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You are here:  Main / Customer Services / Public Communications Division / 2011 / 04/07/11 Sandrina Lei Ilima Cabato De La Cruz is 84th Lei Day Queen

84th Annual Lei Day Queen is Sandrina Lei Ilima Cabato De La Cruz   (April 7, 2011) — Sandrina Lei Ilima Cabato De La Cruz is the City's 2011 Lei Day Queen. Lei Queen Ilima is of Hawaiian, Filipino, and Chinese ancestry, born in Honolulu to Basilio Balanza Cabato and Annie Keikiali'i Kaliko. A product of Kalihi and Nanakuli, she has four brothers and three sisters, and is a mother of two and grandmother of three.               Queen Ilima competed against five other women in this year's Na Kupunahine age group (55 years and older). She is an administrative assistant for Parents and Children Together. Ilima graduated from Farrington High School in 1967, and is presently a student of Windward Community College. She was formerly a student of Rose Lane Hula Studio, Kent Girard, Sam Naeole from Waimanalo, Roselind Hanohano, and Halau Hula o Maiki with Coline Aiu. One of her hobbies is working with ipu (gourds).               The all-day pageant judged each of the six finalists on lei making, hula, language skills and poise, and her ability to convey the spirit of aloha with warmth and dignity. This year's Lei Day theme is "He Lei No Ka'ahumanu" or A Lei for Ka'ahumanu. Queen Ilima's court includes First Lei Princess Haunani Judd Kauahi and four princesses, Linda Mae Ululani Chock, Wande Keanui Doane, Lorene Leimomi Erwin Hopkins, and Carolyn "Skip" Kaonohilani Tomiyama.  The queen and her court will reign over the 84th Annual Lei Day Celebration festivities on Sunday, May 1, 2011 at Queen Kapi'olani Regional Park and Bandstand.               The event also features local entertainment and hula halau. The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association performs in the lei exhibit/ho'olaule'a area (open area between the bandstand and the shell) following the Investiture Ceremony for the queen and court. The Lei Contest Exhibit is open to the public (from 1:00 p.m., to 5:30 p.m.) in the open area between the bandstand and the shell.  Some of the most exquisite lei in the world will be exhibited in a variety of colors and methods.               The first Lei Day was in 1927 and celebrated in downtown Honolulu with a few people wearing lei.  For more information about the 84th Annual Lei Day Celebration, visit www.honoluluparks.com, or call 768-3041.               For more information, contact Kaiulani Kauahi, Lei Day Celebration Chairperson, at 768-3041 or email rkauahi@honolulu.gov.   -30-