Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 4, 1928
Lei Day Promises Fulfillment
In Advance of ExpectationsLetters Pour In from Other Islands; Sentiment Is That
'May Day Shall Be Lei Day' In Hawaii; Bank of Hawaii
Will Have Queen of the Lei To Rule Over ExhibitsNow that Lei Day is an assured event we have to turn our thoughts toward making it bigger and better in every way. Already the promises of fulfillment of the idea have gone beyond anything we dreamed. There are four or five events which will guarantee Lei Day’s being a gorgeous and memorable day in Honolulu, and in the rest of Hawaii as well, since letters pour in daily from the other islands saying that "May Day shall be Lei Day in Hawaii." By DON BLANDING
For one thing, the Bank of Hawaii is going to have a Queen of the Lei to rule over their splendid show May 1, and a proud queen she may be, too, because that exhibition is going to be magnificent. We who are familiar with leis will be surprised at the beauty and ingenious devising of leis. In the years that follow as Lei Day develops into a great day of pageantry and celebration it will be a real honor to be chosen Queen of the Lei for all Hawaii. The flower festival will follow next year, I’m sure.
To show the enthusiasm for this idea which has spread all over Oahu, a teacher from Ewa sends this little song, saying that the children sing it daily to the tune of "Steamer Day:"
"I will make a lei for the First of May.
May Day is Lei Day we know.
Lei Day so gay."Won’t you make some too,
Flowers of every hue.
Join the busy, happy throng
In Hawaii nei."Friends who go away,
And those who come this way
Never will forget to pay
Homage to the lei."
A Letter From Haiku
Then, from Haiku, Maui, comes this letter:
"I have learned of your efforts to make May Day into Lei Day and I think it is an excellent idea. May I suggest that as part of the plan there be something about the origin of lei-giving, the history of it? It might be done through a contest. I do not know but it is something which I’d like to see put across."Yours sincerely,
"HARRIET M. CALMES."
Then from Paia, Maui, from Cloud Kinney comes a note.
For Don Blanding (with apologies to nobody).Lei Day! What ho!
Lay up a lei for Lei Day.
Lay down a dollar or two.
Lay in a heap of blossoms sweet
For friends old and new;
Lay out to spread "Aloha" about,
In true Hawaiian style.
Lay off o’ pilikias, lay off and smile;
And smiling, share, through garlands rare
The spirit of Hawaii Nei,
"Me ke aloha humehana"
Woven in a Lei.Merchants are calling in daily to ask, "What do you want us to do?” So here are some constructive ideas for you who have display windows:
Put in some colorful background of Hawaiian products if you want, or simply flowers, hibiscus or unusual greenery and flowers. Build up an effective splotch of color. Then, from your own gardens, or from the lei makers, secure a beautiful lei and give it a place of honor in your window with a message of aloha to the public. It will be seen and appreciated. If there is any old historical lei in the family or among your friends, see if you can get it and include a bit of its history on a placard accompanying it. We want everything we can that relates to leis. Then, of course, you store people, employees and especially yourself can wear leis . . . . . and smiles. The two go together.
Something Cheering
It certainly is cheering to have some so-called hard-boiled merchant call up and say, "You can count on us if you’ll tell us what to do."
As for general individuals, prepare yourself to receive leis from unexpected sources, and don’t be caught unaware. Have a lei of freindship to return to the ones who have remembered you. I know from talking with the florists and lei makers that there are hundreds of leis being ordered, and those leis are going to SOMEBODY, probably you, and you’ll feel rather funny if some old friend has remembered you and you have forgotten him, eh! Sure!
I know that some people are going to feel funny about wearing a lei without going somewhere, it’s become the habit. Well, there’s a pertfectly good place to go and that’s downtown so that malihini and kamaaina may see you and you can add to the festivity of the streets.
There are going to be thousands of fleet visitors and the publicity hounds that accompany the fleet on this gigantic gathering and they are going to be impressed by Lei Day if Honolulu puts it over right, and those very news chaps are going to let the world know about this unusual and delightful place where people wear flower garlands and smiles as a matter of course.
It’s an honest to goodness chance for Hawaii to do a beautiful gesture which is typical and unique.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 7, 1928
Princess Kawananakoa Gives
Generous Kokua to 'Lei Day'Thinks Idea Is Beautiful Thought and Will Do All In Her
Power To Help It Along; Proposal Will Have Support of
All Loyal Hawaiians On Oahu, She Is Certain"Indeed, I do approve of the idea," said Princess Kawananakoa when I asked her about Lei Day. "I think it is a beautiful thought and you may count on me for anything you want to help it along. And I know that you will have the loyal support of all the Hawaiians on Oahu. They have been discussing it among themselves, and they are unanimously in favor of it." By DON BLANDING
That was encouraging news for me because I know that when Princess Kawananakoa puts her mind to anything she usually makes a glorious success of it.
