Ke Alahou, Volume I, Number 6, 1 May 1980 — MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAY DAY CELEBRATIONS

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii , Gariands of Flowers ev'rywhere All of the colors in the rainbow Maidens with blossoms in their hair Flowers Jhaf mean vve should by happy Throwing aside our load of care Oh! May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii

Onen again May first was Lei Day here in Honolulu. There were many events held in celebration of this annual welcoming of spring. It appears that wilh eaeh passing year more and more people are pailieipating in the celebrations. Around the world May Day is celebrated in different vvays. but here the emphasis is p!āced upon !he art of stringing. weaving.

and sewing flowers and other plant materials into the famous lei. The skills of' lei making were well demonstrated by the 52nd annual lei makiiig contest held by the Hoaolulu City and Counti Parks and Reereation Departmenf at Queen Kapiolani Park. A traditional event, this particular contest attractsboth lourist and loeal folks.to gather to see the skills of both amateur

and master artisans to produce beautifulaud fare leis. There are 13 categories for ribbons aad prizQS. Nine of these represeut colorc (red, piak, yellow, green, blue t violet, whUe anfftw\vu]. There are also categories for mixed colors, hat leis» the most typical Hawaiian* ani the Mayor's Graud Prize, The NIayoi\s Graud Prue is choseu fix)ni the best three lels fr6n\ $11 the firsl,pme wumers. Thē }udges are adtive members of the Hawaiiaii community and volunteered tke selection fo leis, The judges forJhis year s contest \vere; Xancy Ahana, Winona Beamer, Aipelia Bailey, Thelma Bugbee, Maleolm Chun, }ean Judd, Hannah Kamoe. Kowena Keaka, Ama Keawe. Mary Lindsey. Homer Hayes, Don MitchelL Sarah Quick, Joji Wago aud Mealii Kalama. * , T1ie winners for |red lei \vere Ra* Wong Or>L TrevaSpencer second. Florenoe MePeek (liiai, \ iolei tei: Ju|la Chandler Rej uold Choy and Choy; blue lei: Rene£ Koyama fir>t. Ramona Cab^r

and Masae Higashi; orange lei: Lana Lewis first, Sandy Nakashima and Elaine H. Young; Typically , Hawaiian lei: Marie McDonald, Miehael Gaber and Renee Koyama; brownlei: CarolTabata first. Charlene Choy andßay Wong; yellowlei: Brian Choy first, Rāy Wong and Alsion Akiyoshi; pink lei: Velmā Omura first, Jennie Moyer, and hat lei: Julia Chandler first, Ray Wong and Angela Decrescenci; mixed lei: Paula Morita first, Marie M.cDonald, and Lana Lewis; white lei:. Ray Wong first! Omura and Alison Akiyoshi. ' ' V The Mayor's Grand Prize consisted of hinahina, green rose, dusty miller, eucalyptus„ lehua v martha washington, santolina, pala'a, pukiawe and mouse foot. The most typically Hawaiian lei consisted of ohi'a lehua, pukiawe, halapepe, ohelo and palapalai fern. Following the judging of the contest and its s exhibition, there was a pageant held to honor the Day Queen and her "court." This program provided entertainment of both traditional hula and chanting and also contemporary Hawaiian music with Kimo Kahoano of KCCN Radio as master of ceremonies. This also provided the opportunity for various Hawaiian organizations to present their gifts of appreciation to the Lei Day Queen. Late in the evening, the ce!ebration continued nearby at the Shell outdoor concert "hāll with* a musical show performed by the Brothers Cazimero, their hula students of Na Kamalei and Na Liko lehua, friends and guest. This productio s n like the annual lei contest has become a traditional event to

anticipate on May Day. ' Although the.prpgram was diverse, ranging from traditional to contempotary music - mixe.d with some humorous numbers', the traditional parts seem to be the highlights of the,eVening. The openingchants and hulas were well (Jesigned and arrangēd, It"was interesting to understand the double meaning of their, performance as the,songs emphasized certain plants sacred to the hula but also used p the lei contest leis just hours before. Another portion, just as vibrant, was the tribute to the famolisTsland composer Helen Desh.a Beamer. The music and cast performance seem to fill the'entire stage with life. was furthered with the hufe of her grandsqn, Mahi Beamer and jreat-grand daughter Gaye Beamer. Their hula underlines a form of hula that seems tp be a comeback in puhlie entertainment: the duet hula. Previous to their performance. was the duet hula by Wayne Chang and 'Leinaala Heine. It was„ simply 4elightful - a rare. diversion from the rigor and mo.notonous movements of group hula. Another highlight wasJhe appearance of the Brofher's parents, Bill and Betty Cazimero who played and danced arftearly s.tyle version of "Kaimana Hila" as the full mpon slowly rose above Diamond Head. . , The celebration concluded the next day with ceremonies held at the Royal Mausoleum where leis from the contest were placed upon the, crypts of the monarchs. In a simple procession of the Lei.Day court fo!lowed by chanting theleis wei;e set up.on the tombs of the Kamehameha, Lunalilo an| KalaXamdynasties.