Saturday, May 3 |  11 AM – 4 PM |  Free event

Join us for the Waikoloa Lei Day Festival, presented by Traditions Hawaii—a free, family-friendly celebration of Hawai‘i’s rich lei-making traditions. Held at Kings’ Shops and Queens’ Marketplace, this special event unites the community and visitors through captivating cultural performances, hands-on activities, and a vibrant marketplace featuring local artisans, eateries, and vendors.

Immerse yourself in the beauty and significance of Lei Day, experiencing the artistry of hula, exploring handcrafted goods, and participating in hands-on cultural workshops—all in the spirit of aloha.

*Event activities and schedule subject to change without notice.

Activities at Queens’ Marketplace

At Queens’ Marketplace, guests of all ages can experience traditional Hawaiian games, including:

• ʻUlu Maika (stone bowling)
• Moa Pahe‘e (dart sliding)
• Kōnane (Hawaiian checkers)

These games offer a fun and interactive way to connect with Hawaiian heritage.

Guests can also engage in traditional Hawaiian crafts, such as ʻOhe Kapala—using carved bamboo stamps to create intricate designs on kapa (bark cloth).

Additional Festivities include:

• Lei-making classes with Ainahua Florals
• Food and artisan vendors
• Live entertainment

Scavenger Hunt

First-ever Scavenger Hunt between Kings’ Shops and Queens’ Marketplace! The first 300 participants who complete the scavenger hunt activity will receive a commemorative Lei Day canvas bag!

Join us at Waikoloa Beach Resort to honor the beauty, history, and artistry of Hawai‘i’s beloved Lei Day! Stay tuned for more details, including the entertainment lineup.

Market Vendors at Queens’ Marketplace

ALOHA KPOP KOLLECTIVE LLC
CBD HAWAII
Ermelyne Hawaii
Hamakua Creations LLC
Hawaii TCG Buy & Sell LLC
Hiro’s Cookies LLC
I Sweet You
Jiro’s Gyotaku
Jus Desserts
Janaluxe Hawaii
Ka Hale ‘O Naukana
Kiki and Nai’a Hawai’i
Lilikoi Lux Treat Shop
Parker Mason Art
Shortbread Sensations

Entertainment at Queens’ Marketplace

Event Emcee – DJ Scotty of KWXX

11:00 AM – Beamer-Solomon Hālau O Po’ohala, Kumu Hula Hulali Covington

12:00 PM – Sean Parks

1:00 PM – Kris Fuchigami ‘Ukulele Performance & Live Workshop

2:00 PM – Hālau Kawehileimamoikawēkiu’okōhala, Kumu Hula Lorna Lim

3:00 PM – Mark Yamanaka

BEAMER-SOLOMON HĀLAU O PO’OHALA – KUMU HULA HULALI COVINGTON

Kumu Hula Hulali Solomon Covington leads Beamer-Solomon Hālau O Po‘ohala in Waimea, Hawaiʻi, continuing a six-generation legacy of hula and Hawaiian cultural preservation. As a descendant of the esteemed Beamer-Solomon family, her teachings emphasize traditional footwork, spiritual depth, and the values of aloha and lokahi. Her hālau has graced stages from the Merrie Monarch Festival to New York City, sharing original choreographies and mele composed by her great-grandmother, Helen Desha Beamer. Through her leadership, Hulali inspires dancers to embrace hula as both an art form and a way of life.​

SEAN PARKS

Sean is an upcoming slack key artist hailing from the island of Hawaiʻi. His ohana comes from the area known as Kaimū in the district of Kalapana. Kalapana is famous for its unique style of Hawaiian music and kī hōʻalu (slack key) reminiscent of the old days of Hawaiʻi. His biggest influenc es: his cousin Ikaika Marzo, and uncles Robert Keliʻihoʻomalu Jr., and Ledward Kaʻapana. He has shared the stage with slack key masters such as: Sonny Lim, Jeff Peterson, Ledward Kaʻapana, and Kevin Brown among others. He feels his kuleana (responsibility) is to carry on this style of music into the next generation!

KRIS FUCHIGAMI

Born and raised on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, Kris Fuchigami began his musical journey at age 13 with a beat-up ukulele and a passion to master it. Just two years later, he won the grand prize at the Hamakua Music Scholarship Competition, standing out among a variety of talented musicians. Since then, Kris has headlined ukulele festivals worldwide and earned international recognition. He has been nominated multiple times for the prestigious Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, winning “Instrumental Composition of the Year” in 2019, 2021, and 2023.

HĀLAU KAWEHILEIMAMOIKAWĒKIUʻOKŌHALA – KUMU HULA LORNA LIM

Kumu Hula Lorna Kapualiko Lim leads Hālau Kawehileimamoikawēkiuʻokōhala in North Kohala, Hawaiʻi Island, continuing the rich cultural legacy of the renowned Lim family. A celebrated musician and Nā Hōkū Hanohano award-winning recording artist, Lorna blends her musical talents with hula, fostering a deep connection to Hawaiian traditions. Her hālau, established in her family home “Hale a Ke Aloha,” has achieved acclaim, including top honors at the Moku o Keawe International Hula Festival and Hula O Nā Keiki competition. Through her teachings, Lorna inspires students to embrace hula as a living expression of ancestral knowledge and aloha.​

MARK YAMANAKA

Mark Yamanaka, a 14-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner from Hilo, Hawaiʻi, is celebrated for his heartfelt Hawaiian music. His debut album, Lei Pua Kenikeni (2010), and its follow-up, Lei Maile (2013), each earned four Hōkū awards. In 2015, he collaborated with Kūpaoa on A Gift of the Heart, winning Christmas Album of the Year. After a five-year solo break, he released Lei Lehua (2018), a deeply personal project that won five major awards in 2019, including Album of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. Mark’s music beautifully honors his love for family, home, and Hawaiian traditions.

Click here for a full list of festivities at both Kings’ Shops and Queens’ Marketplace.

Sponsored by Waikoloa Beach Resort