"The nicest part of Lei Day idea," continued the princess, "is that it brings kamaainas together again. With so many malihinis and malihini customs in Honolulu, the old-timers have rather withdrawn from public events. But Lei Day is so much in the old-time manner that they are planning to revive many 'good old days' courtesies."
A lei, according to the princess, is more than a garland of flowers hastily bought and carelessly given. It should be made by the giver with much thought and consideration of color combination, fragrance and design. Of course, nowadays, we are too busy to find time for the lengthy process of lei making. However, there will be many beautiful leis made by hands which had almost forgotten the trick of combining tinted flower petals into the lovely symbols of aloha.
The public in general is familiar only with the usual paper leis, rose and pansy, plumeria, maile and, in season, the ginger leis, but there are hundreds of flowers, buds, pods, seeds, and even fruits that make exquisite flower-chains. The Mamo makes a lovely lei which resembles the feathers of the mamo bird. Lauhala is very fragrant and its yellow and orange color is bizarre and different. There are leis to be made of orchids, gardenias, pikaki, tuber-rose, zinnias, in fact almost any flower which will last for part of the day.
"There will be many people downtown on Lei Day to see the exhibitions," Princess Kawananakoa continued, "and if they are not wearing leis themselves they should be ashamed. You may depend on it that all my friends will be decorated and they will see that their friends wear leis, too."
I did some rapid mental arithmetic, calculating the princess' friends, and their friends and their friends' friends, and my mind was at ease regarding Lei Day.
Mrs. England-Hauck, as president of the Zonta club, assures me that the club will take action of some sort on Lei Day. The next meeting will decide just what gesture the organization will make.
The Junior League girls are behind the idea. In fact, leis play a large part in the new show which they are producing, "Hula Moon." And Alexander Anderson has written a Lei song which, I guarantee, is going to be a classic of Hawaiian music, it has caught the beautiful sentiment of the lei so perfectly.
Don't forget to send in your ideas about Lei Day. Every new idea means that much more interest in a day which will express the joyousness of Hawaii in general and Honolulu in particular.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 11, 1928
Public Invited to See Lei Day
Display Bank of Hawaii OffersPlans Under Way For Month Are Perfected and Invitation
To All Sent Out; Showing In Variety and Unusual Type
Will Astonish Kamaainas, Even, Who Recall the PastJot this down on your calendar as something you want to do on May 1, which, I scarcely need mention is Lei Day in Hawaii. See the lei display and ceremonies which the Bank of Hawaii is offering as a contribution to the aloha spirit symbolized by the lei. By DON BLANDING
Their plans which have been under way for a month are not perfected and they announce to the public their invitation to participate in celebrating.
Being on the inside of some of the plans I know that the display is going to be one of brilliance, beauty and lavishness which is typical of Hawaii at its best. The variety, unusualness and interest of the leis will astonish even the kamaainas who are familiar with the leis of olden days.
Here is the Bank of Hawaii's announcement:
Honolulu, Hawaii, April 10, 1928Editor, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Honolulu
Dear Sir:
In order that there may be a better understanding of our plans for the observance of Lei Day, will you please publish this letter in the columns of The Star-Bulletin.
Being thoroughly in accord with Mr. Blanding's suggestion for the designation of a day in Hawaii to be known as Lei Day, and being desirous of doing everything in our power to assist in the development of his suggestion, a few weeks ago we called upon Mrs. C. E. Peterson to work out a program for us. Mrs. Peterson has been very fortunate in obtaining the assistance of Mrs. R. A. Cooke, Mrs. T. A. Cooke, Mrs. C. W. Spitz, Mrs. Ada J. Gartley, Mrs. J. A. Morgan, Mrs. John Lane, Mrs. Mabel K. King and Mrs. Marie Brown, all of whom are working enthusiastically to make Hawaii's first Lei Day an outstanding success. Mr. Blanding is also giving valuable assistance to this committee.
The lobby of The Bank of Hawaii, Ltd., will be decorated by Mrs. Peterson and her co-workers, in the taste and brilliance of which we all know she is so capable. Hawaiian singers will assist in developing an atmosphere of aloha and the queen of Lei Day, whose identity will be anounced later, will be crowned in a fitting manner.
In order that every one in Hawaii may cooperate with us, we are holding a lei contest, in which every one is invited to participate. School children, other individuals, societies, clubs, professional lei women and men, and florists are all invited to submit leis in this contest. Only leis made of fresh flowers will be considered by the judges in their selection of the most beautiful lei within each designated group. Prizes in gold will be given for the winning lei in each class and in addition, a grand prize, in gold, will be given for the one lei judged to be the most beautiful of all the leis entered.
We are preparing and will have ready within the next few days a folder giving the rules governing the Lei contest, designating the different classifications and announcing the prizes.
All of us are working with enthusiasm to put Lei Day across and we extend to the public a cordial invitation to visit our lobby between the hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7:30 to 9 p.m. on May First -- Lei Day.
Remember -- May Day Is Lei Day, Wear a Lei on Lei Day.
Thank you for your courtesy in publishing this letter.
Yours very truly,
THE BANK OF HAWAII, LTD.
