LIHUE — Make a Lei, Give a Lei, Wear a Lei was the theme of this year’s annual Kauai Museum Lei Day Contest, and it was embraced by hundreds, maybe thousands of people who flowed through the museum’s courtyard where the results of the Lei Day competition were displayed for shoppers to bid on as a fundraiser for the museum.
“How heavy is the lei?” asked an admirer of the Spam Musubi lei being worn by Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami, who was inspecting lei while waiting to announce the Mayor’s Choice lei maker.
“It won’t be heavy, real soon,” Kawakami said.
Hundreds of people, including patrons from the National Day of Prayer being held at the Moikeha Building, patronized the Kauai Association for Family and Community Education that offered people lei making stations as a fundraiser for the Kauai Museum.
They wore lei during the annual event that, this year, coincided with May Day being on the first Thursday in May.
Kawakami announced Ivy Nishimoto as the recipient of the Mayor’s Choice award.
“Oh, she’s working,” he said. “If I’d known, she could’ve taken some time off to collect her award.”
Kawakami, in making his announcement, reminisced about how his mother would sit at the table almost every night to make lei. When the lei was complete she would bring it over to Rose at Big Save to sell. She used the proceeds for spending money while raising the kids.
“We need to work on this,” Kawakami said. “The story of lei is a story about us, the people of Kauai.”
Other lei winners included Ulii Castor, earning the Director’s Choice judging, and Owana Botello, who was named the recipient of the Kauai Museum Trustees award.
Madeline Guyette earned judging marks for the Distinguished President’s Award and the King Family Award.
Kathy Butler scored big after earning four awards, including the coveted Walter Pomroy Award, the Royal Sonesta Award which included a hotel stay, and the Alii Award put up by Keoki’s Paradise. Elvrine Chow, who provides lei instruction for Kauai Museum patrons, earned the second Keoki’s Paradise award for Excellence.
Katrina Cacal earned two awards: the papale, or Hat Lei, provided by Duke’s restaurant, and the Timbers Kauai Award.
Erin Gushman earned the second Duke’s award for Artistic.
Sharon Enos earned two awards: the Hobey Goodale Award and the Lehua Mamo Farm Award.
Connie Aguias earned the second coveted award, the Irmalee Pomroy Award that was presented by Paul and Noelani Pomroy.
