Get Your Lei Day On…Late

By Vanessa Wolf

Sure, the “official” Lei Day was weeks ago, but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate it again.

This Saturday, May 25, the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is putting the fashionable back in late with their annual Lei Day celebration.

Lei Day – May 1 – was the brainchild of Don Blanding, a writer at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. In 1927, he came up with the idea of a uniquely Hawaiian holiday that everyone could participate in regardless of race, creed, or origin.

His editors at the paper proposed the idea of “Lei Day” to the public and the idea was embraced.

In 1929, Lei Day became an official holiday.

In keeping with typical celebrations, minus – again – the date, the Marriott event will include a lei contest, music, food, hula, crafters and even an aloha wear contest.

The lei contest involves two styles – haku (head leis) and kui (strung flowers worn around the neck) – and crafters are to bring their leis in between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. the day of the event.

Both the lei and aloha attire contests will be judged by the guests and assembled audience, so either plan to dress to impress or bring your posse and rig the whole thing.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to the public. Free parking is available, as well.

Have an idea for a fun or thought-provoking story or topic? Get in touch: we want to hear from you. -Vanessa (@mauinow.com)