The pageantry of May Day and Holokū was in full splendor this spring as the buff ’n blue community gathered to celebrate this cherished tradition. The captivating programs were co-directed by Lauli‘a Phillips ’98 Ah Wong and Leilehua Phillips ’95 Utu, whose leadership, alongside the support of hundreds of dedicated volunteers and performers, brought these events to life.
The theme for the K – 5 May Day Celebration was “Ku‘u Kulāiwi Aloha,” My Beloved Homeland, which put a spotlight on the collective experience of living in this revered land. “Our homeland is beautiful and we often marvel at the amazing wonders all around us,” Ah Wong said. The program featured stories, songs and compositions honoring Hawai‘i.
Among the standout pieces of the event was “Ke Ānuenue,” which was written by revered Hawaiian scholar Mary Kawena Pukui and set to music by composer Maddy Lam. The second graders performed to the jubilant mele, which pays homage to majestic rainbows that shine when the warm sunlight gracefully dances in the refreshing rain showers of Hawai‘i.
For their parts, the Holokū Pageant and Case Middle School May Day celebrations highlighted one of the most enduring symbols of love in the Islands: our lei. Through the theme, “Lei Ana Hawai‘i,” or Hawai‘i Wears a Lei, the performers celebrated this symbol of aloha.
“Whatever falls from the neck over your heart is a lei. An embrace from a friend is a lei. When a child puts his or her arms around the neck of a grandparent, that is a lei,” Ah Wong said. “All of Hawai‘i wears love as her lei. To give love is to give a lei.”
The decorative treatment of the stage was different this year – inspired by this theme. “We wanted to be reminiscent of a lei stand,” said Waileia Mineshima-Eldredge ’94, who helped to coordinate the beautiful display. “The colorful lei came from diverse sources – our own supply of lei from previous years, Aloha Hula Supply, as well as some fresh lei. Some of the fresh lei were sewn by our students, making them extra special.”
Holokū was an unforgettable evening, as the creative mele and choreography dazzled the audience in an electrifying performance of “‘Apepe,” a piece that honors Polynesian traditions. “‘Apepe celebrates the enduring spirit of exploration,” Ah Wong said. “It reflects the harmony between humanity and nature that defines Tahitian culture.”