Are you wearing lei? Today is May 1, May Day, which is Lei Day in Hawai‘i.
This cute idea came about in 1927 thanks to Oklahoma transplant Don Blanding, novelist and newspaper columnist. He and socialite Grace Tower Warren, writer of Kamaaina Korner for the Honolulu Star Bulletin, hatched a plan to decree May Day as Lei Day. People back then jumped on board as if in Hawai‘i, we need to designate a day to wear lei. But businesses and schools quickly embraced the idea and now, this phrase is firmly etched in our collective consciousness. There’s even a song! Ask any local to sing it for you.
So. Got lei? And to be kalakoa correct, here’s the color and flower for each island: ‘ula ‘ula (red) ‘ohi‘a lehua for Hawai‘i Island, ‘akala (pink) lokelani for Maui, melemele (yellow) ‘ilima for O‘ahu, ‘oma‘oma‘o (green) kukui for Molokai, ‘alani (orange) kauna‘oa for Lana‘i, hinahina (silvery gray) hinahina for Kaho‘olawe, poni (purple) mokihana for Kaua‘i, and ke‘oke‘o (white) pupu for Ni‘ihau.
When you watch hula and pa‘u riders, this is one way to identify the islands they represent.
But don’t fret if all the lehua are gone when you find an ‘ohi‘a because another option is a lei of leaves. If you’re brave, you can go to the nearest forest for maile but good luck with that. Easier would be to step outside to pluck and braid leaves from your ti plant. I know you have some because every home and building has one or ten stalks, planted for protection. If you have no ti in your yard, auwe, but maybe you can use croton.
I remember picking croton leaves, accordion-folding then smushing them to string into lei. Simple, colorful, lasts forever but I’m trying to recall the last time I saw one and wondering if anyone makes croton lei anymore? Let’s bring them back!
With only two seasons in Hawai‘i, we enjoy greenery all year around but those in four-season climes always hope that April showers will bring May flowers. Then they construct ropes of blossoms which are entwined around a pole by dancing maidens.
I recall doing the Maypole dance one year at Riverside, the old public English standard school near Wailuku River. Oh those zany teachers dedicated to turning us barefoot keiki into Anglo-Saxons. I think they failed but what fun!
Some Asian countries also celebrate spring and in Korea, the Goyang flower festival is a big event. In the Philippines, the Blessed Virgin Mary is showered with blooms in May.
But in many other places, May Day has nothing to do with flowers and instead honors workers who fight for better labor conditions.
Mayday is also a call of distress and if you’re wondering how this came to be, look no further! My research reveals that when Morse Code was widely used, SOS was the standard signal for help. But with the arrival of radio, S was not always clearly communicated in early static airwaves. So we can thank the French whose call for help is “m’aidez” which is now mayday. Voila.
Closer to home, my favorite Hilo nephew had the good timing to enter the world on May First. He would get a lei if he were not now living in a foreign land — California — but we can still send birthday wishes.
Hau‘oli la hanau Michael!
So enjoy the day but don’t limit lei giving or wearing to the first of May.
Lucky we live Hawai‘i.
Rochelle delaCruz was born in Hilo, graduated from Hilo High School, then left to go to college. After teaching for 30 years in Seattle, Wash., she retired and returned home to Hawaii. She welcomes your comments at rainysideview@gmail.com. Her column is published the first Monday of each month.