Lei of Aloha Being Prepared for Presidential Inauguration

January 12, 2017, 3:34 PM HST
* Updated January 12, 3:40 PM

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A Lei of Aloha is being prepared today in advance of the US Presidential Inauguration of Donald Trump taking place next week.

A private donor anonymously gifted $15,000 to Kīhei Charter School for five students and their teacher to travel to Washington DC for the Inauguration event.

Starting at 8 a.m. today more than 100 students and over 60 volunteers helped prep and weave a Lei of Aloha to be delivered next week.

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The students are part of a national Close Up program that participates with 2,300 other students from around the country in mock debates and a mock Congress. They will also tour the Capitol, all the monuments and meet with their Senators and Representatives.

The Lei of Aloha project started with a mile long lei to Paris after the bombings there in 2015 and then again to Orlando after a massacre in a gay night club killed 49.

Organizers say the mission is to send love and aloha where it is needed. “This lei is not a political statement and is non partisan,” said organizers.

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The lei will be measured and blessed at 5 p.m. tonight, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at a Pūpū Party and blessing/fundraiser at Nalu’s South Shore Grill.

The lei will then leave with the students on Saturday night.