Click here for information on our Virtual Lei Competition.
While ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi is now being taught in primary grades and up, specialized lexicons are still disappearing. This project seeks to do for the lei what the Hula Preservation Society does for hula. For example, many people think “haku” is the term for all lei-like headwear: “lei poʻo,” “lei pāpale,” “wehi.” The true meanings of “haku” are a specific type of braided lei, and to fabricate or compose a lei or mele. Students learn and use correct terms in daily life, normalizing ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi in the community.
The program uses the lei as metaphor for Hawaiʻi. All parts of the ecosystem/society/culture must work together in harmony for the beauty of the lei to be expressed. One of the unique consequences of the program is it works to improve our economy through teaching backyard agriculture of lei-making plants.
The hōʻike, the Hilo Lei Day Festival, strives to honor to those lei which combine skill of craftsmanship with deep knowledge of the kaona and moʻolelo of the lei. To expand this part of our mission, we have added the Moʻolelo Virtual Lei Competition.
Cash Prizes and makana! A $100 cash prize will be awarded for each of the winning lei.
Entries may be submitted at Kalākaua Park on April 30 between noon and 6:00 pm. Winning lei will be announced after the Floral Court hula is complete.
All lei become property of the Hilo Lei Day Festival for the silent auction fundraiser to further the educational mission of He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei.
Lei will be documented through photography and the images and moʻolelo used in this website and other materials of He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei. The haku lei (lei maker) will receive no additional compensation.
Updates will be added to this page.
The Hilo Lei Day Festival Lei Competition accepts lei in the following categories:
- Lei shall be a minimum of 24″ long, not including the ties, and the length shall be appropriate to the style of lei.
- Lei using artificial materials (such as, but not limited to, dental floss, wire, string, ribbon, or yarn), artificially colored, or artificially treated materials will be disqualified.
- Lei using endangered and/or threatened species will be disqualified. Information on these species can be found at the State Department of Land and Natural Resources Forestry and Wildlife Division website.
- Lei using any part of the ʻōhiʻa-lehua will be disqualified.
Lei are judged with a possible 20 points, for a total of 100 points, in each of the following aspects. We have provided some questions to think about to get you started on your documentation.
Moʻolelo and Kaona – Tell the story of the lei. Why did you craft this lei? How did you learn it? Why did you choose these materials? What does this lei mean to you? You may e-mail the moʻolelo to info@LeiDay.org by 6:00 pm on 30 April, or you may bring palapala, written neatly or printed out.
Selection of Materials – From where did you harvest the materials? Why did you choose those materials? Did you grow them? How did you learn your harvesting techniques?
Craftsmanship – How well is the lei constructed? Are the materials tidy and well-placed? Were they handled without damaging the materials? Are the threads/wrappings/ribbons neatly tied?
Beauty / Esthetics – Are the materials in balance to each other? Do the colors harmonize nicely? Is the over-all effect pleasing to look at? Is the fragrance (if any) enjoyable?
Practicality – Can it be comfortably worn? Will it rest nicely on the head/hat/neck/shoulders?
We do not judge lei hulu or Niʻihau lei.