Hilo, Hawai`i
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Mo`olelo o na Lei
( Stories of the
Lei )
Calendar * Workshops * Lei Day Pageant * Lei Competition * Lei Links * Lei Gifts
Lei Day Court Participation
Members of the Royal Court are selected from a field of applicants of mixed cultural heritage. There are no ancestry requirements. The Lei Court serves Moku Hawai`i voluntarily to inspire and educate "the populace" about the importance of the lei in Hawaiian culture and thought. Their cultural blend underscores the beauty of our multi-cultural islands. Just as every flower has its own unique beauty and fragrance, and flowers from many lands are woven into our cherished lei, so too with the myriad people who make Hawai`i our home.
Members of the Lei Day Royal Court should be residents of Ka Moku Hawai`i (Hawai`i Island) with an interest in the stories, traditions, and art of lei making.
Nā Ali`i, Chanter, and Konohiki should be adults. There is no age restriction for Attendants or Pūkani.
To apply, simply e-mail or write a letter to: Mo`olelo o nā Lei Organizing Committee, P.O. Box 1199, Hilo, HI 96721
In the letter:
1) Tell what role you would like
2) Tell why you believe lei-making should be perpetuated
3) Tell a mo`olelo, a story, about a special memory in which a lei
played a part
4) Describe how an "average person" can promote intercultural harmony
If you are chosen to be part of the Royal Court, your letter's parts 2, 3, and 4 will be formatted and may be edited for spelling and clarity, and will be included in the Mo`olelo o nā Lei web pages. A photograph of you will be taken to go with your mo`olelo.
Attire
Attire for Nā Ali`i and Chanter shall be
decided on an individual basis.
Regalia such as `ahu `ula, kahili, etc. provided by the festival
shall remain the property of the festival.
Attire for Attendants, Pūkani,
and Konohiki shall consist of:
Males - white long-sleeved button-style shirt, black slacks
or jeans, and appropriately colored ka`ei (sash)
Females - Attire shall consist of appropriately colored pā`ū (pahu-top
style)
The ka`ei and pā`ū worn by the Attendants, Pūkani,
and Konohiki will be provided by the Festival and shall be theirs to
keep as a mahalo for their kokua.
Regalia such as `ahu `ula, kahili, etc. provided by the festival shall
remain the property of the festival.
Footwear shall be tidy, clean, comfortable, and non-skid.
The Mo`olelo o nā Lei organizing committee reserves the right to adjust, change, and alter the rules as they see fit in order to accomplish the goals of the festival.
Nā Ali`i o nā Lei
Ali`i Kane Ali`i Wahine
Duties
shall include:
* Presiding over Royal Festivities
* Reading Royal Proclamations
* Presenting awards to lei contest winners
The Ali`i are attended by their kahili bearers
Nā Ali`i `Ewalu
These eight "Chiefs for a Day" are selected from island lei makers and represent the eight major islands of Hawai`i.
They are attended by their kahili bearers
Nine Male Attendants
Carry island kahili & Ali`i Kane kahili
Duties shall include:
* Carry kahili
* Attend to needs of Ali`i o nā Lei
* From 9:00 to 11:00 enjoy lei demonstrations
Nine Female Attendants
Carry island kahili pa`a lima & Ali`i Wahine kahili
Duties shall include:
* Carry
kahili pa`a lima
* Attend to needs of Ali`i Wahine o nā Lei
* From 9:00 to 11:00 enjoy lei demonstrations
Pūkani
Duties shall include announcing arrival and departure of Royal Court
by blowing the pū
Chanter
Duties shall include announcing the entrance of the Ali`i and organizing
protocols
Konohiki
Duties shall include receiving ho`okupu and presenting it to Nā Ali`i
Pageant Schedule
Pre-Pageant
8:00-10:00
Accepting lei entries
10:00-11:30 Judging
9:00-11:30
Demonstrations of Lei Making
12:00
Entrance of Lei Court
Royal Entertainment
Hula and Hawaiian Music
1:00-1:30
Announcement of Lei Competition Winners and Presentation
of Awards
1:30-2:30
Royal Entertainment
Hula and Hawaiian Music
2:30-3:00
Closing Ceremonies
Post Pageant
3:00
Lei Pick-up
The Mo`olelo o nā Lei series of programs was created to preserve and teach the cultural traditions of Hawaiian lei. The series is funded in part by the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, CPEP, and Destination Hilo. Additional funding comes from the Pāhala Plantation Cottages, Ka`u Calendar, Keoki Kahumoku, LeiManu Designs, Yuen Media Services, and Pacific Islands Shipping & Trading.
Mahalo to
County of Hawai`i Department of Research and
Development
County Product Enrichment Program
Pacific Islands Shipping & Trading
Ka`ahele Hawai`i is an electronic magazine of Hawai`i Island. We hope to provide material of interest and usefulness to readers both on and off Ka Moku Hawai`i. It is currently under development as the first website designed and managed by Yuen Media Services. We would like to invite YOU, the reader, to participate in the development of this site. Please let us know of any suggestions you may have to make this site more useful and enjoyable. Mahalo, Leilehua Yuen.