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Lei Day

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Let's celebrate Lei day today In pageants with a King and Queen In flowers of each island's hue A day in which we extol spring. A day of Aloha's spirit Where music's shared in hula dance. Children wear each island's colors In long satin gowns that enhance The royal court displayed in schools That's honored the Hawaiian way. Let us not forget the May pole Of other lands on our Lei day. Take this garland of sweet flowers Please wear it 'round your neck with pride. Let us capture the Aloha spirit Of love in which we all abide. © Connie Marcum Wong Happy May Day and Lei Day to everyone! Note: On May first...May Day is known in Hawaii as Lei Day. It is a celebration of Hawaiian culture, or the aloha spirit. People commonly celebrate by giving gifts of leis to one another. Schools also put on plays[2] and elect a Lei Day court of Kings and Queens to represent the different islands.[3] Each island has its own symbol that is composed of a color and a flower. Hawaii (the big island) is red, Maui is pink, Oahu is yellow, Molokai is green, Lanai is orange, Kahoolawe is gray, Kauai is purple, and Niihau is white. In the same order the flowers are lehua, lokelani, 'ilima, kukui, kauna'oa, hinahina, mokihana, and a pupu shell. Niihau is the only island without a plant as its symbol. The link below has more information about Lei Day. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lei_Day

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Paul Callus

Date: 6/4/2017 2:33:00 PM

What a delightful and informative poem this is, Connie. Those coloured garlands bring back to mind Elvis & Blue Hawaii. In Malta we used to have a greased May Pole and the youths took it in turns to climb up to get prizes that were tied to the very top. ~ Regards // paul

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 6/4/2017 8:22:00 PM

That s like so much fun to watch and for the kids to try Paul. Thank you. : )

Freddie Robinson Jr.

Date: 5/24/2017 3:35:00 PM

Very spiritual poem, Connie. I like the Lei Day theme of love abides. Excellent informative poem. Ty for dropping the love and knowledge of this beautiful culture. A 7 all day song.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/24/2017 7:53:00 PM

Memorial Day we have in Hawaii a ceremony of Lantern Floating where all can come together for a personal and collective moment of remembrance, reflection, and offering gratitude to those who have gone before us. 50,000 or more meet on the beach at twilight. It is really lovely. Thank you Freddie. : )

Janis Thompson

Date: 5/24/2017 10:53:00 AM

I really enjoyed this . It is on the ad page for other poems to read. I have images of the color and flowers . Lovely poem. Lovely ,festive.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/24/2017 7:45:00 PM

I don't even know where the ad page is? But I am happy it led you to read this. Thank you Janis. : )

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/8/2017 5:28:00 PM

gosh, I thought for sure I had commented to this one, Connie. Did you show it at PFT. I bet that is it! It was a great post for this month. By the way, can you please email me about Jupiter and how it is a Mandela Effect? Are you sure new stuff was not discovered about it recently perhaps? I am very curious!! (my mandela effect as an urban legend entry utterly BOMBED)

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/9/2017 12:01:00 AM

Yes, this is the only one I posted at PFT. I caught another cold or it came back. I hope to get online tomorrow. Thanks, Connie

Vladislav Raven

Date: 5/8/2017 7:31:00 AM

A wonderful poem of celebration Connie. One can feel the love of the people through your words. I love the concept and the content of this write. It made me feel joy as i read down the page. A wonderful celebration indeed. Your words are a joyous celebration. This has to be a seven and a fave. Hugs....Mike. XX

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/8/2017 12:50:00 PM

Yes Mike, a huge tell is that we don't honk here. Drivers that do are from somewhere else. That kind of tells it all. Thank you so much, especially for the fave. Hugs, Connie

Sandra Haight

Date: 5/7/2017 7:24:00 PM

Such a lovely poem, Connie, in honor of this beautiful Hawaiian celebration, which seems so colorful and full of tradition. It must be wonderful to be able to live in such a lovely place. I very much enjoyed your poem. 7, Hugs, Sandra

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/7/2017 11:34:00 PM

Thank you very much Sandra. Most people are caring and will help those in need. : )

Dean Wood

Date: 5/7/2017 12:06:00 AM

This is really interesting Connie! I was not aware.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/7/2017 11:36:00 PM

I wasn't either, but I have lived here since 1980 and both my daughter and son were in these Lei Day pageants in their sixth grade on May Day. Thank you. ; )

