Episode 705- A Day for Lei
Just a Sample of the Incredible Full Flower Leis- you will see at the Annual Lei Day Celebration in Queen Kapi’olani Park- in Honolulu- on May 1- because- of course- Lei Day is May Day - Every Year!
Episode 705- A Day For Lei (Watch Here)
In the 2nd Episode dedicated to the Culture of Lei- in Hawaii- J celebrates Lei Day with many Flower Friends- and then travels to the Lei Day Celebration in Kapi’olani Park in Honolulu.
J first stop is with Lei Maker and Cultural Practitioner Anuenue Punua - who is the care take of several generational Pua Kenikeni Trees that provide fragrant flowers for lei traditions and culture. It was an honor to visit Anuenue at her home- where her three beautiful daughters picked Pua Kenikeni (Translations: 10 Cent Flower) that Anuenue strung into Lei - and graciously presented to me…
Anuenue is a incredible influence- and a talented lei maker- and shares the history behind the Family Trees- that were planted by her great grandfather… Pua Kenikeni is my favorite lei- once you have experienced a Pua Kenikeni lei- you will understand - the fragrance and transformation this incredible flower takes on as you wear it… it’s a treasure gift- and I was so very honored to have one… created by Anuenue herself.
Anuenue Punua’s daughters harvest the Pua Kenikeni Flowers- in a bucket that was her mothers- it’s a tradition that steeped in tradition, care, and love- and it’s remarkable to see this family in action creating Lei with Love and Kindness!
Anuenue is one of the most loving and kind people I have every met- and having the honor to sit at her table- and watch her create one of her Family Trademark Lei- was incredible… One of my favorite experiences of this entire trip- was being able to ‘talk story’ with Anuenue (Translation: Rainbow)… and learn more about Pua Kenikeni and her family and the culture of Lei!
We have a Behind the Bloom with Anuenue and her daughters- coming up… Stay Tuned!
Anuenue Punua- creates a lei for J - using the Pua Kenikeni Flowers from her generational Trees - that have been cared for by 5 Generations of her family! What an incredible honor!
Part two of our special trip to Hawaii, focuses on the native art of the lei. What better way to learn more about Lei- than to visit with cultural practitioner, and hula Master- Kimo Keaulana about lei traditions and culture. Kimo graciously invited us the Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute (Translation: Where Heaven Meets the Earth). This remarkable destination was the perfect place to learn more about Lei- and the Purpose of Giving and Receiving Lei… Kimo is a fountain of knowledge and shares so much information- about what Lei and Flowers mean to the Native Hawaiian People.
J and Kimo Keaulana ‘talk story’ at the Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute- where I learned so much more about Lei- the Hawaiian Culture- Kimo is a Hawaiian Treasure- and we are so honored to include him in our Visit to Lei Day!
The Lanikuhonua Location is true to it’s translation… This Amazing Cultural Institute- is magnificent… and we were so honored and grateful that Kimo provided the perfect place for us to discuss the Hawaiian Culture of Lei. Kimo graciously performed a Historic Mele Lei- that was created for Queen Kapi’olani- and we captured it for a Behind the Bloom- You can watch it here!
So aptly named- “Where Heaven meets the Earth” - Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute- is exactly what the name implies… Where Heaven meets the Earth… WOW!
Then it’s off to the Lei-making contest and Lei Day celebration at Queen Kapiʻolani Park. We made so many friends- and met so many incredible People… include former Lei Queens- Jamie Detweiler (2010) , and Manu Anana (2007) - Jamie was also a Lei Contest Judge for this Lei Day Celebration- These two ladies were wonderful- Jamie shared a Very Special Lei she created from Native Hawaiian Material- and Manu and I got to “talk story” about what’s it’s like to crowned Queen of Lei Day! (I wanted you to hear more from my Flower Friends- at Lei Day- so we created a Behind the Bloom at Lei Day- with my Flower Friends you can watch here! )
I also tour the contest with my Life Long friend Deb Di Bella AIFD- a Lei Maker and Flower Artist- that lives on Oahu… Deb and I have been friends for so long… (we also created a Behind the Bloom- with Deb and I- that you can watch here!)
Another sample of the Lei from the Contest… this selection is all made from Ribbon or Yarn… just amazing!
My Wonderful Flower Friend Kaiulani Kauahi - former Director of the Lei Day Celebration- joins me in Queen Kapi’olani Park- to share more about Lei and the Culture embraced by Native Hawaiians- and shares why Lei is such an important part of our Lives! Kaiulani was so kind and giving about the History of Lei and introducing me- and supporting this project… I am forever indebted to her for her kindness and love! (You can learn more from Kaiulani- in our Behind the Bloom with Lei Day Friends- watch it here!)
With my Wonderful Friend and former Director of the Lei Day Celebration- Kaiulani Kauahi - THANK You for your Kindness!
Then it time to head back to Mud Hen Water- the restaurant owned by Ed Kenney - Host of Family Ingredients- Ed kindly and with much Aloha - allowed us to film at Mud Hen Water- where I was joined by my Incredible Friend Jenny Fiedler- Author of The Essential Bar Book- and co-author with Meleana Estes - of Lei Aloha (see Meleana and my Visit about Lei Aloha in Episode 704 - Lei of the Land you can watch it here) Jenny helped me connect with so many great people- and this Production would not have been so wonderful with her help and assistance… Jenny joins me- to create the Hawaiian Gibson- a wonderful cocktail- with Sake, Gin and Pickled Ginger- it’s Incredible and the Perfect Way to TOAST to Lei Day… Thank you Jenny for your kindness and incredible hospitality!
J and Jenny Share a Toast to Lei Day- with the Incredibly Delicious Hawaiian Gibson- Created by Jenny… Cheers- my friend!
This was the Dream of a Lifetime to get to travel to Hawaii- and share the Culture and Beauty of Lei- and get to celebrate Lei Day with so many friends Old and New… that came together to make our 2 Part Episode about the Beauty and Wonder of Lei…
As my Friend Jamie taught me… it’s never goodbye in Hawaii- rather- they say ‘ Aloha a hui hou”- Until We meet Again…
I am planning my next Lei Day Trip- I hope you will do the same… Surround yourself with Flowers and Friends… and Live a Life in Bloom!