Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

135 Shares
135 Shares
WedMay 1

Lei Day – May 1, 2024

Lei Day is celebrated on May 1. A lei is a beautiful string or necklace of flowers native to the tropics, notably the islands of Hawaii. Lei Day honors a popular custom of presenting visitors with leis as soon as they arrive. A distinct variety of lei represents each island. The pink lokilani rose is the name of Maui’s lei. Whether you’ve visited the Pacific’s crown gem or not, Lei Day is a chance to daydream about the islands and plan a trip (or a return!) to the islands’ beautiful green coastlines. Big events mark the festivities across the islands including, as always, food and live music!

History of Lei Day

Many believe that what Mark Twain wrote about the islands, as published in a San Francisco newspaper in 1866, was the beginning of Hawaii’s tourism industry. As steamships began to transport visitors across the Pacific, lei merchants would position themselves at Aloha Tower, selling leis to incoming guests at the boat dock. Since then, leis have become an essential element of every Hawaiian visit. This holiday brings attention to the finer elements of the custom the casual tourist would otherwise overlook.

The lei has played a major role in the native Hawaiian people’s history and culture. Anyone who has visited the islands or seen photographs of them knows that they are lush, rich playgrounds filled with vibrant color creating a “symphony” of calm and pleasure. From the vivid red lehua blossom on the Big Island to the bright yellow Kauna’o flower on Lanai, each island has a flower that represents it.

Lei Day was established in 1929, but celebrations began two years earlier, in 1927, at the Bank of Hawaii, and subsequently moved to Kapi’olani Park. The day has its own distinctive style, with celebrations (often contentiously) highlighting the diverse cultures that have come to call the islands home. Everything from musical traditions to dancing forms has been combined to produce an incredible hybrid culture that is 100% Hawaiian.

Concerns have been raised, however, that the merging of cultures across the islands may result in the loss of Hawaiian cultural identity as generations pass, as well as a reduction in ethnic values. By appreciating Hawaiian culture and presenting it to others, Lei Day straddles the line of this contradiction.

Lei Day timeline

1866
The Start of Hawaiian Tourism

Mark Twain’s account of his experience in the islands for a Sacramento Union newspaper kick-starts Hawaii’s travel and tourism industry.

1927
First Celebration

The first celebration of this day is held at the Bank of Hawaii, spreading to the town hall, and lastly to Kapi’olani Park.

1929
The Beginning of Lei Day

Lei Day is declared a national holiday.

1931
The First Beauty Pageant is Held

The first beauty pageant is held, where a “Lei Day Queen” is chosen, along with a princess representing each of the islands.

Lei Day FAQs

How does one give or present a lei?

In Hawaii, a lei is traditionally placed around a visitor’s neck as he or she plants a kiss on the welcomer’s cheek. It may be presented by bowing slightly as the welcomer holds the lei to his or her chest encouraging the visitor to take the lei and place it around his or her neck.

Who first proposed the idea of Lei Day?

Don Blading, the writer and poet of the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, first proposed the idea in his book “Hula Moons.” He introduced the holiday in his column on February 13, 1928.

Do leis have different meanings?

Maile ti leaf leis are signs of appreciation, respect, and admiration. These are usually given as gifts for graduations, anniversaries, and weddings. Red, brown, and orange ilima flower leis are symbols of love. A yellow lei symbolizes good luck and new beginnings.

Lei Day Activities

  1. Give leis as gifts

    On Lei Day, give leis as gifts to your friends and family. This gesture especially honors the Hawaiian culture, or the aloha spirit, which means the giving of warmth and affection to others without expecting anything in return.

  2. Participate in the festival

    Take part in Lei Day festivities, which include parades and ceremonies, as well as festivals. Many schools participate in these festivities. The Hawaiian lei is celebrated in a variety of ways in Honolulu. One of the events, for example, involves islanders sharing their lei-making skills.

  3. Watch a beauty pageant

    Watch young women vie for the title “Lei Day Queen.” It is similar to the Miss America pageant.

5 Facts About The Hawaiian Lei

  1. Leis were signs of love for gods

    In the olden days, leis were exchanged as presents or regarded as symbols of love and respect for the Hawaiian gods.

  2. Lei greeting

    When ships brought hundreds of visitors to the islands for the first time in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the custom of welcoming them with leis was born.

  3. Teeth and bones were used as ornaments

    Teeth, bones, sticks, and kukui nuts were strung together as body ornaments of ancient Hawaiians.

  4. Some leis are not real flowers

    Most leis look like fresh flowers but are actually made of polyester, color-fast materials.

  5. It’s impolite to remove a lei immediately

    Removing a lei in front of the person who gave it to you is considered impolite.

