Ask the Mayor: Can We Participate in Memorial Day Lei-Making?

Photo by Wendy Osher.

Mayor Alan Arakawa answers some of the most-asked questions submitted to his office staff.

Dear Mayor Arakawa:

Q: I saw on the TV news last night that schoolchildren and residents on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi and the Big Island will be making lei to place on the graves of veterans buried at Punchbowl Cemetery. However, there was no mention of Maui in the news report. Is there a way to participate in remembering our war heroes with lei on Maui?

A: Yes, the county will be hosting the annual “Blossoms for the Brave” community lei-making event here on the front lawn of the County Building this Friday, May 22, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The public is invited to come sew lei, enjoy free entertainment and talk story with friends and neighbors.

Every helping hand counts, as we will need to make 2,700 lei to be placed on each veteran’s grave on Memorial Day at the Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao.

If you have sturdy flowers and/or foliage to share, you can bring your floral and greenery contributions to the County Building on Friday morning starting at 8:30 a.m.

Pre-sewn lei donations are also welcome; finished size should be 16 inches in length.

Loose flowers are also needed for the aerial flower drop on Memorial Day; they can be dropped off at the Friday event.

Blossoms for the Brave is sponsored by Kaunoa Senior Services, the County of Maui Department of Housing & Human Concerns, and my office. Parking in Wailuku town can be tight, so a free shuttle is available between the County Building and the Ichiro “Iron” Maehara Baseball Stadium at War Memorial. The shuttle runs every half hour from 8:30 a.m., with last return shuttle at 1:30 p.m.

For more information, call Kaunoa Senior Center at 270-7308.

Want to Ask the Mayor?

Submit your questions about County of Maui programs, services, operations or policies to Mayor Alan Arakawa via email at AsktheMayor@mauicounty.gov, by phone at 270-7855 or by mail to 200 S. High St., 9th Floor, Wailuku, HI 96793. Questions submitted will be considered for inclusion in the Ask the Mayor column.