Lei Day Lei Contest

The “Story of the Lei” lei competition is back! Last held in 2007 at the Mo`oheau Bandstand, it has found a new home in the East Hawai`i Cultural Center. “It’s a bit different from most other lei competitions,” event coordinator Leilehua Yuen says. “In He Mo`olelo o ka Lei, we focus on the kaona and mo`olelo as much as we do the actual crafting of the lei.”

Kaona – inner or hidden meaning, and mo`olelo – a story intended to inform, are an important part of traditional Hawaiian artistic expression. Yuen says, “In 2005, when the late Aunty Nona helped us to set up our May 1 Lei Day festival, she was very concerned about how we were losing some of the traditional stories that go with some of the lei. When we looked at the different competitions, there were so many that do a fantastic job of supporting the haku lei – the lei makers – and the artistry is just incredible. But the kaona and mo`olelo – the backstories – weren’t often being told. Probably because the haku lei and other people deeply involved in the culture are so familiar with the stories, we just don’t think to include them in the presentation. So, we decided to pick that for our kuleana.

At the He Mo`olelo o ka Lei – A Story of the Lei competition forms will have space for haku lei to write the mo`olelo for that lei. Lei will be judged on a point system which will look at: The name or title of the lei, the story behind the lei, the theme or hidden meaning of the lei, its craftsmanship, attractiveness, how it is presented, and how harmoniously all the elements are put together.

“I know it sounds so complicated when you write it all down!” Yuen says, “But we actually already put all of that into practice. The goal of this competition is to encourage people to think about it, and to start documenting it. “

“For example, if you learned to make a special kind of lei from your Tutu, then that is part of that lei’s mo`olelo, it’s story. So many people tell me, `I never learned the story. I guess Mama thought I knew already.’ Or they tell me, ‘My grandparents didn’t think it was important enough to pass on.’ But these stories are our history. We need to tell them, to pass them on, to remember them.”

Lei may be entered in a variety of categories in both kahiko (traditional styles using native materials) and `auana (modern styles which may include introduced materials). Styles include hili, hilo, haku, wili, nipu`u, kui, and humupapa. There is a $5 entry fee per lei. Entry forms may be downloaded from www.LeiDay.net, or picked up from the East Hawai`i Cultural Center.

Contestants may price their lei for sale at the event, or mark them NFS and take them home.

Winners will receive a trophy by LeiManu Designs.

Click here for Kahiko form

Click here for `Auana form