ROXOR DAMON, Vice President
Will Display Leis
Mr. Damon asked me to announce that in addition to the flower leis entered in competition for prizes there will be arrangements made to display leis loaned by individuals and any leis so contributed to the festive display will be fully protected and guarded. Historical leis, leis of rare or unusual design, in fact any leis of any different interest, will find display space.
From every source come announcements of kokua and aloha for the Lei Day idea. If we all join in we are going to have a Honolulu which will be so colorful that the visitors (I understand there are two boats arriving that day) will be charmed beyond dreaming.
I know that already the typewriter punchers are assembling their stories to go broadcast over the world. New York Times, several London papers, one of the Paris sheets and most of the coast papers are going to be supplied with stories and pictures of our flower celebration.
Is that publicity of the right sort? It is.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 13, 1928
Extension of Lei Day to States
Suggestion of Honolulu KamaainaWalter Doyle Writes Letter to Don Blanding In Which He
Proposes Novel Idea; George Armitage, of the Tours
Bureau, Gets Behind the Proposal and Offers His AidHere's a ripe idea for Lei Day from someone who knows his "leis." A mighty good idea to follow up. [By DON BLANDING]
Walter Doyle writes in:
"Dear Don -- About that Lei Day idea. Leis are getting more and more popular on the mainland all the time. Every delegation, fraternal or otherwise, which leaves here for the states with a bunch of paper leis is swamped with requests for them."Why not some enterprising concern here have leis fixed up ready for mailing. Some sort of a fancy paper box after the style of a Christmas box which neckties or sox are sent out in.
"Have a card attached to the lei explaining its significance and that everyone in Hawaii is wearing on Lei Day a lei made of real flowers. If it is too late now to start this might be a good suggestion for some enterprising merchant to keep in mind for next year as I KNOW Lei Day will be an annual event.
"WALTER DOYLE."
Now that's a splendid idea. We can't send real flowers but we can send the idea. People are so darned interested in Hawaii and will appreciate anything from here, and would be especially cocky about it if they could jauntily explain "Oh, yes, I had this sent me by a friend in Hawaii."
Just as I finished copying Walter Doyle's letter, George Armitage of the tourist bureau boomed in. I showed him the letter and he said that anyone who wanted to send leis to the mainland (they'll have to be paper leis) could call at the tourist bureau and get free the little lei booklet which they issue, explaining the lei and the sentiment attached to it and a few other things about Honolulu.
Now that's a ripping idea. Follow it up. Choose a lei, feather, shell, paper, or what not that can be sent to the mainland, and SEND IT with a message of aloha from Hawaii. Time it to arrive on Lei Day which is May 1, and be sure to include the message, "May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii."
Rumors come from the territorial fair grounds that there is to be a big celebration there. I haven't the details yet, but Colonel Schofield has promised me the big story as soon as they have their plans perfected.
In the meantime, see your favorite lei woman and engage your leis for May 1. You may find that they'll be hard to get. It's all in good fun, and not to be taken too seriously. That's the reason that we proposed the lei idea, it puts no burden on anyone and yet everyone can participate.
The universal appeal of the idea is attested by the letters from every one of the representative nationalities in Hawaii and several I didn't know were here.
I don't have to worry about my lei because Princess Kawananakoa has promised me a beautiful maile and ilima lei to wear that day. Will I wear it? Watch me!
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 19, 1928
Leis On Steamer Smokestacks and
On Aloha Tower New SuggestionMiss Elsa Cross Writes to Don Blanding With a Flood of
Ideas For the Celebration of Next Month; It Should Be
a Public Holiday, She Feels; Favors a Lei QueenMore fine letters, more splendid ideas, more encouragement for Lei Day. Honolulu is taking hold in its typical large handed way and guaranteeing that May 1 will be a memorable day for beauty and general happiness. By DON BLANDING
Leis, leis, leis all over town; in the windows, leis; on the cops, leis; on the school children, kamaainas, malihinis, leis.
A stranger will think that all the gardens in Hawaii have developed legs and are walking about the streets. Talk to the lei women if you want to know about Lei Day. Ask the florists if they can make a lei for you. You'll find that a tremendous interest has grown up and that Lei Day has caught the public imagination as it blamed well should.
Miss Elsa Cross sends in a letter full of splendid suggestions. Splendid Suggestions
"Dear Don Blanding:"Having some few idle hours enforced upon me by a severe chill, I have had time to think a little about your inspiration, Lei Day.
"Why not make a point of emphasizing the origin of the lei, namely, aloha. All steamers arriving on that day with passengers should be lei-girdled about the smokestacks. Aloha tower should wear a gorgeous lei from dawn to midnight. If a lei queen is selected, she should be of Hawaiian extraction and she should crown the statue of Kamehameha with a lei. She should be attended by Hawaiian warriors.
"There should be a 'Lei of All Nations' dance in the capitol grounds either by children or young women and each individual should be of a different nationality. We have plenty of nationalities to draw upon and each nationality should wear her own national costume (I repeat myself and write badly, but I hope you will unravel my meaning).
