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Ho‘maika‘i to the winners of the 2023 Lei Contest!
200 lei submitted as part of the 95th 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 95th Lei Day Celebration held at Kapi‘olani Park yesterday!

Ho‘omaka‘i (congratulations) to Melvin “Moki” Tracy Labra for winning the Mayor’s Grand Prize for his lei wili made of: baby’s breath, dusty miller, hinahina, kukui, maile, pala‘ā, palapalai, rose, and statice.

This year there were 200 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

William Char

Megumi Matsuyama

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

‘ula‘ula / ‘ākala (red/pink)

Melvin "Moki" Tracy Labra

Rosalani Irene Oga

Joel Gabriella Kelley

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

melemele/‘alani (yellow/orange)

Honey Lalaina Coleman

Joel Gabriella Kelley

Gienah Southichack

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

palaunu/‘ōma‘oma‘o (brown/green)

Melvin "Moki" Tracy Labra

Joel Gabriella Kelley

Carla C. Fukumoto

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

 ke‘oke‘o/hinahina (white/gray)

Gienah Southichack

Dale T. Acoba

William Char

LEI‘Ā‘Ī (Neck Lei)

 (mixed)

Ayesha Yasmine Liquorish

Joel Gabriella Kelley

Shoi Shizuko

LEI PĀPALE (Hat Lei)

Joel Gabriella Kelley

William Char

Melvin "Moki" Tracy Labra

LEI POʻOMANAʻO (themed lei)

Lei Kuahiwi (mountain lei)

Reginald J. Dela Cruz

Melvin "Moki" Tracy Labra

Ayesha Yasmine Liquorish

LEI LANAKILA MUA

(beginner lei)

Sanoe Kamaleiakalani Kelley

Kaoru Nakashima

Keawekuloa Leong

LEI LIPINE

(yarn, ribbon, fabric lei)

Sayuri Hieida

Tomoko Inoo

Yumiko Adachi

LEI ‘ŌPIO (youth lei)

5 & under

Alexandra Christine Young

Eden 'Orihau Keenu O Kekailua Teriirere

Nora Grace Kimiko Dote

LEI ‘ŌPIO (youth lei)

6-8 years

Pasen K. Shields

Tikehau Alilea Morikawa

Lucille Scout Smith

LEI ‘ŌPIO (youth lei)

9-12 years

Moriah Joan Liquorish

Moriah Joan Liquorish

Moriah Joan Liquorish

LEI ‘ŌPIO (youth lei)

13-17 years

Sanoe Kamaleiakalani Kelley

Tea Maile Ing-Lee

Hailia J. Jibok

 
The fresh flower lei from the Lei Contest were taken to Mauna ‘Ala (The Royal Mausoleum) and Kawaiāha‘o Church today, May 2. During that time, the 2023 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 yesterday’s Lei Day Celebration and today’s closing ceremony!

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
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