Sharing Mana‘o
Ever since 1927, when Don Blanding penned the now-familiar refrain, locals have referred to May Day as Lei Day. Section 8-13 of the Hawaii Revised Statues proclaims “May 1 of each year shall be known as ‘May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii’; provided that this day is not and shall not be construed to be a state holiday.”
I think it’s time to revise and expand that sentiment. We should retitle May to “the Merry, Merry Month of Lei.” For one thing, schools and other establishments no longer limit their May Day festivities to May 1. May Day pageants and ho’olaule’a are now held on various days within the month.
Most of our high school commencement exercises, during which graduates are laden (lei-den?) with garlands, are also held in May. And then, here on Maui, there’s Blossoms for the Brave, held annually on the Friday preceding Memorial Day.
This community lei-making event aims to recognize each of the more than 2,800 heroes interred at Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao. Presented by Kaunoa Senior Services, a division of Maui County’s Department of Housing and Human Concerns, and sponsored by the County and Mayor Alan Arakawa’s office, Blossoms for the Brave is a unique and wonderful opportunity to express appreciation for our veterans and to experience aloha at its grass-roots best.
Residents and visitors of all ages are invited to take part, no lei-making experience necessary. Volunteer coaches will guide novices through stringing flowers or twisting ti leaves into garlands of gratitude. We’ll enjoy camaraderie, refreshments and beautiful Hawaiian music by Kevin Kanemoto, Kevin Brown and Don Mitsuyuki. I’ll be there as emcee, announcing each 500-lei milestone as we progress toward our goal. The 2,846-plus lei will be placed at the cemetery by Maui Girl Scouts on Memorial Day.
Lei-making will take place from 9 a.m. to noon this Friday, on the front lawn of the county building in Wailuku. Donations of fresh flowers, greenery or ti leaves may be dropped off anytime after 7:30 a.m. at the South High Street parking lot fronting the county building.
Sturdy flowers, like crownflowers, bougainvillea, orchids and bozu, are best. Plumeria buds and partially opened plumeria are also good. If you are bringing ti leaves, they must be pre-cut and frozen for lei-making. Any amount of lei materials will be welcomed. You can also deliver completed lei; please note that these lei are not full size; they should measure 16 inches before tying.
While donations of completed lei are welcomed and appreciated, I encourage you to join the lei volunteers for an hour or two, or even for just 15 minutes, plenty of time to make a lei or two, especially at the shorter-than-usual length. It’s the perfect start to Memorial Day weekend: sitting outdoors under a giant tent, surrounded by fragrant blossoms and friendly faces, listening to beautiful Hawaiian music and talking story with friends old and new.
In years past, Kaunoa seniors and staff have been joined by curious tourists, multigenerational families, World War II veterans and active duty military personnel.
Ample parking will be available at the War Memorial sports complex, in the Ichiro “Iron” Maehara Baseball Stadium parking lot. Free shuttles will depart for the county building every half-hour, starting at 8:30 a.m. The last return shuttle to the parking lot will depart the county building at 12:30 p.m.
Regardless of experience, when you make a lei a part of you goes into it. Lei are symbolic of love, honor, respect, aloha. I can’t think of a sweeter way to pay tribute to our veterans.
* Kathy Collins is a storyteller, actress and freelance writer whose “Sharing Mana’o” column appears every Wednesday. Her email address is kcmaui913@gmail.com.