"I think, too, that it would be a happy idea for a committee to be formed to give leis to all hospital inmates, homes for the aged, industrial schools, etc., just to inform the recipients that although they may be 'out of it' in one way, they are certainly 'in it' in another.
"Lastly, let us keep Lei Day for the living, just as Memorial Day is for the dead. It should be a public holiday and supported by suitable pageants and a real Hawaiian program on the capitol lanai, hulas, choruses, etc. A Public Holiday
"It would be impossible to disassociate the lei from all Hawaiian things, even as it is impossible to disassociate it from aloha. Let us revive the lei bracelets and anklets as well. Short skirts afford ample opportunity.
"With congratulations on your fine idea and all best wishes for its success,
"Cordially,
"ELSA CROSS."
Well, there's plenty of material to think over. Take what ideas appeal to you and develop them. Remember, it's your day and it's up to you to carry on.
George Mellen, president of the Honolulu Ad Club, has some sentient remarks to make:
"To be different is to be remarked. That's advertising. To be agreeably different is to be remarked, remembered and courted. That's good advertising. But to be distinguished from the crowd for anything is not so easy. It requires either natural endowments of a rare order, or imagination, courage and unremitting industry. This is all as applicable to nations and their political and geographical subdivisions as it is to individuals.
"Fortunate is the individual, and fortunate is the state, posssessed of a feature sufficiently distinctive to eliminate competition.
"Such is the blessing Hawaii enjoys in its altogether delightful Hawaiian custom of the lei.
"Use of the lei appears to be increasing rather than suffering from neglect, yet it is well to designate one day in the year for special observance of the beautiful custom, and for revival of its history, traditions and significance. It seems to me there could not be a better day for this than May Day. May poles are all right, but lack distinction, and I should not like to see the hula distorted by an attempt to dance it around the May pole. Appears on Increase
"The Ad club makes frequent use of the lei at its weekly luncheons, and has done so for many years. Only last Wednesday three splendid leis were presented to the club with the compliments of the Niumalu hotel. They were made by Mrs. A. W. Heen, and as examples of the fresh flower lei were works of art.
"Hawaii has a precious heritage in the Hawaiian people and their lovely customs. No other country, tropical or otherwise, has that. It is the one thing we should cherish and emphasize above all else. If we fail it will be because we lack sufficient sense to recognize an exclusive right, carrying the benefits commonly known to accompany special privilege.
"The only danger I fear in connection with designating a special day for observance of the ceremony of the lei is that of contamination by the rough and ready paws of greed. No one but an Hawaiian should ever be permitted to sell a lei, because the Hawaiian makes you feel that even though money has been exchanged for something, that something was a gift to you and your money a gift to him. Isn't that prettier than crass, hard-boiled bargaining?"
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 20, 1928
LEI DAY SPIRIT
IS OVERFLOWING
ONTO MAINLANDBetty Lei Writes Wreaths
Are Traveling From Alaska
To New EnglandWell, the lei day idea has grown to such size that apparently it must overflow to the states, so they can get a little of our aloha spirit and be tempted to come here and see for themselves just what all this Lei Aloha business means. By DON BLANDING
Betty Getz (Betty Lei) writes in a good letter about Lei Day:
Dear Don Blanding:I have just read with much interest Walter Doyle's letter about putting up leis for mailing. That suggestion is excellent but it is just about eight months behind the actual accomplishment of the idea.
For about this long I have been making an original hibiscus lei in many combinations of color imitating the infinite combinations found in our own beautiful flowers. To each of these leis is attached a card marked "Hawaii's Aloha . . . the Betty Lei." These are packed in special artistic boxes just the right size and of the colors to harmonize with the individual leis contained. Each box has the same lettering as the cards, in gold letters, and the whole is then enclosed in a heavier box for mailing.
To bear out Mr. Doyle's prediction of their popularity I need only tell you that during the past few months these leis have been sent to New York, Washington, Chicago and many other large cities by tourists to their freinds as a souvenir of Hawaii and five of them will be worn by prominent Honolulu girls at their coming graduation from Vassar. Some have gone to England and some to the Orient and even to Alaska. Leis Travel Far
And here's a little secret, one of them is now on its way to the President of the United States with the card inclosed, "May Day Is Lei Day In Hawaii," and with a copy of Mr. Taylor's "Little Talk About Our Hawaiian Leis," which appeared in Wela-ka-Hao.
Now, Don, if you would like to have one of my leis, call me up at 2438 Burbank Rd., phone 3042, and I'll surprise you with one and if you don't say it's the prettiest lei you ever saw, I'll take it back.
Sincerely,
BETTY GETZ (Betty Lei).
