Lei Day at Honolulu Hale, 1931
Cover Image: Lei sellers (detail); Hawaiʻi. Photo by Frank Davey. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 205325
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Aloha Nūhou Monday!
Dear Reader,
How was your Lei Day? Might you have found your way to Kapiʻolani Park to see all the beautiful lei?
Before the lei contests were held at Kapiʻolani Park, Honolulu Hale is where the action took place!
Image: May Day stage on the Mission Memorial grounds; Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. May 1, 1935. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 117171
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Image: “Uluwehi iho la ke Kaona i na Pua,” Ke Alakai o Hawaii, March 7, 1931, p. 1. (Digitized from microfilm.)
The Town was Adorned in Flowers
Competitions Were Held at Honolulu Hale
Honolulu Hale was Packed with People Who Spilt Outside
Planning for the Lei Day activities took place over several weeks by those whose job it is here in this town. In just one night however, Honolulu Hale awoke, fragrant from a variety of flowers, and one felt festive when looking at the incomparable beauty of the lei that were made deftly by the skilled hands of people accustomed to stringing lei.
This is the first time the event was held at City Hall and it seems as if it will continue to be held there because of the progress seen.
The cravings of the travelers’ eyes were feasted upon until satiated, while their ears were piqued by the cherished songs of the musicians who exuded their talent so you, O listener, could not be finicky nor complain.
The activities carried out on that day at Honolulu Hale showed that they worked faithfully for the enjoyment of those who came to see and listen to what was put on for their benefit.
All ethnicities showed up there to see the activities of the day, and by the look on their faces, it was clear that there was more enthusiasm for the events of this year’s Lei Day than those of years past.
Image: Lei Day celebration at Honolulu Hale, May 1, 1947; Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi. Photo by Oscar Wikeen. Bishop Museum Archives, SXS 14235
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
