Lei Day
Bring the feeling of sand in your toes and sun on your face to wherever you are by wearing a tropical lei, most commonly associated with beautiful Hawai’i.
Celebrate Hawaiian culture and tropical aesthetics in May with lei-themed promotions, travel packages, and experiential events that transport customers to island vibes.
- DIY lei-making tutorials and kits for home celebrations
- Tropical travel deals and Hawaiian destination packages tied to Lei Day
- Behind-the-scenes stories of island flower traditions and cultural significance
- User-generated content campaigns featuring customers wearing leis in unexpected places
The Lei has played an important part in the history and culture of the native Hawaiian people. Anyone who has ever been there or seen images of the islands know that they are verdant and abundant playgrounds full of explosive color and sound that create a cacophony of peace and relaxation. Each of the islands have a flower that represent it, from the bright red lehua blossom from the Big Island, to the bright yellow Kauna’o flower of Lanai.
1929 saw the offical establishment of Lei Day, though celebrations of the event started 2 years prior in 1927 at the bank of Hawaii, and eventually landed in Kapi’olani park. Lei Day has a distinctive and unique style to it, with celebrations (sometimes contentiously) demonstrating the blend of cultures that have come to call the islands home. Everything from the musical traditions to styles of dance have all been incorporated to create an amazing blended culture that at its core is nothing but Hawaiian.
Concerns do exist that the blending of cultures throughout the islands will result in the loss of the Hawaiian cultural identity as generations go on, and that ethnic values will decline as well. Lei Day walks the line of this conflict by celebrating Hawaiian culture, and introducing others to it.