(BIVN) – Kalākaua Park was alive with Hawaiian cultural activities on Tuesday, as the Hilo Lei Day Festival was held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The 2019 festival, He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei, involved an opening ceremony, floral court, and special presentations.

From the festival website: 

People often ask us why we do not hold The Hilo Lei Day Festival on a Saturday or Sunday. There are several reasons.

When we began in 2005, co-founders Aunty Nona Beamer and Leilehua Yuen decided that since May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi, they would keep the May 1 date to honor that tradition.

They soon found that it actually had a practical benefit. Many people work weekends, and are unable to attend a lot of festivals and celebrations. With a festival that slides across the week, everyone gets a chance to come every few years – no matter what days they work!

Visitors to the islands also have said how much they appreciate a midweek event, because many fly in on Sunday, and fly out Saturday morning.