Which brings to mind the telephone message this morning from Josephine Sullivan, president of the Business and Professional Women's club, saying that beautiful leis are being sent to all of the similar organizations in the states with messages of aloha and an explanation of the sentiment and significance of the lei. Every Bit Helps
It all helps. Everything that every one does will add to the gayety and beauty of Lei day. Fort Street should look like a flower garden if all of us do our bit and wear a lei on Lei Day.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 23, 1928
Lei Day Kokua Comes From Two
Real Kamaainas of the IslandsWalter F. Dillingham and C. C. von Hamm Write To Express
Their Approval of the Plan Which Is To Be Effective
On May Day; One Wants To See Pa'u RidersWell, well, well! This is the sort of stuff that warms your heart. Real response and kokua coming in from every source for Lei Day. Suggestions, plans, ideas piling up thick and fast. It's going to be a grand day and we can all take part in it without much trouble and with a lot of joy. By DON BLANDING
First, Walter Dillingham writes in: "In answer to your letter I wish to send you this as my indorsement to Lei Day:
"Cheers for the revival of our long-established and beautiful custom. Every day should be Lei Day in Honolulu."
And, may I remark, Walter Dillingham backs his statement by wearing a lei on his hat and it looks mighty effective.
Conrad von Hamm recalls old days in his letter and speaks of the beautiful impression the leis made on him when he arrived in 1890: Recalls the Old Days
"In reply to your letter of April 11, I wish to say that I heartily indorse Don Blanding's suggestion for Lei Day set for May Day in Hawaii."The beautiful Hawaiian custom of presenting visitors with leis has possibly done more than anything else to add to the natural charm of our lovely islands by its token of welcome and aloha, thus creating the longing to return.
"I shall never forget the first impression I received when landing in the islands in 1890. The flower girls on the street corners, selling flowers and leis, the men and women wearing leis around their necks and on their hats, sometimes even at work, and always when on horseback (then the general mode of transportation), presented a picture which one does not forget.
"May I suggest that on Lei Day the Hawaiians be asked to stage their old-time cavalcades, parading the town on horseback, dressed in their old native costumes -- the girls in their picturesque vari-colored pa-us, bedecked with leis and flowers, the men in cowboy attire or ancient Hawaiian garb, horses and riders decorated with flowers and leis as was the custom in years gone by.
"I agree with you that we cannot do enough to endeavor to retain the old Hawaiian customs and a movement to develop 'more Hawaii in Hawaii' is a very excellent plan.
"Yours sincerely,
"C. C. VON HAMM."
There's a mighty good suggestion in that letter for some of the Hawaiian societies to follow. Remember this Lei Day is YOUR day and it will be beautiful in just as much quantity as you yourself make it so. A Good Suggestion
Each of us must do his own particular little stunt for Lei Day. We can't leave it up to the other chap. The idea is too new and has not developed enough to be what it can be in a few years. But every lovely gesture that is made on this May-Day-Lei-Day will strengthen it for next year.
I know of 6000 leis that are going to be distributed on Lei Day. I can't tell you more about it now, but it is certainly going to distribute a lot of color around our streets.
We still have to solve the question of decorating our fleet visitors, the ones who come ashore on Lei Day. Perhaps the contest leis might be turned to that use.
Keep on sending your ideas in to me and I'll see that everyone gets hold of them. That's what we need, ideas and action.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 25, 1928
City Already Blossoming Out In
Anticipation of Lei Day, May 1Blanding Notices Unusual Leis Worn By People On Streets;
Sees One Made of Purple Petunias and Another Made of
Nasturtiums, An Orange Yellow and Vermillion GloryWill May Day be Lei Day in Hawaii? It certainly will. In fact it is getting to be Lei Day every day now in anticipation of the event. By DON BLANDING
Have you noticed the number of unusual leis on the streets lately? I saw a purple petunia lei that was the most gorgeous combinations of purple imaginable, and a nasturtium lei in orange, yellow and vermillion that was a glory to behold.
A letter from Wailuku tells me that Lei Day is to be observed there. Rebecca O. Young, secretary of the Hawaiian Woman's club, writes:
"Dear Mr. Blanding -- I wish to inform you that the Hawaiian Woman's club of Maui is very much in favor of 'Lei Day' and that we will do all we can in making a big success in the observance of this day on Maui. Yours for success."
Mrs. England-Hauck and Miss Louise Smith, secretary and president of the Honolulu Hairdressers and Cosmeticians association, write telling me that especial stress will be laid on decorations with leis and wearing of leis in all their association. They are having the girls of the industrial school under the supervision of Miss Sadie Sterritt make flower leis for some worthy cause, hospitals or homes, for Lei Day. There's good fellowship.
The Outdoor Circle gives hearty kokua and all members will observe Lei Day. In fact, every person in Hawaii seems to be planning on the day. Gives Hearty Kokua
The Bank of Hawaii is going to have a magnificent display with a Lei Queen attended by princesses, and there will be music and a program. I have been given the high honor of crowning the beautiful Nina Bowman, Queen of the Lei. Am I proud to do so? I am.
Incidentally, Nina Bowman will represent Ilima in the Junior League's Hula Moon show, and a lovelier Ilima flower you never saw.
