaua Street will be closed from 3am to 5pm on Tuesday, May 1.
Aloha mai!
The Hilo Lei Day Festival is coordinating a rubber boot drive to kōkua Kauaʻi. If you have good condition rubber boots that you do not need (kids outgrew, left home, you no longer muck the cows, etc.), please bring them to the Hilo Lei Day Festival any time after 10 am Monday, April 30 during our set-up, or any time until 4:00 pm on Tuesday, May 1. Other useful items, and cash donations also are welcome.
Mahalo no!
Leilehua Yuen, coordinator
Donation intake:
10:00 am Mon. 30 April – 4:00 pm Tues. 1 May
Festival Info Booth
Needed:
** IMPORTANT MEDICAL INFO. From Dr. Evslin **
I am sure that all of you who have been working in the flooded areas have been thinking about this but please take the risk of infection from those heavily contaminated waters very seriously. I have treated contaminated wounds after our storms and and have had them myself. These wounds often contain multiple bacteria, may be hard to treat, and can be life threatening. General guidelines should include:
1. Avoidance: if you have a clean up project that involves wading through these waters and you can put it off to allow further receding of the water, consider putting it off.
2. If you have cuts or broken skin, do your best to avoid the waters and to avoid cleaning up the contaminated mud.
3. If you develop a cut while in contact with these waters, stop your activity and clean the wound as well as possible with soap and clean water. Betadine solutions have somewhat fallen out of favor but certainly can be considered in the initial cleaning of a potentially contaminated wound.
4. If you have a topical antibiotic such as Bactroban (mupirocin), you could consider applying it to the cut also as the risk of infection is high.
5. If you think your cut is getting infected, seek medical attention, particularly if it is painful and/or red or your have a fever. Infections from this type of contaminated wound can get worse quickly.
6. First aid for minor cuts looking a little infected can include topical antibiotics such as Bactroban (mupirocin). Can also soak for 10 minutes in dilute household bleach (about 1 tablespoon in a bucket of clean water or 1/2 teaspoon in a quart. BUT IF THE WOUND IS NOT GETTING BETTER OR IT IS GETTING WORSE, HAVE YOUR WOUND CHECKED BY MEDICAL PROVIDERS. Also note that a topical antibiotic can not cure a boil or an abscess or any infection under the skin as it can not get into these spaces.
6. If you get a cut in these waters, check your tetanus shot status.
7. All of you helping your neighbors are heroes but be safe!!!
Please view this information as information sharing, it should never replace prompt evaluation by a medical professional as needed.
As more guidelines come out from the Department of Health, I will post them.
Mahalo
Lee Evslin, MD
We just found a whole collection of videos in a hidden corner of YouTube! Oh, my!
This is the trailer which was created to promote our project to document the many traditional lei of Hawaiʻi.
Aloha kākou!
So, you have an educational activity you’d like to share at the Hilo Lei Day Festival? We are so thrilled that you would like to join us! There is no charge for individuals or groups who would like to share something that supports the mission of He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei and the Hilo Lei Day Festival. You do need to bring your own tent and materials, however.
Each demonstrator will be approved on a case-by-case basis. In addition to lei making, over the years we have had demonstrators share things such as palm frond basket weaving, kōnane, hula, hula implements, and lau hala weaving.
Environmental groups, such as Recycle Hawaiʻi also have participated and shared their manaʻo.
Following are our basic guidelines:
For more information, and for applications, e-mail us at info@LeiDay.org
You can also help to support the Hilo Lei Day Festival, and help to preserve and perpetuate the language of the lei, through your purchase of Hula ʻŌlelo Lei – A Lei Maker’s Glossary. Only 99 cents, because we want this valuable information to be as widely available as possible, but even tiny donations add up to big results!
So excited to be heading to TheWave@92FM for an interview about #TheHiloLeiDayFestival!
Mahalo nui loa to our sponsors and supporters!
#HiloCoffeeMill
#BasicallyBooks
#NotPoiDesigns
#OrchidIsleTraders
#LokahiLomilomi
#HawaiiTourismAuthority
#KukuluOla
Check us out on:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hiloleidayfestival/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/LeiDayInHilo
Welo – Ribbons or streamers attached to the lei to flutter for a decorative effect. Welo are often incorporated into the ties for lei po’o worn in pageantry, such as those worn by pā’ū riders in parades.
Like and follow our page for updates on classes, workshops, and events, and support us by purchasing “Hua ʻŌlelo Lei – A Lei Maker’s Dictionary.”
WEHI – Decoration, ornament. A corsage, boutonniere, or hair ornament. Older and less common usage today, a lei.
The Hilo Lei Day Festival is a great place to purchase wehi, or learn to make them!
Like and follow our page for updates on classes, workshops, and events, and support us by purchasing “Hua ʻŌlelo Lei – A Lei Maker’s Dictionary.”
