Category: Hawaiian Lei

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:

• Demonstrators shall wear aloha attire and lei, and are encouraged to participate in the group hula and singing, and encourage nearby visitors to do the same
• There is no fee for demonstration booths which do not sell a product or service.
• Demonstrator locations are determined by the organizers of the event.
• Demonstrators may begin setting up any time after noon on 30 April, but must provide their own security for the night. Demonstrators must provide their own tents, tables, chairs. There is no electrical power to any of the spaces.
• Demonstrators must be ready by 8:30 am on 1 May

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!

PAʻA – Firm, solid, not going to fall apart.

When we make a lei, we want it to be paʻa – the bindings or braiding made firmly so that the lei will not fall apart. When making a lei for hula (or anything else), it must be paʻa so that it does not fall apart or come off during the dance, or any other activity. We would not want to give someone a poorly made lei that will fall apart when it is worn.

We can apply that same lesson to our lives. We can craft our lives to be paʻa, so that whatever happens, we keep ourselves “together.” This can include things like doing regular maintenance on our cars (changing oil, keeping coolant topped off, making sure tires are properly inflated and have enough tread) so that when we need our cars, they are in good working order. It can include regular maintenance on our homes (keeping the roof clean and painted to prevent rust, keeping weeds off the foundation to prevent foundation damage, repairing any toilet or sink leaks to prevent rot). And it can include eating properly, exercising, and getting enough rest to keep our bodies in good condition.

Me ke aloha pumehana,
Kumu Leilehua