May Day Island Colors

Their successful reasoning relied on the widely-accepted knowledge of the connection between designated colors, lei, and respective islands. May Day celebrations as we know them with the royal courts dressed in their island colors, wearing their island lei, find their origin in the first lei contest held on May 1, 1928. Island Colors and Flowers Hawaii Island, The Big Island Color: 'Ula'ula (red) Flower: 'Ōhi'a Lehua (Metrosideros macropus) Maui, The Valley Isle Color: 'Ākala (pink) Flower: Lokelani (Rosa damascena) O'ahu, The Gathering Place Color: Melemele (yellow) Flower: 'Ilima (Sida fallax) Moloka'i, The Friendly Isle Color: 'Ōma'oma'o (green) Flower: Kukui (Aleurites moluccana.

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii, a statewide celebration held every May 1st. It focuses on Hawaiian culture through lei contests, hula performances, the crowning of a Lei Day Queen, and island-themed festivities that highlight each island's symbolic flower and color. And then in 1928, Lei Day was launched, and developed into an annual event.

In the early years, the May 1 festivity was often held at Honolulu's City Hall, where there was a pageant and lei exhibit. Pageant princesses represented each island, wearing lei of the appropriate color and flower, and one was crowned Lei Day Queen each year. Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own official color and lei.

Hawaiian tradition denotes May 1st as Lei Day in Hawai'i, a cultural celebration of the Lei and the designated colors and flowers of each island. May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii / Garlands of flowers everywhere / All of the colors in the rainbow / Maidens with blossoms in their hair / Flowers that mean we should be happy / Throwing aside a load of care / Oh, May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii / May Day is happy days out there May Day, 1953. Photo courtesy of Kohala Public Library Archives.

Every year, the city chooses eight princesses and princes to represent each Hawaiian island and to show off the island's official flower and color. Hawaii MayDay Celebrations The joy and spirit of May Day continue through the islands. On May 1 or each year, you can see the Lei Queen & King, and their court, at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki.

The lei of the eight major Hawaiian Islands become the theme for Hawai'i May Day pageants and a lei queen chosen with a princess representing each of the islands, wearing lei fashioned with the island's flower and color. Did you know that May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii? Learn about this day of color, celebration, flowers, and aloha throughout the islands.