Connie Marcum Wong Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

Lei Day

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 June 4, 2017 at 2:33 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 June 4, 2017 at 8:22 PM That s like so much fun to watch and for the kids to try Paul. Thank you. : )

Freddie Robinson Jr. May 24, 2017 at 3:35 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 May 24, 2017 at 7:53 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 Medders Tobechi May 24, 2017 at 10:53 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 May 24, 2017 at 7:45 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 May 8, 2017 at 5:28 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 May 9, 2017 at 12:01 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 May 8, 2017 at 7:31 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 May 8, 2017 at 12:50 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 May 7, 2017 at 7:24 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 May 7, 2017 at 11:34 PM Thank you very much Sandra. Most people are caring and will help those in need. : )

Dean Wood May 7, 2017 at 12:06 AM This is really interesting Connie! I was not aware. Connie Marcum Wong May 7, 2017 at 11:36 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 May 5, 2017 at 11:55 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 May 6, 2017 at 2:02 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 May 5, 2017 at 2:54 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 May 5, 2017 at 10:36 PM All the islands are unique and Kauai is especially beautiful. Thank you for your lovely comment. ; )

Anne-Marie Coreggia May 4, 2017 at 9:07 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 May 4, 2017 at 9:39 PM Thank you very much Anne-Marie. I appreciate your comment!: )

Anne-Lise Andresen May 3, 2017 at 12:25 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 May 4, 2017 at 4:03 PM Enjoy your up coming holiday Anne-Lise. Thank you very much. Hugs, Connie : )

Carol B. May 2, 2017 at 3:24 PM Wow this sounds wonderful! I enjoyed and appreciated this write. Hoping you had an amazing time Connie :) Connie Marcum Wong May 4, 2017 at 4:04 PM I didn't go out, but my granddaughter wore flowers in her hair. Thank you Carol. : )

Maria Williams May 2, 2017 at 4:03 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 May 1, 2017 at 10:17 PM A celebration of spring in all its beautiful colors..A wonderful write Connie

Ilene Bauer May 1, 2017 at 7:29 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 May 1, 2017 at 6:44 PM Oh, how I wish I were there - so colorful - so joyful!!!! You make it sound wonderful with your upbeat poem.

Jean Murray May 1, 2017 at 6:13 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 May 1, 2017 at 4:37 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 May 1, 2017 at 4:54 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 May 1, 2017 at 4:33 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 May 1, 2017 at 5:00 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. : )