May Day Across the Island

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

Molokai students celebrated May Day at schools across the island last month. Keiki draped in colorful lei represented each island in their school’s May Day courts, while each class performed a hula or mele for their ‘ohana and friends.
According to Kamehameha Schools, Reverend Samuel Kapu of Maui wrote a mele called “Na Lei o Hawaii” which mentioned the flower symbol for each island. The first May Day celebration was held in 1928, and the floral symbolism continues today: Hawaii Island is represented by red ‘oh‘ia blossoms, pink lokelani for Maui, yellow ilima for Oahu, Molokai is the green kukui leaf, Lanai represented by light orange strands of kauna‘oa, gray hinahina is for Kahoolawe, Kauai is the purple berries of mokihana, and Niihau is symbolized by white pupu shell.
Today, Lei Day celebrates the traditions of making and giving lei.