LIHUE — There will be lei, and more lei, Tuesday when the Kauai Museum hosts its annual May Day Lei Contest at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club in the Puna Court area.
“Everything starts early,” said Lyah Kama-Drake, the museum’s education outreach coordinator. “We have judging before the doors open to the public, and the lei makers start bringing in their entries early.”
Kama-Drake was busy coordinating the Kauai Museum Happy (Tamanaha) Keiki Lei Contest Saturday, where young people created lei to the delight of visitors who took photos of the young lei makers and their aromatic floral creations.
“No, you can make lei to sell,” Kaulana Kahalekomo-Rosario told her son Noah. “You’ve already finished your entry, so now you can use the time to make lei to sell to anyone who wants to have one to celebrate May Day.”
Aunty Janet Kahalekomo, a kupuna cultural practitioner, watched the event, cradling her youngest great-grandchild who was just months old.
“They already learning about flowers,” Kahalekomo said. “Noah is one of my son’s children. My son, he didn’t want to learn so I skipped a generation, but the grandchildren know how to do lei. This one, she’s too young, but she is immersed in the aroma of the flowers so she’s already learning about flowers. One day, she’ll be making lei, too.”
Noah was named a winner in the preschool category of the keiki lei contest.
His younger brother, Riley Camani, 2, was deemed the youngest lei maker with an aromatic plumeria creation that he whipped out for judge Elvrine Chow of Heavenly Haku.
Kananimelea Kahalekomo-Rosario earned the purse for the kindergarten student class at the contest where Penny Anakalea, one of the Kahalekomo clan, was using a doll needle to design floral creations.
“Today is for the keiki,” Kama-Drake said. “Tuesday, the real May 1 Lei Day, is for the adults. Doors open to the public from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Puna Court area at the Kauai Marriott.”
In addition to viewing the submissions vying for a plethora of special prizes in a number of categories, viewers are able to pick lei of their own.
People are also able to bid on the special lei in a silent auction which closes at 2 p.m.
“We also have a live auction for lei starting at 3 p.m.,” Kama-Drake said. “And Kauai Marriott will also have bento lunches available so no one needs to leave for lunch.”
Awards will be presented at 1 p.m.
