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

Ho'maika'i to the winners of the 2024 Lei Contest!

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

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 96^th 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) LEI KAHAKAI (forest lei)	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 tomorrow, May 2. During that time, the 2024 Lei Court and members of the public will place 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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.at least three business days before the scheduled event. Without sufficient advanced notice, it may not be possible to fulfill requests.

-PAU-

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