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Ho‘omaika‘i (Congratulations) to the 95th Lei Court!




O‘AHU - The Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) bids a fond ho‘omaika‘i (congratulations) and e komo mai (welcome) to the 95th Lei Court!


•   Queen Tehina Kaʻena Kahikina

•   First Princess Angela Jeanell Cezar Miranda

•   Princess Shailyn Makana Marie Wilson

•   Princess Madison Kamalei Espinas

•   Princess Sara Noʻeau Campbell

•   Princess Lulani Kaehulaniokekai Chung-Kuehu

•   
In an amazing display of solidarity, the six women decided before today’s selection event to include all of the candidates in the 2024 Lei Court. This creates four princess positions as part of this 95th Lei Court. Typically, the top three candidates from the selection event determine the Princess, First Princess, and Queen.

Lei Queen Tehina is an ʻōlapa (dancer) of Ka Pā Hula o Kauanoe o Waʻahila who has been dancing with Kumu Maelia Loebenstein Carter for 16 years. A Punahou and UH Mānoa graduate, Tehina’s passion and education center around Hawaiian Studies and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi. Well-versed in a variety of lei-making styles, her passion for lei has led her personal drive to understand more about harvesting protocols, environmental awareness of native and invasive species, and practicing mālama ‘āina. As she stated in her Lei Court application, “May we pick with intention and aloha and return our lei back to ʻāina.” From her youth spent mainly makai paddling and surfing, to her young adulthood focused more mauka, Tehina cherishes her time in Kuli‘ou‘ou and in Waikīkī, where she holds found memories of dancing hula and playing in the popular waters.

Lei Queen Tehina and her court now join the prestigious lineage of Hawaiian cultural practitioners represented by the Lei Court ‘Ohana. This 95th Le Court was determined during the selection event March 2, 2024 inside the historic Mission Memorial Auditorium and Honolulu Hale Courtyard. The event was a beautiful celebration of Native Hawaiian culture, hula, ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi, and of course lei-making.

Mahalo to all of the fantastic participants and the jubilant spectators who attended the selection event, including previous Lei Court members: 2023 Queen Leilani Kūpahu-Marino Kahoʻāno, 2023 First Princess Melodie Lynn Leinaʻala Naluaʻi Vega, 2023 Princess Charlene Kapualani Kauhane Harano, 2022 Queen Natalie Brown Ah Quin, 2018 Queen Charlene Leimomi Irvine, 2017 Queen Perle Marie Puamōhala Kaholokula and many, many more Lei Queens and Princesses.

2024 Lei Queen Tehina and her court will preside over the 96th Annual Lei Day Celebration festivities, and will be the City’s Ambassadors of Aloha at a variety of public events.

The 96th Annual Lei Day Celebration will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Kapi‘olani Park, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Along with Hawaiian entertainment, demonstrations, and exhibits, the celebration event will feature a lei contest exhibit showcasing some of the most exquisitely crafted lei in a variety of colors and methods.

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 1, and thus began the tradition of “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‘i.” The first lei Queen, Miss Nina Bowman, was crowned by Honolulu Mayor Charles Arnold in 1928. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when large, in-person events were restricted, our island community found innovative ways to celebrate this uniquely Hawaiian holiday. This included a video presentation to mark Lei Day in 2021, and the Nā Lei Koa in 2020 to honor our first responders.

For more information about the Lei Court Selection, Lei Day Celebration, and an engaging historical write-up of the history of Lei Day in Hawai‘i visit bit.ly/HonoluluLeiDay

If you need an auxiliary aid/service, other accommodations due to a disability, or an interpreter for a language other than English in reference to this announcement, please contact the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3003 on weekdays from 7:45 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or email parks@honolulu.gov at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.
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