John C. Lane, Alii Aimoku, Order of Kamehameha, sends the kokua and approval of the Order of Kamehameha in a splendid letter:
"I acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 11th inst., requesting my feelings toward the Lei Day idea for Hawaii nei."There is no question whatsoever in my mind that the idea is one of the best and certainly Don Blanding deserves all the credit for having brought about this idea to the attention of the people of the territory.
"The wearing of the lei and the giving of it to a friend, guest of honor, or to anyone -- even though to a new acquaintance -- carries the aloha, the friendship and the good thought one entertains towards another.
"There is no other custom of the ancient Hawaiians which should be perpetuated by all more fitting than the giving and the wearing of a lei. It is beautiful, colorful and lovable. It should grow stronger and stronger in the new life of Hawaii nei, because it conveys the real sentiment and feeling of aloha from one to another in a land Divine Providence destined to be the paradise of mankind.
"It is my humble opinion that there should be two Lei Days in the territory. One on May Day, as already adopted by general public approval, and the other on the 11th of June, Kamehameha Day, a day which was observed and celebrated as far back during the days of the monarchy. This day, as far as my recollections bear me, was the real Lei Day in Hawaii of the past. It was celebrated with horse races at Kapiolani park and bringing together the young and the old -- from the king down to the common people -- all wore a lei.
"This suggestion is offered with no idea to minimize the coming celebration of Lei Day, which will fall on May Day, but rather to kokua the beautiful idea of Lei Day in Hawaii."
Quoting from Phoebe Shields' letter from Ewa, Hawaii, "Are we at Ewa enthusiastic about Lei Day? Well, even the janitors are planning to enter the contest." How's that for enthusiasm?
Then Grace Tower Warren, who, incidentally, was the first one to write in suggesting that we have our Lei Day on May Day, writes in some potent suggestions:
"Dear Don Blanding:"Having been the first one to suggest May Day for Lei Day and the originator of the slogan, 'Lei Day is May Day and May Day is Lei Day' (you're wrong, Grace, it's May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii), which seems to have been adopted as the official one, may I venture to make one more suggestion?
"It has been announced that all of the school children are to make leis, and I have been wondering if a lot of these children of all nationalities, with their leis, could not be assembled in one mammoth, human lei, surrounding either the executive building or even the entire grounds, each two children to be linked together with a lei of flowers. It might be an interesting culmination of the parade which I believe has been suggested, symbolizing, perhaps, the linking and interweaving of the races in Hawaii, in upholding the territorial and federal government.
"This 'Lei of the Races' might be reviewed by Governor Farrington from the steps of the executive building, and perhaps there might be worked out some interesting little lei ceremony when all of the leis held by the children might be piled together in a huge mound, or linked from tree to tree, or draped upon the balustrade of the old palace. Or these leis might all be sent to the various hospitals and other institutions of the city where groups of people are housed, or again, this might be one of the solutions for furnishing a large number of men and officers of the fleet with leis. Think it over.
"Yours leifully,
"GRACE TOWER WARREN."
Those suggestions are good ones, but remember, this is not my day any more than yours. It is all Hawaii's and if you have any brilliant ideas, carry them out. Agitate them yourself. Lei Day should not be dependent on any one person.
I had the conception of a day which every one could celebrate by the simple gesture of wearing a lei, and any larger developments of the idea should be through individuals and organizations.
I think that after Lei Day every one is going to be so charmed that truly every day will be Lei Day in Hawaii.
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 27, 1928Leis, Their Meaning and Their
History Told By Mrs. A. P. TaylorKamaaina Authority Writes Article To Help Boost Plans
For Lei Day Which Is To Take Place Next Tuesday; At
Departure, At Arrival Giving of Lei Is AppropriateSince we will all be wearing leis on Lei Day we naturally want to know as much about them as possible. To this end I wrote to Emma Ahuena Taylor asking for information and was delighted to receive this splendid article in response: By DON BLANDING
"Leis," says Mrs. Taylor, "I have always known, were, and are, an expression of love. Leis were the garments of Hiku, the god of love. When one arrives at a Hawaiian home, the dwellers therein always hasten to deck him with leis, their expression of welcome and love. At departure, that same expression -- of love -- and farewell, is used in leis to decorate the departing one."At a feast, it is not complete unless every guest is bedecked with a lei. In olden times when people were traveling and they came to a sacred or historic place where there might be a stone that was venerated, the visitors placed wreaths of greenery upon it.
"Different goddesses, like Pele's sisters, have certain leis to represent them. Kapoulakinau, one of the goddesses that 'dwelt in the eastern gateway of the sun,' so tradition tells us, always wore the hala lei.
"When the young girls and boys were to be trained to dance the hula, an altar was built, dedicated to the goddess of the dance, Laka. Each morning when they went to the altar they always placed a lei thereon. Laka had two forms. If it was the God Laka then he was presented with a hala lei. If it was the Goddess Laka then she was presented with a maile lei.