Why We Love Lei Day

  1. It celebrates old customs

    It celebrates the centuries-old Hawaiian tradition of crafting, presenting, and wearing a lei. Leis can include lacy ferns, glittering ti leaves, polished kukui nuts, feathers, seeds, and delicate shells. They are most commonly weaved or embroidered with flowers these days.

  2. It speaks of one’s kindness and hospitality

    The holiday reminds people to be kind and hospitable to friends and guests. It is also a charming gesture of sharing what they have.

  3. It brings people together

    It represents an enjoyable part of Hawaiian culture. It paves the way for better cultural awareness and brings people together.

Lei Day dates

YearDateDay
2024May 1Wednesday
2025May 1Thursday
2026May 1Friday
2027May 1Saturday
2028May 1Monday
Hurricane Preparedness Week
National Physical Education and Sport Week
Aces Day
Agriculture and Labor Day
Beltane
Blessing Day
Calan Mai
Couple Appreciation Day
CSS Reboot Day
Executive Coaching Day
Frequent Flyer Day
Global Love Day
Great American Grump Out
International Doodle Dog Day
International Sunflower Guerilla Gardening Day
Keep Kids Alive Drive 25 Day
Labor Day Philippines
Learn to Ride a Bike Day
Lei Day
Marshall Islands Constitution Day
May Day
Mother Goose Day
National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day
National Black Barber Shop Appreciation Day
National Chocolate Parfait Day
National Infertility Survival Day
National Interpreter Appreciation Day
National Loyalty Day
National Mantra Day
National Purebred Dog Day
National Rotate Your Beer Day
National Skilled Trades Day
National Skilled Trades Day
New Homeowners Day
Phone in Sick Day
Save The Rhino Day
School Principals' Day
Silver Star Banner Day
Therapeutic Massage Awareness Day
Worthy Wage Day
ALS Awareness Month
American Cheese Month
American Wetlands Month
Anxiety Awareness Month
Arthritis Awareness Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Awareness of Medical Orphans Month
Be Kind to Animals Month
Bealtaine Festival
Better Sleep Month
Better Speech and Hearing Month
Bladder Cancer Awareness Month
Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month
Brain Cancer Awareness Month
Building Safety Month
Celiac Awareness Month
Chip Your Pet Month
Chronic Fatigue Awareness Month
Clean Air Month
Community Action Month
Correct Posture Month
Creative Beginnings Month
Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month
Date Your Mate Month
Deck Safety Month
EDS Awareness Month
Electromagnetic Radiation Awareness Month
Family Wellness Month
Fibromyalgia Education and Awareness Month
Food Allergy Action Month
Fungal Infection Awareness Month
Gardening for Wildlife Month
Get Caught Reading Month
Gifts From The Garden Month
Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
Global Youth Traffic Safety Month
Haitian Heritage Month
Heal the Children Month
Healthy Vision Month
Hepatitis Awareness Month
Homeschool Awareness Month
Huntington's Disease Awareness Month
Indian Heritage Month
Internal Audit Awareness Month
International Business Image Improvement Month
International Civility Awareness Month
International Drum Month
International Respect for Chickens Month
International Victorious Woman Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Labor History Month
Latino Books Month
Leaders of Tomorrow Month
Lettuce Month
Local and Community History Month
Lung Health Awareness Month
Lupus Awareness Month
Make May Purple /Action On Stroke Month
Maternal Mental Health Month
May Measurement Month
MCS Awareness Month
Meditation Month
Mediterranean Diet Month
Melanoma / Skin Cancer Detection & Prevention Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
Military Appreciation Month
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month
National Asparagus Month
National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
National Barbecue Month
National Bicycle Safety Month
National Blood Pressure Month
National Chocolate Custard Month
National Comfort Month
National Digestive Disease Awareness Month
National Duckling Month
fried egg on national egg month
National Egg Month
National Foster Care Month
National Hamburger Month
National Heritage Month
National Inventors Month
a nurse on National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
National Moving Month
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
National Pet Month
National Photography Month
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Physiotherapy Month
National Preservation Month
National Prom Graduation Safety Month
National Recommitment Month
National Salad Month
National Salsa Month
National San Architect Month
National Service Dog Eye Examination Month
National Share a Story Month
National Show Your Smile Month
National Sight-Saving Month
National Strawberry Month
National Teen Self-Esteem Month
National Tennis Month
National Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month
National Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
National Vinegar Month
National Walking Month
National Youth Traffic Safety Month
Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Month
Neurofibromatosis Month
Older Americans Month
Personal History Awareness Month
Pet Sitter Safety Month
REACT Month
Responsible Animal Guardian Month
Revise Your Work Schedule Month
Small Business Month
Speech and Hearing Awareness Month
Steelmark Month
Strike Out Strokes Month
Stroke Awareness Month
Syringomyelia Awareness Month
Teen CEO Month
Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
Tuberous Sclerosis Awareness Month
Ultraviolet Awareness Month
Women's Health Month
Zombie Awareness Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.