Every year on May 1, communities statewide come together for one of Hawai‘i’s most colorful celebrations of culture and aloha.
May Day is Lei Day in the Hawaiian Islands, and it's a special time when people in Hawai‘i are tightly strung together by lei and hospitality. Festivals are held throughout the islands, the smell of fragrant flowers and fresh greenery lingers in the air, music is shared, and a love for our island home reverberates far and wide.
One of our employee's handmade lei, strung and ready for gifting this Lei Day.
While this year’s celebration will be limited by Hawai‘i’s government restrictions on public gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lei Day lives on. We welcome people from around the world to join our Hawaiian Airlines ‘ohana in celebrating May Day virtually. We have planned several digital experiences that will live on beyond May 1, so those who miss the Lei Day fun can keep the celebration going.
A Virtual May Day Concert
We teamed up with Hawai‘i nonprofit Kāhuli Leo Le‘a and local broadcast station Hawaii News Now in turning O‘ahu’s biggest annual May Day concert into a virtual showcase.
Hula dancers on stage during the Hawaiian Airlines May Day 2019 concert. This year, artists will perform remotely from their homes due to social distancing requirements.
“Hawaiian Airlines May Day 2020: Aloha ʻĀina” will debut today at 7 p.m. HST on Hawaii News Now (KHNL). There will be a rebroadcast at 8 p.m. HST on Hawaii News Now (K5), HawaiiNewsNow.com and the station’s Facebook channel.
Viewers will enjoy a selection of Hawai‘i’s renowned artists performing remotely to comply with social distancing requirements. Featured musicians include 17-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning group Keauhou, with special guests Robert Cazimero, Josh Tatofi, Lehua Kalima and Kainani Kahaunaele.
Fans can also download lyrics to sing along before the concert kicks off and learn more about the lineup by visiting WeAreALei.Org.
Make Your Own Lei
We launched our new digital Sharing Aloha Series in April to share our island home (and all that makes it special) with our global audience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Videos, hosted by our featured chefs, employees and local artists, highlight recipe tutorials, hula and ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language) lessons, and more.
Kamahanaokala Tim Sing, a Hawaiian Airlines ground service equipment lead mechanic, teaches viewers how to make a lei using fresh pua kenikeni and ferns.
Exclusively for Lei Day, we created a lei-making video with our employees so you can share the aloha from wherever you are in the world.
Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant Brian Sabog shows viewers how to make a specialty lei outside of his home on Oʻahu.
Stay tuned – the video will be released today, May 1, at 2 p.m. HST and available for viewing here. While you're waiting, follow the Sharing Aloha Series to learn how you can keep the vacation vibes going strong and welcome a bit of aloha into your own home.
Share a Lei with Your ‘Ohana on Social Media
Share the lei love with your ‘ohana digitally this May Day by taking a selfie with our Lei Day filter! The new plumeria lei filter is available on Facebook and Instagram.
Learn the “Language of Lei”
Giving a lei is no small gesture, and it’s considered an important opportunity to show honor, high regard and love. Here in the Hawaiian Islands, many adorn people they care about with lei on special occasions or as an expression of their gratitude and aloha.
If you’ve never given a lei before, we made a starter guide to help you get to know some of the most commonly exchanged lei in Hawai‘i.
Plumeria lei