PÔMAIKA'INOKEAKUA LENORE KLEIN  

INSTALLED AS CITY'S 85^th ANNUAL LEI DAY QUEEN

(Wed., March 7, 2012) — Mayor Peter B. Carlisle, and sponsors Hawaiian Electric Company, Times Supermarkets, and the Hawai'i Tourism Authority, presented the City's 85^th Annual Lei Queen on Saturday, March 3, 2012, at McCoy Pavilion.

Pômaika'inokeakua Lenore Klein is the City's 2012 Lei Day Queen.  Lei Queen Pômaika'inokeakua is 25 and hails from Waimânalo, O'ahu.  She is the daughter of Wallace and Marvalee Healani Klein.

            Lei Queen Pômaika'inokeakua is fluent in the Hawaiian language.  She began dancing at the age of five with Kumu Hula Ellen Castillo and more recently under the direction of Kumu Hula Keano Kaupu and Lono Padilla.  She earned an Associate's degree in Liberal Arts from Kapi'olani Community College, and currently works as a professional hula and Polynesian dancer.  She was crowned the 2010 Miss Hawaiian Islands, representing Hawai'i at the Miss South Pacific Pageant in Papua New Guinea.  Her hobbies include dancing, music, traveling, reading, learning about different cultures, and enjoying the company of family and friends.

Queen Pômaika'inokeakua competed against five other women in this year's Nâ Wahine 'Ôpio age group (18-30 years of age).  First Princess is Kalai Sina Chow from Papakôlea, O'ahu.  Second Princess is Christian Lei U'i Kaholokula from the Garden Isle of Kaua'i.  Princesses Catelin Kawahinekoa Aiwohi (from Maui), Lorene Yoshimi Gima (from O'ahu), and Courtney Ellen Lynn Ku'uleilani Lynch (from O'ahu) round out this year's court.  Lei U'i (Miss Kaua'i 2012) and Kawahinekoa (Miss Maui 2012) will compete in the Miss Hawai'i Pageant in June.  The six finalists were judged on lei making, hula, language skills and poise, and ability to convey the spirit of aloha with warmth and dignity.

          This year's Lei Day theme is "Lei U'i Onaona," or Sweet Lei of Youth.  Queen Pômaika'inokeakua and her court will reign over the 85^th Annual Lei Day Celebration festivities on Tuesday, May 1, 2012, at Queen Kapi'olani Regional Park and Bandstand.

            The event is free to the public and features local entertainment and hula hâlau.  The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association will perform in the open area between the bandstand and the Waikîkî Shell.  The Lei Contest Exhibit can be viewed by the public from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the open area between the bandstand and the Waikiki Shell.  Some of the world's most exquisite lei will be exhibited in a variety of colors and methods.

Hawaiian artisans will share their talents and skills with exhibits and demonstrations throughout the day in the Kulana Lei village.  While at Kûlana Lei, have the mo'opuna (grandchildren) visit Tûtû (grandmother) at Tûtû's Hale to hear stories; play Hawaiian games; and learn songs, hula, lei making, and lauhala weaving.  In addition to Kûlana Lei, vendors offering craft, lei, and food will be available to the public.

 The closing ceremony for the annual Lei Day Celebration is held at Mauna 'Ala (The Royal Mausoleum) and Kawaiâha'o Church on May 2 of each year.

            The first Lei Day was celebrated in 1927 in downtown Honolulu with a few people wearing lei.  Miss Nina Bowman was crowned the first lei queen in 1928. 

            For more information about the 85^th Annual Lei Day celebration, visit www.honoluluparks.com, or contact Kaiulani Kauahi, Lei Day Publicist, at 768-3041, or email rkauahi@honolulu.gov.

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