"Different leis were used for different ceremonies, but to the Hawaiian, the choicest lei to give to their monarch was the lehua blossom, or red petals of the budding lehua, called liko lehua, or the hala entwined with maile. The beautiful ilima has been used for some ceremonies, but has always been considered the people's lei. The pikake, or jassamine, was, and is, one of the most fragrant leis in Hawaii. It is called by the Hawaiians the 'Evening Lei,' or the 'Twilight Lei.' They string them in the afternoon while they are buds. In the evening, when worn, the buds open, and the fragrance is at its zenith of beauty about 10 o'clock. Often it has been braided with the green leaves so that the flowers will open in the hair at night like stars in the heavens.
"From king to cowboy, no horseback rider was complete in his garb unless he wore a lei upon his hat and around his neck. It was a common thing to go to homes in the evening and find every woman there wearing a lei. It just seemed a part of her adornment.
"I recollect so well when the young men were forbidden to wear leis upon their hats when they went down town, as the parents of that period did not consider it manly for them to do so, but that was one of the many new thoughts in taking us away from our old Hawaii. Now, when those customs are all slowly dying out, I am happy to see that Don Blanding and The Star-Bulletin are endeavoring to restore the beautiful custom to which attaches so much sentiment, for now we see the lei principally on the days when steamers depart, or a luau is in sway.
"Before the days of modern street transportation few women would be seen in the evening without wearing a lei, but the hat seems to have taken its place, and hats for women at night seem so out of place. Why not eliminate the hat for evening wear and substitute the lei as its used to be, if one really has to wear something upon the head after dusk.
"The lei meant a great deal in old Hawaii. The favorite child in the home was called a wreath -- a lei. Konia, the mother of Bernice Pauahi Bishop, when she spoke of Liliuokalani, called her the 'lei a'i,' or 'the wreath of her neck.' As to Princess Pauahi, her daughter, she spoke of her as her 'lei po'o,' or 'the wreath of her head.' This has been told me by my mother.
"It seems to me that anything that tends to perpetuate the beautiful custom of the lei is worth while. What is more beautiful and fragrant than the green maile of different varieties, as one of the standard leis of Hawaii. 'Lei Day' and 'May Day' almost seem synonymous."
Honolulu Star-Bulletin
April 28, 1928
There's Tomorrow and The Next
Day, And Then Lei Day ArrivesAre You All Prepared For the Big Event? What Sort of a
Lei Will You Wear? And Don't Miss the Exhibit At the
Bank of Hawaii! Help Make It a Happy DayThere's tomorrow, and the next day, and then Lei Day. By DON BLANDING
Are you all prepared for the big event?
What sort of lei are you going to wear? Ilima, maile, pansy? Certainly a lei of some sort.
And you are going to see hundreds of other people wearing leis.
It's going to give you an unexpectedly happy feeling, and you're going to wear a grin, not a smile, for no particular reason except that happiness is infectious and Lei Day is going to be a happy day in Hawaii.
Lei Day has spread to the other islands. Hilo is going to celebrate. Maui is going to make an event of it. Kauai is going to burst out in mokihana, maile and flower leis. And it's all so simple and easy to do. No fuss and feathers and worry. Just drape a lei around your neck and go downtown to see the exhibits.
Don't miss the Bank of Hawaii's superb exhibition. There will be surprises enough for you, and a lovely ceremony of crowning the Queen of the Lei, a beautiful daughter of old Hawaii, gracious and sweet and utterly expressive of the lei spirit.
You'll want to window-shop along the streets, and see the stores' displays. The Young hotel is doing something colorful. The First National bank is making a large gesture. The Liberty House is going to have every person wear a lei. In fact, from all I can learn, everyone is doing something for Lei Day.
Pauline Vigneau of the Maunaolu seminary, Paia, Maui, tells of a celebration they are planning. Waimano Home near Pearl City is having a gorgeous day of it and all the children are preparing leis, songs, dances and festivities. Having Gorgeous Day
Lei Day will be a day of aloha throughout Hawaii. One can not give a lei without a kindly thought, and when I know that thousands of leis will go from friend to friend on May first I am warmed with the pleasantness of the thought.
You will want to be downtown during the day certainly. Anyway, we want to see your lei among the flower garden of leis which will be on the streets. Lend your smile and your flowers to the day.
Stop for a moment and think if there is someone to whom the day would be happier by a lei . . . and give it. There are some who are friendless . . . it's hard to believe in Hawaii . . . and to them a lei would be a treasure. More than a card, more than a gift, a lei carries a feeling of friendliness. And friendliness is the keynote of Lei Day.
There have been innumerable beautiful human contacts that have come to me through my association with lei Day, touches of kindliness and thoughtfulness which have been a revelation. Today I am wearing a beautiful silken lei of rich orange which deepens to vermillion or lightens to palest gold in the sunlight. With it came a note which I quote in part:
"Don Blanding: Please wear one of my leis which I have originated for you and 'Lei Day.' I have named these 'Lei Alii.' You may wear it because you are a prince indeed to have tried to bring back old Hawaii for a day."
