May Day celebration concert CD release 6 p.m. today Hilton Kaua’i Beach Resort Na Lei Hiwahiwa ‘Elua, a concert and CD release party celebrating spring and introducing “Ginger Patch” a collection of original songs composed by Nathan Kalama, will also
May Day celebration concert CD release
6 p.m. today
Hilton Kaua’i Beach Resort
Na Lei Hiwahiwa ‘Elua, a concert and CD release party celebrating spring and introducing “Ginger Patch” a collection of original songs composed by Nathan Kalama, will also feature Lady Ipo Ferriera and Na Hoaloha.
“Thirteen mele are about people and flowers including ginger, pua kenikeni, hala lei, and even one about a feather lei,” Kalama said. Songs from the CD will be performed and danced to by kumu hula Healani Youn, Kapu Kinimaka-Alquiza, Keala Senkus and Doric Yaris. Wayne Kaho’one Panoke is coming from O‘ahu to dance to a song written especially for him, entitled “My Lei Pua Kenikeni.”
“Mele inoa are songs written to honor the person,” Kalama said. “In the Hawaiian culture, the highest complement one can pay someone is to write a song for or about them. Each song on the CD is chosen because it was dedicated to a person who influenced and motivated me. ”
A song book accompanies the $25 CD which includes music, chords and a summary description about the origin of the song. Concert ticket proceeds and a portion of each CD sold is a fundraiser for Malie Scholarship fund, which supports education and perpetuation of Hawaiian language and music for youth.
Tickets are $15, adults; $5, children ages 6 to 17 and free for children under 6. For ticket information call 246-5515. Tickets available at the following outlets: Vickie’s Fabrics, Hanalei Liquor Store and Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Hotel. A special hotel kama’aina rate is offered by the Hilton starting at $99 (Hawaii ID Required). For reservation call 246-5595 and ask for code SPCL. Concert coordinated by Malie Foundation as part of the 2009 Year of Hawaiian Music theme. For event information or CD call Nathan Kalama 822-2166 or e-mail kmfkauai@hawaii.rr.com
Waiohai Beach Club 7th annual Lei Day
9:30 a.m. today
Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club, Po’ipu
Celebrate May Day with a lei contest, hula and luau. Lei contest categories include edible lei; recycled lei of ribbon; flower lei; haku lei of any style and the yellow and green lei.
There will be a craft fair featuring Kaua‘i kupuna from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. with over a dozen crafts as well as a quilt auction of quilts sewn by the associates.
A Kaua‘i’s kupuna will be honored at the opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. followed by the presentation of the royal court, hula performances and the story of lei making.
Free workshops include teaching and demonstration of the practice of the spiritual lomilomi massage from 11 a.m. to noon and Kahiko hula with kumu hula Lopaka Nakahiki Bukoski from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
To close the day, the annual May Day luau dinner and show. Reservations required. Seating begins at 5:30 p.m. Presenting will be award winning Halau Hula O Hali‘ileo musicians, music of Troy Allen Lazaro, with hula performances by the Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club Hula Halau, Halau Hula O Hali’ileo.
29th annual May Day
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday
Kaua‘i Museum
Celebrating innovative interpretations of today’s lei makers, the public is invited to join in this annual Lei Day competition as participants or to view the creations. Hawai‘i’s Lei Day was first celebrated over 80 years ago on May 1, 1928 at the suggestion of Don Blanding, a well known literary figure. Since then it has become an annual celebration of spring and all things Hawaiian represented by the iconic lei.
There will be activities on the lawn beginning at 10:30 a.m. with both lei demonstrations and lei for sale. For a small fee, attendees can try their hand at making a lei in the lei making tent. Enjoy ono food and free entertainment by Kaua‘i’s chefs. Kaua‘i Museum has encouraged lei makers over the years to refrain from taking wild plants from areas that are heavily used and, instead, cultivate lei materials. Rare and endangered plants including maile and mokihana are excluded from the contest. Only fresh materials are accepted and there are eight different categories to complete in not including numerous other prestigious special awards. Contest categories include: Orange and/or yellow; blue and/or purple; pink and/or red; white and/or green; mixed colors; plumeria; ti leaf; and hat. Multiple leis may be entered by a lei maker.
The museum is located on the corner of Rice and Eiwa Streets. It is free to view the lei during the day, but museum exhibits are closed.
For more information and entry applications call 245 to 6931 or visit kauaimuseum.org
Kaua‘i Museum Lei Day schedule
7 to 8:30 a.m. receiving of lei on front lanai of museum
9 to 11:00 a.m. judging of lei and awards posted
10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. entertainment and food vendors
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. leis available for viewing
1 p.m. awards ceremony for lei makers
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. silent lei auction
3 p.m. silent lei auction closes and winning bids may be picked up
3:30 p.m. live auction of lei
4 p.m. museum closes
