Department of Parks and Recreation

DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION​

Ka ʻOihana Mālama Pāka a me nā Hana Hoʻonanea

05/01/24 Ho‘omaika‘i to the winners of the 2024 Lei Contest!

Ho‘omaika‘i to the winners of the 2024 Lei Contest!

167 lei submitted as part of the 96th Lei Day Celebration

(From left to right): Lei-maker Melvin Tracy Labra with his Mayor’s Grand Prize-winning lei, a close up of Labra’s lei wili poepoe, Lei Queen Tehina Ka‘ena Kahikina and her court open the Lei Contest Exhibit.

O‘AHU – Mayor Rick Blangiardi and the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) are proud to announce the winners of the Lei Contest presented during the 96th Lei Day Celebration held at Kapi‘olani Park today!

Ho‘omaika‘i (congratulations) to Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra for winning the Mayor’s Grand Prize for his lei wili poepoe made of kī, kukui, maile, and palapalai. Labra was also awarded for seven other lei at this year’s contest, and won last year’s grand prize.  

This year there were 167 entries for the contest in three major categories and several smaller divisions. Mahalo to all of the talented lei-makers who entered the contest, especially the talented keiki participants. In all, the winning lei-makers were awarded with nearly $5,400 in prize money and the prestige of winning one of the most renowned and exquisite lei-making competitions.

The other winning lei-makers, and their corresponding categories, are as follows:

CATEGORY

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

uliuli/poni (blue/purple)

Alison Grace Higgins

Gienah S. Southichack

Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

‘ula‘ula / ‘ākala (red/pink)

Joel G. Kelley

Nakoa Dylan Mahiole Wilbur

Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

melemele/‘alani (yellow/orange)

Honey Lalaina Coleman

Roselani Irene Oga

Yukio Otani

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

palaunu/‘ōma‘oma‘o (brown/green)

Gienah S. Southichack

Joel G. Kelley

Carla C. Fukumoto

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

 ke‘oke‘o/hinahina (white/gray)

Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra

Reginald J. Dela Cruz

Gienah S. Southichack

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

 (mixed)

Ayesha Yasmine Liquorish

Ayesha Yasmin Liquorish

Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra

LEI PĀPALE (Hat Lei)

Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra

Ayesha Yasmin Liquorish

Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra

LEI POʻOMANAʻO (themed lei)

Komo mai kāu māpuna hoe (Dip your paddle in. Join in the effort)

Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra

John Tran Hung To

Reginald J. Dela Cruz

LEI LANAKILA MUA

(beginner lei)

Mikiko Kawamra

Miki L. Lene

Timothy Kimokea W. Barrus

LEI LIPINE

(yarn, ribbon, fabric lei)

Asaki Torii Davis

Kuiko Imaizumi

Junko Kobayashi-Uyetake

LEI ‘ŌPIO (youth lei)

5 & under

Keoni Olvera

Eden ‘Orihau K. Teriiere

Charlotte Ann Young

LEI ‘ŌPIO (youth lei)

6-8 years

Tikehau Alilea Morikawa

Lucille Smith

Alexandra Christine Young

LEI ‘ŌPIO (youth lei)

9-12 years

Moriah Joan Liquorish

Moriah Joan Liquorish

Mikayla Avery Malia Fernandes-Ragasa

LEI ‘ŌPIO (youth lei)

13-17 years

Sanoe Kamaleiakalani Kelley

Maria Kimitch

Lillian Kaleikini-Thompson

 

The fresh flower lei from the Lei Contest were taken to Mauna ‘Ala (The Royal Mausoleum) and Kawaiāha‘o Church May 2. During that time, the 2024 Lei Court and members of the public placed the lei on the graves and tombs of Hawai‘i’s ali‘i.Mahalo to the thousands of participants, performers, and lei enthusiasts who enjoyed today’s Lei Day Celebration!

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.

—PAU—

Follow the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation online and on social media:

YouTube: bit.ly/DPRyoutube    Twitter: @honolulu_parks   Instagram: @honolulu_parks 

Facebook: facebook.com/honolulu.parks    Nextdoor: bit.ly/DPRnextdoor     Website: honolulu.gov/parks

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