Latest news with #Kaimana
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
HMSA excited to award up to 20 high school seniors $5K scholarships each
HONOLULU (KHON2) – Dr. Mark Mugiishi, President and CEO of HMSA, said they're proud to be back again to celebrate 20 years of supporting local high school seniors on their higher education journey through HMSA's Kaimana Awards and Scholarship Mugiishi says Kaimana is one of his favorite programs at HMSA because it's an investment in our greatest asset – our keiki, our future. HMSA is excited to award up to 20 students $5,000 scholarships each. He says scholarships are available to students graduating from public, private, or independent schools in Hawaii. Dr. Mugiishi says the program is about recognizing well-rounded kids who work hard both in and out of the classroom, not only for themselves, but for their communities, too. HMSA's Kaimana recipients are just all-around great human beings who go on to do great things in their lives, and some are now doctors, engineers, astrophysicists, scholars, educators, and professionals making a difference in the world. How to access Hawaiʻi's Shangri La HMSA also acknowledges schools for excellence in academics, athletics, community service, healthy activities, and sportsmanship. Dr. Mugiishi says since HMSA started this program 20 years ago – spearheaded by former President and CEO Mike Stollar and long-time HMSA employee Bill Tobin – they've awarded 341 student scholarships and 171 school awards to date. He says with the Kaimana class of 2025, HMSA will have invested a total of $1.62 million in scholarships and awards to students and schools. So who is eligible? We're told applicants must graduate from a Hawaii high school in 2025 with a 2.75 or higher GPA, participate in a Hawaii High School Athletic Association league-sanctioned sport during at least one of their high school years, and be involved with community service projects. They'll ask for a personal statement and essay about community and well-being and two letters of recommendation from school faculty, mentors, or coaches. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Applications are available now and must be submitted online by Friday, Feb. 21, at 4 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