Vera Duggan

Date: 5/5/2017 11:55:00 PM

Hi Connie, I know I read this on PFT but I liked it so much I had to read it again on here and give you another comment, take care my friend.......Vera

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/6/2017 2:02:00 AM

Thank you very much Vera. I love the culture of Hawaii. It took some getting used to tho. Such as having a huge party for our child's first birthday. We had three hundred and fifty people and my husband said it was considered small. ; )

Becca Teagan

Date: 5/5/2017 2:54:00 PM

I remember celebrating Lei Day when I lived on Kauai! We would string flowers together to make leis ... and I remember a song, may day is lei day in Hawaii... garlands of flowers everywhere... something something .... I can't remember now... lol Connie, your poem is beautiful... Hugs

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/5/2017 10:36:00 PM

All the islands are unique and Kauai is especially beautiful. Thank you for your lovely comment. ; )

Anne-Marie Coreggia

Date: 5/4/2017 9:07:00 PM

Aloha Connie. That poem put a smile on my face. Thank you so much for sharing with us this wonderful celebration:) Amitiés

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/4/2017 9:39:00 PM

Thank you very much Anne-Marie. I appreciate your comment!: )

Anne-Lise Andresen

Date: 5/3/2017 12:25:00 PM

- A beautiful experience I will believe ... almost as 17th of May ... Norway's national day - Hope the day was filled with joy - A wonderful poem, Connie :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/4/2017 4:03:00 PM

Enjoy your up coming holiday Anne-Lise. Thank you very much. Hugs, Connie : )

Carol B.

Date: 5/2/2017 3:24:00 PM

Wow this sounds wonderful! I enjoyed and appreciated this write. Hoping you had an amazing time Connie :)

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/4/2017 4:04:00 PM

I didn't go out, but my granddaughter wore flowers in her hair. Thank you Carol. : )

Maria Williams

Date: 5/2/2017 4:03:00 AM

Aloha Connie, a Happy Lei Day to you and the Hawaiian people. Your lovely poem gives us nostalgic memories of your island when we were there recently. The flowers are exquisite and you described that part of the culture so well. A Big 7 and Mahalo for sharing.

Joseph May

Date: 5/1/2017 10:17:00 PM

A celebration of spring in all its beautiful colors..A wonderful write Connie

Ilene Bauer

Date: 5/1/2017 7:29:00 PM

what a charming custom, connie, and one which you've described so beautifully in your poem! happy lei day to you, too...

Sunlite Wanter

Date: 5/1/2017 6:44:00 PM

Oh, how I wish I were there - so colorful - so joyful!!!! You make it sound wonderful with your upbeat poem.

Jean Murray

Date: 5/1/2017 6:13:00 PM

And while they celebrated Lei Day, the English danced around the May pole. It's so lovely that such culture is alive and well in our modern internet led world Connie.Thank you for sharing.

Jan Allison

Date: 5/1/2017 4:37:00 PM

On the first Monday in May we have a bank holiday here Connie but no particular celebration:-) thank you for sharing your colourful day with us:-) hugs Jan xx

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/1/2017 4:54:00 PM

We have other celebrations that are going on right now too like the Merry Monarch Festival hula competitions. Lei Day is a big deal here with much preparation of being fitted for gowns if you are chosen to be in the King and Queen's royal court. My daughter was chosen as a lady in waiting and wore a white gown. The sixth graders celebrate the end of grade school with this celebration on Lei Day. It was lovely. After the promenade they all do a traditional hula on the grass. My son was chosen to hold the Kahili in his sixth year. A kahili bearer (paa-kahili ) is one who carries or bears the standard for the royal subject. The kahili signified power from the divinities.Thank you Jan. Hugs, Connie

Chris Green

Date: 5/1/2017 4:33:00 PM

Very nicely done Connie. I had no idea that May 1st was celebrated in Hawaii as Lei Day, that is nice to know. Based on your poem, it sounds like a vibrantly colorful and festive celebration. We just finished two weeks of our Fiesta celebration in San Antonio and we also chose a King, Queen and their court who rule the celebration for the two weeks it runs.

Connie Marcum Wong
Date: 5/1/2017 5:00:00 PM

I loved San Antonio when I visited. It is a beautiful city. Lei Day is a big deal here. As I explained to Jan. Thank you very much Chris. : )