Lei Day Entertainment

A big “Mahalo nui loa!” to the wonderful musicians who support our Lei Day festival. Please visit their pages, and support them through the year by attending their concerts and purchasing their music.

Keoki Kahumoku
Keoki has headlined with us for every single "Mo`olelo o ka Lei" Lei Day Festival since the very first one at Wailoa Center in 2005 (Right: Keoki and Leilehua at 2005 Lei Day celebration), and each of the Mo`oheau Bandstand Lei Day celebrations since.

Keoki also has joined "He Mo`olelo o ka Lei" coordinator Leilehua Yuen to share his talent at the Palace Theater's Wednesday show, Hawai`iana Live! Each Wednesday, Hawai`iana Live! explores a different aspect of Hawaiian culture through chant, storytelling, song, and hula.

We are so thrilled to have Keoki join us again! If you don't know Keoki, he is a multiple Grammy Award-winning musician, a pig farmer and trapper, a teacher, a fisherman, a Dad, a taro farmer. . . . . Keoki also performs each year for Astro Day. Each autumn, Keoki hosts the Kahmoku `Ohana Hawaiian Music and Lifestyle Workshop in the peaceful plantation town of Pähala, at the Pähala Plantation House.

E komo mai! Join us for another Lei Day on May Day (May 1) in the historic town of Hilo, Hawai`i!

Buddy and Sammi Fo
We are so honored to have Aunty Sammi and Uncle Buddy join us for the first time this year. Uncle Buddy is a master of that classic Waikīkī sound so many of us grew up loving. Aunty Sami is an exquisite hula dancer with a unique graceful style which can also be very sassy! Buddy was named "a Major Player in the History of Hawaiian Music," and won a 2003 Na Hoku Hanohano Life Time Achievement Award. Buddy Fo's Career skyrocketed from the start in 1960 when he put together a four-part Harmony Group called the "Invitations" - the first group out of Hawai`i to go to LA and Record in a major recording studio. Throughout Waikiki's Entertainment Hey-Day, Buddy was a permanent fixture along side Don Ho and Kui Lee. Today Buddy & the lovely Sammi, his wife, are still performing, Buddy playing `ukulele and singing, and Sammi on back up vocals and congas, excelling in a time and style of music that is rarely seen anymore! Come and enjoy sharing the afternoon with them! Performance time 2:30.

Braddah Waltah
Honored as the originator of Hawaiian Reggae, Braddah Waltah is renowned throughout the islands. With hit songs like Sweet Lady of Waihole, Long Ago, Keep Hawaiian Lands, he changed the music scene in Hawaii forever. His first release, Braddah Waltah & Island Afternoon - Hawaiian Reggae, set the ground work for the Hawai`i Reggae Music scene of today, winning the Na Hoku Hanohano Award in 1991 for Best Contemporary album. Many of Braddah Waltah's songs have become staples among Hawaiian entertainers. Iconic Music Group plans release of a new Braddah Waltah album. Performance time 1:30.

Meleana Manuel and Halau Hula Ke `Olu Makani o Mauna Loa
What a privilege to have this fine halau from Volcano join us here at Kalákaua Park this year. We really enjoyed watching them at Chinese New Year, and look forward to many more events! Performance time 1:30 pm

Manu Josiah
With his gentle slack-key stylings, Manu expresses his aloha for the islands, telling stories of his `ohana in the music he has composed. Performance time 11:30.

Kamaluhia Woolley
Hula dancer and lomi lomi practitioner, Kamaluhia Wooley devotes many hours to the promotion of Hawaiian traditions and community service. For Lei Day, she takes time out of preparing for Sunday's Hilo Huli, the annual Rotary Club of South Hilo fundraiser selects different community service projects to kokua. This year's project is the helping to raise money to bring doctors to Hawai`i Island. Live Music, hula, food & drink, silent auction.

The Maile Sisters
Forest spirits beloved of Laka and Hi`iaka, the Maile Sisters figure in many romances.

The Maile Sisters debuted in April of 2005 in a performance at the Wailoa Art Center in Hilo. They performed there weekly through the month of April, with a final performance on April 30 in preparation for Lei Day. They have performed in Japan, as well as in many schools on the island of Hawai`i.

Memories of Lei Days Past

Video courtesy of HiloLiving.com