Do you wonder that I wear this lei with special pride. I hope that the beauty of Lei Day will impress us all to such an extent that we will begin any happy occasion, holiday or festivity, by wearing a lei, and that leis will cease to be merely a gesture of departure from Hawaii. With Special Pride
Trust Kimo Wilder to come forward with a sentient suggestion. His letter brings some real "old Hawaii" into the idea.
From Kimo Wilder:
"Me too, for Lei Day!""But only one lei on May Day! I can visualize the perspiring few who have too many loving friends and burdened as was Sancho Panza's mule must stagger happily but dripping under the weight of these love tokens . . . leis.
"One lei for each and all on May Day,
But swap a lot! And with every swap and Aloha kaua.
Fidelity and love between us two!"That's what a lei means, not merely hello or goodbye. I shall wear the Red Hala, first lei (they tell me) I ever wore; aged one whole year, 1869. Suggested by my aged mother's complimentary oli, really Queen Kinau's, her godmother's in which occurred the line 'Kapu o ia na hala ula a uka.'
"One lei on May Day
But full of significance."Yours with much aloha,
"JAMES (KIMO) WILDER."
Then Gerrit Wilder contributed information and interesting data about leis, goddesses and what-not. He writes:
"Don Blanding has started us all to thinking about what a really important part the lei plays in the drama of life in Hawaii nei."Most of us are prone to take the charming things of life more or less for granted; however, it is well, occasionally, to pause in the day's work, and give especial emphasis to any particular phase which is as characteristically interesting as is the use of the lei, not only by Hawaiians, but as I have observed it, among all branches of the Polynesian race, living on the widely scattered islands of the Pacific, both north and south of the equator.
"As to the origin of the use of the lei in Hawaii, one must go far back into those mystical times when the hula was a religious ceremony and the dance was accompanied by music, pantomime and the chanting of poetry. Back to Mystical Time
"The sylvan goddess Laka was the goddess of the hula; in her honor the kuahu (altar) was set up in the halau, and was decorated with the indigenous flowers, fruit and greenery, with fragrant maile, with fronds and fruit of the Ie Ie; with the hala Pe Pe, with the Ekaha, birds nest fern, and other wild wood growths acceptable to the goddess Laka.
"At that time, those who aspired to be accomplished hula dancers were obliged to go through a very rigorous preparatory training given to them by the Kumu-hula, for the art of the dance was carefully guarded by tradition, and the strictest decorum was exacted of the pupils.
"When the great day came for them to show their proficiency in the art of the dance, they were bedecked with such lovely woodland flowers as the scarlet lehua, the native hibiscus, with leis made from the fruit of the pandanus, and with the royal yellow ilima.
"These lovely tokens were all acceptable to the goddess Laka.
"Kuena was the goddess of the lei makers.
"At dawn hers was the first voice in the woodland that inspired the lei makers. Hawaii today is prodigal in the use of the lei.
"The welcome guest is greeted on arrival with fragrant tokens of aloha. And the parting guest is often smothered with our expressions of friendship.
"Many islands of the South Seas are equally prodigal in the use of flowers.
"Some of the outlying islands, mere sand atolls, have practically no flowers to use in making leis, so the people make them of tiny sea shells very ingeniously strung. On the island of Raiatea the natives make leis of land shells. On the island of Manihiki group, Cook islands, where there are no flowers, except the infloresence of the coconut tree, the natives make attractive leis of the Portuguese Man o' War, the crisp shining little discs are colored red with native dyes.
"In Tahiti, very dainty leis are made from the pure white parchment-like tissue taken from the inner surface of the young coconut leaves.
"These leis are worn on the heads of young women singing himenes during the fete of the French national holiday, July 14.
"I am looking forward with interest to viewing the many beautiful leis which will be exhibited at the Bank of Hawaii on Lei Day.
"I heartily kokua for 'More Hawaii in Hawaii.' "
I have a letter from Mrs. N. Bridgman which carried a nice idea: Another Nice Idea
"My Dear Don Blanding: As May Day and Lei Day approach the personal element enters. Why not grasp this golden opportunity to express friendship in giving leis to others? The spirit of May Day is a gift of flowers as an expression of affection, esteem or friendliness. Leis sent in this spirit to a friend, to a mother or dear one, would I believe give Lei Day a personal significance that would live long in memory."I am so enthusiastic over the idea and also the desire to continue the memory of a lovely lei long after it has gone that I have written greeting cards for individual leis which I am placing in the various shops at a modest sum. I might add The Star-Bulletin handled my idea for me and I feel very appreciative of its interest.
"The lei is so intimately and alluringly part of the islands and the very first of a great deal of unforgettable loveliness that May Day could scarcely have chosen a more beautiful queen to portray her spirit. These flower isles lend themselves heartily to a gift of flowers and a charming and fascinating custom could be established.
" 'Send a Lei the First of May' -- for a slogan."
After Lei Day let us make every day Lei Day in Hawaii.
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