"May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i"

The phrase, "May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i" was coined by Grace Tower Warren, who is credited along with poet, Don Blanding, for establishing Lei Day as a holiday held on May 1. It celebrates the Hawaiian lei-making and lei-wearing custom and many local governments and schools in Hawaii celebrate May Day. At the schools, May Day features a "royal" court, where students elected as princes and princesses don leis representing each of the eight Hawaiian islands. Now how does this relate to weddings, you ask?

If looking ahead to a wedding in early May, keep in mind that the demand for leis increases, thus driving up their cost. Today, for example, a Micronesian ginger lei, which normally sells for $10 at Lin's Lei Shop, is now $18, and prices should remain high 'til Mother's Day, which is when lei prices traditionally hit their all-time-high. Be prepared to spend a little more for your leis, or choose alternatives, such as boutonnieres and corsages, if wanting to avoid the inflated lei prices. Happy Lei Day!

Groom and groomsmen wearing maile-pikake leis. Groomsmen in middle carrying Micronesian ginger leis wrapped with ilima. Groomsmen on right carrying multi-colored cigar leis. Photo by Visionari.

Mother of the bride wearing a Maunaloa lei. Photo by Eugene Kam Photography

Providing Your Guests with a Unique Experience for Your Destination Wedding in Hawaii

Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company Photography

Whenever catching up with friends, the topic of conversation at some point, always turns to weddings, as everyone knows how much my career as a wedding planner is so much a part of my life and passion. Yesterday's lunch with an old friend was no different. He shared with me his experience attending a destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico, and how he wished the whole affair had involved more "culture," especially since the location, which he had never visited before, promised something unique and out-of-the-ordinary.

That conversation inspired today's blog topic; providing your guests with a uniquely "Hawaiian" experience for your destination wedding here.

A Hawaiian Kahu or Officiant During a Ceremony, Bearing Lei for Family Members of the Couple

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company Photography

What is it that makes Hawaii different from any other destination in the world? On a cultural level, it is the hula; the Hawaiian language found in song (although seldom spoken today); musical styling from the ukulele and slack key guitar; surfing (which originated here); Hawaiian prints in fabric and quilt patterns; the Hawaiian and local cuisine; the tradition of giving lei to love ones, the historic landmarks worth visiting; and of course, the aloha spirit and overall cheery disposition that most folks have around here. All of this and more can be incorporated into the wedding itself as well as into activities with guests both prior to and following the wedding.

Seared Blackend Ahi (yellow fin tuna) with Wasabi Aioli, Soy Sake Glaze, and Micro-Greens Served as the Appetizer Course at our August 9, 2010 Wedding Reception at the Beach House Restaurant
Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company Photography

For our destination wedding couples, we have helped to arrange everything from private surfing lessons; rehearsal dinners at off-the-beaten-path eateries featuring an array of local dishes; private, guided site-seeing tours in trolleys for the visiting guests (sometimes, in multiple languages); private hula lessons for the bride to perform for her groom during the reception; a build-your-own-cocktail station with hollowed-out pineapple cups and an assortment of fresh island juices; custom designed and tailored aloha print attire for the bridal party; parties for the friends in a private karaoke room; and so much more. The possibilities are endless when it comes to treating your guests to a one-of-a-kind destination wedding experience in Hawaii. I encourage you to get creative when planning your wedding here; I assure you, your guests will thank you for it!

Custom Tailored Aloha Print Attire for Guests

Photo by Dave Miyamoto & Company Photography


Catholic Priest Wearing a Fragrant Maile Lei. (A thoughtful and appreciated gesture in Hawaii is to present a lei to the wedding officiant; a tradition which your guests might find very special.)
Photo by Chrissy Lambert

Bride by Stained Glass Window. (Note the pineapple in the bottom corner of the stained glass. The stained glass murals at Our Lady of Peace, known as the oldest Catholic cathedral in continuous use in the United States, depict the development of Catholicism in Hawaii.)
Photo by Chrissy Lambert

Painted Hibiscus Mural Serves as an Original "Vintage Hawaii" Backdrop. Location: Island of Molokai
Photo by Kai Photo

May Day in Hawai'i

Photo courtesy of Christie Pham.

Traditionally, May Day in Hawai'i is May 1. This day was meant to celebrate the Hawaiian customs of making and wearing leis. There is even a song many Hawaii locals know called, "May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i." On this day, many festivities are held, including lei contests in schools, a Lei Day celebration at Queen Kapi'olani Park in Waikiki, and May Day celebrations at elementary schools.
Clearly, leis are an important part of this day, which also means that florists may be either busy due to a higher demand and/or prices for leis may increase due to the multiple events during this time. Often times, many weddings in Hawaii will have at least one lei involved, whether it is a maile lei for the groom or multiple leis for the VIPs of the wedding like the parents of the wedding couple. With a higher demand, lei prices could increase, which is something to consider when choosing a wedding date or what flowers to use at the wedding.

( Photo on left by Andrew Cha. Photo on right by Kris Labang Photography.)