02/20/15 87th Annual Lei Court candidates announced

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02/20/15 87th Annual Lei Court candidates announced Friday, February 20, 2015 Mayor Caldwell's Press Office: 768-5768 (cell 489-0341) 87th Annual Lei Court candidates announced Kapolei – The City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation proudly announces the candidates for the 87th Annual Lei Court selection event, to be held on Saturday, March 7, 2015, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Regional Park. Each year, the Lei Court selection rotates through four age brackets: Nā ‘Ōpio (the youth), Nā Mākua (the adults, 31-45), Nā Mākua ‘Ō‘ō (the elders in training, 46-60), and Nā Kūpuna (the elders, 61 and older).  This year is the Nā ‘Ōpio category (18-30 years of age) and the three (3) contestants are: •           Danielle Pōmaika‘i ‘O Keikilani Akiona •           Whitney Harue Hiwalani Miyahira •           Paige Miki Kalāokananiki‘eki‘e Okamura Each contestant will be scored on the following skills performed on site: 1.         Kumuhana o ka Lei (lei making - time limit of one hour) 2.         Kūlana Lei (poise and personality) 3.         ‘Ōlelo Pelekane and ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i (speaking skills in both English and Hawaiian) 4.         Hula ‘Auana (modern hula) Once selected, the Lei Court will preside over the Lei Day festivities, and will be the city’s Ambassadors of Aloha at a variety of public events, including the Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony. Please join the City & County of Honolulu, May’s Hawai‘i, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, Salon 808, and SummitMedia LLC at this wonderful and exciting day to celebrate Hawaiian history and culture.  This event is free and open to the public.  BACKGROUND The first Lei Day was celebrated on May 1, 1927 with a few people wearing lei in downtown Honolulu.  Over time, more and more people began to wear lei on May 1st, and thus began the tradition of “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‘i.” The first Lei Queen, Nina Bowman, was crowned by Honolulu Mayor Charles Arnold in 1928. For more information about the 87th Annual Lei Court Selection Event, please visit www.honoluluparks.com, or contact Lei Day Publicity Chair Roger Watanabe at 768-3042, or rwatanabe@honolulu.gov. - END -

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