May Day in Hawaii is celebrated as Lei Day, a unique cultural holiday dedicated to the giving, wearing, and honoring of lei, which are traditional Hawaiian garlands made of flowers, leaves, shells, or other materials. It is held annually on May 1st and is a significant occasion that celebrates Hawaiian culture, aloha spirit, and the beauty of lei
. The celebration includes various activities such as lei-making contests, hula performances, parades, and the selection of a May Day Royal Court representing the Hawaiian Islands. Each island has its own symbolic flower and color used in lei, for example:
- Maui: Pink Lokelani (Damask rose)
- Oahu: Yellow Ilima (royal lei)
- Big Island: Red Lehua blossom
- Kauai: Purple Mokihana berries
and others, each reflecting the island's unique identity
Lei Day was first celebrated in 1928, inspired by a 1927 article proposing a holiday centered around the Hawaiian custom of lei-making and wearing. It has since become a day to express aloha, friendship, and community spirit through the lei tradition
. Key customs include draping the lei gently around the neck (not throwing it), continuing to wear the lei in the presence of the giver, and understanding that refusing a lei is considered disrespectful
. In summary, May Day in Hawaii is a vibrant cultural festival known as Lei Day, celebrating Hawaiian heritage, community, and the aloha spirit through the symbolic lei
