Are you wearing the right color lei for Lei Day? Kumu Lum explains
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Every year on May 1, Hawaiʻi celebrates something special. It's not just another spring day. It's May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi; and it's a time to give, wear and honor lei.
Kumu Brad Lum said this day means more than most people realize.
'May Day is very important for me and for my hula halau,' he said. 'We'll be performing and honoring the May Day court. This is an exciting time to honor the lei.'
This year, he's not just making lei. He's helping open the event with an oli, performing hula with his halau at Kapiʻolani Park and even serving as the male oli for the day.
Here are eight things Kumu Lum said you need to know to fully understand and celebrate Lei Day in Hawaiʻi the right way.
The whole idea behind Lei Day is about sharing aloha. 'It's a big time to show your aloha for Lei Day,' Kumu Lum said.
People across Hawaiʻi celebrate by making lei, wearing lei, giving lei and dancing hula. 'It's an exciting time to honor the lei,' Kumu Lum added. 'We're all excited.'
'Each island has a lei,' said Kumu Lum. 'And a lot of people don't know this.'
For example:
Niʻihau has the niʻihau lei that is made with shells. Its color is white.
Kauaʻi has mokihana, and its color is purple.
Oʻahu has ʻilima, which is bright yellow.
Molokaʻi has kukui, which is green and silver.
Lānaʻi has kaunaʻoa, an orange vine.
Kahoʻolawe has hinahina, which is gray. 'Of course, no one lives on Kahoʻolawe,' said Kumu Lum, 'but we still honor it.'
Maui has loke lani, a pink rose.
Hawaiʻi Island has lehua, and its main color is red.
'That lehua flower is beautiful,' said Kumu Lum. 'But just a reminder, if you ever go and travel, you can't take it from island to island. They may give you a fine.'Each island's flower comes with a color, and those colors are part of the celebration.
Kumu Lum said it helps people connect to where they're from. 'It all depends on what island you're coming from,' he said. 'The colors signify that.'
'May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi started back in March,' said Kumu Lum. 'They picked the Lei Day queen, and that was such a beautiful event.'
He described it with pride. 'It was beautiful. It was so professionally done. It was such a great experience. I wish more people could show up.'
The City and County of Honolulu's Parks and Recreation department organizes the event. Kumu Lum said he hopes more people get involved each year. 'Please, please do that,' he said.
One of the biggest celebrations is at Kapiʻolani Park. That's where Kumu Lum's hula halau will dance.
'I'm very, very, very honored this year,' he said. 'We'll be performing and honoring the Li Day court.'
Another major celebration is at Kaimana Beach Hotel.
'They have a huge Lei Day event coming up on May 1 and May 2,' said Kumu Lum. 'Kaimana Beach Hotel is hosting Kalani Peʻa.' (Click here for more details.)
He added that the hotel even holds a lei contest. 'Yours truly will be a part as one of my lei will be in the contest as well,' he said with a smile.
Some island flowers grow in surprising places. 'There's a specific lei that only is planted on the plateaus of Lānaʻi,' said Kumu Lum.
'It has to be dry. That's the only way that plant can thrive,' he explained.
Even Kahoʻolawe, which no one lives on today, is included. 'There's a lot of hinahina all over the place on Kahoʻolawe,' he said. 'So, we honor that.'
Kumu Lum encouraged everyone to take part, not just wear a lei for the day.
'I want you to come to the park on Lei Day,' he said. 'We're all excited.'
If you've never been to a Lei Day event, he said now is the time. 'If you've never experienced the May Day is Lei Day queen contest, then please do that,' he said. 'It's so beautiful.'
Lei Day is a chance to pause and reflect on aloha, culture, and where we come from.
'May Day is very important for me,' said Kumu Lum. 'Because I totally understand what May Day is all about.'
To him, the lei is more than something to wear. It's a way to honor people, places, and history. 'This is an exciting time to honor the lei,' he said. 'So come, give a lei, wear a lei, show your aloha.'
'Mahalo,' he said. 'May Day is Lei Day. Give a lei. Wear a lei. Show your lei. Be there.
Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHON's morning podcast, every morning at 8
You can click for more information on the Lei Day court. You can click for a documented history of Lei Day.
Happy Lei Day, Hawaiʻi nei!
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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