City readies for annual Lei Day at Kapiolani Park

The city is getting ready for its 91st annual Lei Day celebration today at Kapiolani Park with Mayor Kirk Caldwell and the city Department of Parks and Recreation.

Festivities begin at 9 a.m. with the Royal Hawaiian Band, followed by the investiture ceremony for 2018 Lei Queen Leimomi Irvine and her court, First Princess Helen Kuoha-Torco and Princess Sharon Au-Curtis at 10 a.m., and performances by the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, Kamakakehau Fernandez, Hoku Zuttermeister and Halau Hula ‘o Hokulani, among others, until 5:30 p.m.

This year’s theme is “Lei ‘Alohi Kea,” a brilliant white lei representing the platinum of kupuna.

The official opening of the lei contest exhibit is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Submissions for the fresh flower lei contest will be taken 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Lei Receiving Booth on the day of the celebration. The public can view the exhibit from 1 to 5:30 p.m.

The first Lei Day was celebrated in 1927 in downtown Honolulu. The first lei queen, Nina Bowman, was crowned in 1928.

Hawaiian artisans will share their talents with exhibits and demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Kulana Lei village.

The closing ceremony for the annual Lei Day celebration, where lei from the contest exhibit will be placed on the graves of Hawaii’s alii, or royalty, is held Wednesday morning at Mauna Ala (the Royal Mausoleum) and Kawaiaha‘o Church.