City collecting lei donations for Punchbowl Memorial Day observance

City officials are asking the public for lei donations that can be draped on graves of veterans at Oahu’s National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific for Memorial Day observances.

Also, “Sew a Lei” events will be held Friday at Honolulu Hale, the Makua Ali’i Center, Waipahu District Park, Kailua District Park and the Kaneohe Senior Center.

Some 38,000 lei are needed for the graves at Punchbowl cemetery in the Puowaina crater, where the 67th Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Lei donations may be dropped off Friday at designated city parks, all Oahu fire stations, Kapolei Hale and the Frank F. Fasi Municipal Building next to Honolulu Hale. Fresh flower or ti leaf lei should measure between 20 and 24 inches before tying.

The two-hour sewing event at Honolulu Hale will get underway at 11 a.m. Entertainment will feature the Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club and Lei Queen Carol Ana Makana Lani Yamada, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Sew a Lei events at the other locations will begin at 9 a.m. and end when the flowers are gone. All lei making supplies will be provided, but flower donations are encouraged.

Here’s a listing of Friday’s lei dropoff sites.

>> Designated city parks, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Ala Wai Community Park, Kailua District Park, Kaneohe District Park, Makiki District Park, Makua Ali‘i Center, Waialua District Park, Waianae District Park, Waiau District Park, Waimanalo District Park and Waipahu District Park.

>> All Oahu fire stations, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

>> Kapolei Hale (security desk, first floor), 1000 Uluohia St., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

>> Fasi Municipal Building (parks permit section, first floor), 650 S. King St., 8 a.m. to noon.