Wailoa Center hosted a reception for a huge crowd on “Lei Day,” May 1, to congratulate the winners of the 2015 Kauluwehi Lei Contest.
Wailoa Center hosted a reception for a huge crowd on “Lei Day,” May 1, to congratulate the winners of the 2015 Kauluwehi Lei Contest.
The celebration coincided with the opening of the Contemporary Fiber Art Exhibit in the Main Gallery. Visitors were treated to a vast potluck of Hawaiian foods, with live entertainment performed by Kanoelehua and Diana Aki and Friends.
Kauluwehi is a juried lei art contest with three main categories: Kahiko (traditional style lei), ‘Auana (contemporary lei) and Lei Hulu (feather lei).
Lei were judged on craftsmanship, creativeness of design, uniqueness of material and the complexity or effort put into it. Amateur and professional lei artists of all ages were invited to take part in the Hawaiian tradition of lei making.
And the results are:
Honorable mention
• Jackie Gaudioso, “The Story of Naupaka and Kaui,” made from naupaka mauka, uluhe, naupaka kuahiwi, la‘i; and Ku‘ulei Vickery, “From Pu‘u Mali, Mauna Kea,” made from ‘iliahi, umi koa (lichen).
Second place/Kahiko/Pua
• Hawaiian Civic Club, “‘A‘ali‘i ‘Ui,” made from ‘a‘ali‘i, pukiawe and ‘ohi‘a.
First place/Kahiko/Pua
• Kalei Cadawas, “Untitled,” made from ‘ohi‘a lehua, palapalai.
Second place/Kahiko/Lau
• Rie Kamijo, “Untitled,” made from koa and la‘i.
First place/Kahiko/Lau
• Kalei Cada, “Untitled,” made from ‘ohi‘a lehua, ‘ohelo, pukiawe and palapalai.
First place/Lei Hulu
• Sunny Seal, “Blue Lulu,” made from dyed goose feathers.
First place/‘Auana/Other
• Leigh Critchlow for her clever “Retro Faux: Hana hou,” made out of recycled bottle caps, recycled wire, rummage sale necklaces and recycled plastic mesh bags.
First place/‘Auana/Lau
• Hawaiian Civic Club, “‘Awili Hala Kai,” made from lauhala, naturally dyed lauhala, and ‘opihi.
Jurors Choice (overall excellence)
• Lina Abe, “Lei Kukui,” made from kukui and la‘i.
Contest organizers praised all the winners for their beautifully crafted lei, which “truly demonstrated their love and passion for our tradition ofthe lei and respect for the aina.”