This Friday, May Day, Honolulu turns Queen Kapiʻolani Regional Park into lei central for the 98th annual Lei Day Celebration, a full-day festival honoring Native Hawaiian culture and the art of the lei. The free event runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and features hula halau, live Hawaiian music, lei-making workshops, artisan booths and the city’s Lei Contest. Families and visitors are invited to the bandstand investiture and a public exhibition of contest lei.
What to expect at Kapiʻolani Park
According to the City & County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation, festivities at the bandstand kick off with a performance by the Royal Hawaiian Band and the Lei Court investiture, followed by the opening of the Lei Contest for public viewing. The schedule includes lei-making demonstrations, hula and island music, artisan and food vendors, and family-friendly workshops running steadily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Lei Court and the contest
The Lei Court, chosen earlier this year through public auditions that test lei-making skills, hula and public speaking, will preside over the ceremonies and serve as the city’s ambassadors throughout 2026, Spectrum News reported. The Lei Contest exhibit stays on display through the closing ceremonies, when contest lei are placed at Mauna ʻAla and Kawaiāhaʻo Church as a final homage.
Nearly a century of aloha
The Lei Day tradition dates to 1927, with the first lei queen crowned in 1928, city records show. The City & County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation notes the celebration has grown into one of Honolulu’s most beloved cultural gatherings, showcasing master lei makers and multigenerational practitioners.
Sponsors and practical info
Tourism listings, including Go Hawaii, and the department’s announcement list partners such as the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and local vendors, and confirm the event is free and family friendly. For the Department of Parks and Recreation social announcement and a fuller list of partners that include city departments and the Royal Hawaiian Band, see Honolulu DPR and Go Hawaii.
