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MAYOR ANNOUNCES LEI DAY EVENTS   (Mon., April 23, 2012)—Mayor Peter Carlisle and Department of Parks and Recreation Director Gary Cabato today announced details about the 85th annual Lei Day Celebration during a ceremony in the Mayor's Office. The Lei Day festivities are planned for Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at the Queen Kapi'olani Regional Park and Bandstand from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.               "I continue to be impressed on how important Lei Day is to us," said Mayor Carlisle. "This wonderful event perpetuates the very essence of what makes our state and our island unique in the world."               The theme for the 2012 Lei Day Celebration is Lei U'i Onaona (Sweet Lei of Youth). This free event features the coronation of Lei Queen Pômaika'inokeakua Lenore Klein and her court, First Princess Kalai Sina Chow, Second Princess Christian Lei U'i Kaholokula, and Princesses Catelin Kawahinekoa Aiwohi, Lorene Yoshimi Gima, and Courtney Ellen Lynn Ku'uleilani Lynch.   Entertainment and Hawaiian music, including a steel guitar concert, is offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lei exhibit, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., boasts some of the most exquisitely crafted lei in a variety of colors and methods. Kûlana Lei is new this year and includes a village of Hawaiian artisans sharing their talents and skills with exhibits and demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. While at Kûlana Lei, mo'opuna (grandchildren) may visit with Tûtû (grandmother) at Tûtû's Hale and hear stories, play Hawaiian games, learn a song, hula, lei making, and lauhala weaving.   EVENTS SCHEDULE   9:00-9:50 a.m. Royal Hawaiian Band 10:00-10:50 a.m. Nâ Wahine O Ka Hula Mai Ka Pu'uwai 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Investiture Ceremony for the 2012 Lei Queen & Court 12:30 p.m. Official Opening of the Lei Contest Exhibit 12:45-1:30 p.m. Kapena 1:45-2:30 p.m. Weldon Kekauoha 2:45-3:30 p.m. Mana'o Company 3:45-4:30 p.m. Hâlau Hula 'O Hôkûlani 4:45-5:30 p.m. Nesian N.I.N.E. 5:30 p.m. Announcements and Closing                 Although the lei lipine category is now closed, it is not too late to enter the Hawaiian lei or youth lei contests. The material selected for the theme lei, one of the categories of the Hawaiian lei contest, is pîkake and/or pakalana. The deadline to submit all Hawaiian lei and youth lei entries is May 1, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.               This celebration is presented by the Department of Parks and Recreation, and sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Company, Times Supermarkets, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority.               For more information, please visit www.honoluluparks.com or call the Department of Parks and Recreation at 768-3041.     -30-    Media Contact: Kai'ulani Kauahi,  Lei Day Publicist, 768-3041.