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EveryParampara

Next: 1 May 2027

Lei Day

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii: garlands of flowers, lei-making contests, hula and a Lei Queen.

A pattern drawn for this day, not a photograph.

When is Lei Day in 2027?

Lei Day 2027 is on Saturday, 1 May 2027. Other years: 2026, Friday, 1 May 2026; 2028, Monday, 1 May 2028.

About Lei Day

In Hawaii, 1 May is Lei Day, rather than May Day. The poet Don Blanding suggested the idea in 1927, and the writer Grace Tower Warren Crocker coined the phrase "May Day is Lei Day". The lei, a garland of flowers, leaves, shells or feathers, is a symbol of aloha and is given at welcomes, farewells, graduations and other moments of life. On Lei Day, schools, communities and shopping centres hold lei-making contests, concerts of Hawaiian music, hula and a pageant. Every island has its own flower, such as the red lehua on Hawaii and the yellow 'ilima on Oahu. People wear leis all day and give them to friends. The biggest events are held at Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, where leis are judged by their craft and beauty.

Lei Day dates: 2026, 2027, 2028

YearLei Day date
2026Friday, 1 May 2026
2027Saturday, 1 May 2027
2028Monday, 1 May 2028

What is eaten

  • poi
  • kalua pig
  • haupia

Also part of it, and being written: Lei (The garland itself.), Hula (The dance of the day.), Aloha (The spirit of the day.).

About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Background: "Lei Day" on Wikipedia. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

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Every week: one tradition from somewhere new, what is being celebrated around the world this week, and one idea explained.