HONOLULU (KHON2) — The month of May kicked off with thousands of people heading down to Kapiʻolani Park for the 97th annual Lei Day celebration.
WakeUp2Day’s Chris Latronic met with Department of Parks and Recreation’s Nathan Serota and 2025 Lei Queen Kuʻulei Aloha Llanos to learn about the event.
The all-day event featured a wide variety of island musical and hula performances, Hawaiian cultural protocol, the world-renowned Lei Contest, lei making workshops and artisans and merchants — all in a family-friendly setting.
This year’s celebration weaved in new elements to progress the legacy of lei-making with the theme “Hoʻokahi ka ʻilau like ʻana,” or “Wield the paddles together.”
And of course, it wouldn’t be a celebration if there wasn’t ono food, crafts and the annual Lei Contest!
Dale Mar T. Acoba took the crown and won the Mayor’s Grand Prize with a lei kui made of hypericum and yarrow.
Acoba took home $5,400 in prize money.
City officials said all lei from the contest will be taken to Mauna ‘Ala (The Royal Mausoleum) and Kawaiāha‘o Church on Friday, May 2.
Check out more news from around Hawaii
The lei will then be placed on the graves and tombs of Hawai‘i’s ali‘i.