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Have You Been Lei'd Today?

May 1st of each year is "May Day" in Hawaii. The first May day was held on May 01, 1928 to commemorate a celebration of the making and giving of the lei (flower necklace).

A piece of Hawaii Information and Hawaii History: A poet/writer Don Blanding wrote in a local paper of his suggestion to commemorate the celebration of making and giving lei's. He also is credited with throwing the lei overboard the ship....if it returned ...so would you. Fellow Writer Grace Tower Warren came up with the idea of a May first celebration for this very suggestion. She is also credited with coming up with the slogan "May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii".

What a wonderful way to celebrate the Spirit of Aloha!

The following show I found on YouTube and I was so surprised to see a lei stand I know well! The two women shown stringing leis are mother and daughter and the stand is located on the corner of Maunakea and Pauahi Streets. Wonderful styles and prices!

Art of Lei. Tribute to Hawaiian Lei - Lei Day Honolulu

I couldn't find the song on video ...but here are the words to the song....

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii.

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii
Garlands of flowers everywhere
All of the colors in the rainbow
Maidens with blossoms in their hair

Flowers that mean we should be happy
Throwing aside a load of care
Oh, May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii
May Day is happy days out there

Have you been lei'd today?

Happy May Day!

Posted by Celeste "SALLY" Cheeseman HAWAII Relocations & Real Estate on 05/01/2008 11:29 AM

Comments (33)

hawaii information, aloha spirit, hawaii culture, hawaii history, hawaii

Originally posted at: Hawaii Real Estate, Hawaii Home Buying, Honolulu Housing Market, Hawaii Home Selling, Hawaii Relocations, Hawaii Military Relocations, Mililani Real Estate, Hawaii Homes Market: Have You Been Lei'd Today?

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33 Comments on Have You Been Lei'd Today?

MAY

2008

Beautiful Sally. I love flowers and to be so beautifully presented in the lei is truly an art. Thank you

Happy Lei Day, Sally! You've given me a new memory link for May 1st. It was nice to hear the music in the video - my bit of your island and you for the day. Thank you.

Sally,

I knew it was an art!!! :^) Thanks, Fran

Sally - I would love to be Lei'd today.. (ahem, that is when I step on Hawaiian soil, of course)... I need another trip to the islands! *love the title*

Kathy: It sure is.....what other place to celebrate the lei but Hawaii :)

You're welcome Sharon...I know you just love Hawaii and all the diversity and culture that comes with it. Enjoy!

Fran: And you just looooove that saying....it was for you ya know :)

Thanks Candace!

Sally, I'm sorry. I've been so remiss. I just can't gather the motivation to visit your blog. You've got these stunning Hawaii photos, the rich, local culture, the intrique of your area's history.

Here in New Jersey I am mired in the winter residue of a gray steel sky. It appears that you are the source of my seasonal depression. (Gotta go. A tanning bed just opened up!)

LOL - Andrew!!

Beautiful flowers. Reminds me of the Virgin Islands. Thank you for the flower. What a way to brighten someone's day.

I forgot all about May Day! Happy May Day, Sally! :)

Sally, I never would have remembered but we did this years ago in Elementary school for our mothers--We had a Lei-day and they all came to the school and we were given leis to put on them...and a song and dance. It's funny now, then it was nerve wracking to be on stage :)! Thanks for that walk down memory lane :)

Andrew: You and me both....but you know what...maybe it'll motivate you to...jump on a plane and stop being all depressed and get over here :)

You're too much...still ...how about a <HUG> anyway :)

Robert: This orchid blooms once a year. For the past two years I've only gotten one bloom each year. The smell is gorgeous!

Kelly: Happy May Day Kelly :)

Carole: I remember in fifth grade I was on stage and this guy asked me to be his girlfriend. lol! I broke up with him when he came to school with a crew cut. hahaha.

I just love Hawaii. Aloha! Thanks for bringing your culture and fun passion into my daily life here in little old Utah. :)

Sally Hawaii has some really great traditions, thank you for continuing to share them and your beautiful Islands with us.

Thanks Dave! I love Hawaii too :) You're welcome and hopefully you'll come over and I can meet you!

George: Thanks George....and you're welcome! Thanks for always coming by to view what I have in store!

Sally...that brought back some fun memories of some May day traditions I grew up with. I think I'll do a Post!...thanks

The Leis in Hawaii are magnificent. What interesting tidbits about the history, Sally

Jeff

Sally - that was so beautiful - thanks for your help today. It was great to reconnect!! happy May day!! Looking forward to seeing it in person :)

Joan: Stuff like this brings back plenty of memories for me too. Look forward to yours :)

Jeff: Thanks....and these tidbits make a place don't they?

Cyndee: Sure thing! Make sure and call before you come, when you come and we for sure are going to meet. No way you are coming without meeting! Long time coming!

MAY

2008

Sally,
I'm late but what a great way to celebrate the arrival of May!

Thanks Cynthia! On the news last night they were wearing leis. They also made over a mile long lei and are seeing if they can get into the world record book. They had notaries there and everything to document and certify. Pretty cool

What a wonderful and enlightening presentation. You know, You should work on something like this and make your own video and have it on your site. So few people really know about it and there are many words missing in the video that I am sure you could add in discussing the finer points of lei making. The music was great and kept me entertained but I have many questions about the custom.

Here is one I wondered about. Are tributes to men different than women. Is there a significance to a lei without flowers, say of all greens. If one has a favorite flower, can you order a lei that way. I noticed in the video that there were complex and heavier looking ones. The one with the roses caught my eye. Are these out of sight cost wise. Another question. When you have funerals, are lei's sent to the family or the deceased or both? Just a few questions but trust me, I have many more. Lei's have always fascinated me. When I was in Hawaii the last time, I was a speaking at a conference , quite a few years ago. I was given a lei when I got off the plane. I got yet another before I spoke. I was going to wear both and they suggested that it was not appropriate?? Is their Lei etiquette as well?

Well,Happy May Day and Lei Day. Hope you got yours and that it was impressive.

Thanks William! Men have different flowers and greenery....yes you can order the flowers you like..orchids, plumerias, white ginger (I love those!) That lei stand is reasonable. The rose/tuberose lei would run about 10 dollars or so.

Thats not expensive. I would have guessed at least $50/60. How long does it take to make a Lei. I noticed that they come in different sizes as well.

MAY

2008

What a neat way to celebrate a long known tradition of Hawaii. Seeing all of these spring flowers and beautiful pictures, just made me think of "Spring" and the beauty of rebirth. The title though would not work the same way here in Knoxville, Tn -- so I'll stick with Happy May! Thanks for sharing

Sally- I have no idea how I missed this, but thanks.....I love this tidbit of info, and what a wonderful tradition. Much better than some countries where May 1st commerates workers for the state.

Sally & William,

There's no lei like an economical one...stay away from expensive leis, I say!!! LOl Thanks, Fran

P.S. Can you guess I love this lay on words!!!

Fran- I had to laugh at your commment after I read both of theirs...the play on words is pretty funny LOL :)

William: Oh, don't worry...there are plenty around that price range too!

Sondra: Only in Hawaii that works :)

Kathy: Sure is.... the over one mile long lei was something to see on the news :)

Fran: Woohoo! We can pick plumerias from my mom's back yard and make them for free :) You mean, you love the lei on words lol!

Kathy: symantics my friends....symantics lol! Correction....."Semantics" ahahahahah!

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