Lei Day May 1, 2024

As the first day of May dawns upon Hawaii, Lei Day bursts forth in a riot of colour, fragrance and festivity. Leis are garlands crafted from various flowers, leaves and even shells, carrying significant cultural importance for the natives of the island state. Leis were brought by the Polynesians as they migrated eastward through the Pacific Islands before reaching Hawaii between 1000 and 1200 CE. They represent love, respect and the ever-present aloha spirit, described as "the coordination of mind and heart within each person." Lei Day is an all-day fiesta that includes parades, pageants, lei-making contests, hula dances and feasts.

© Jotika Pun/Shutterstock

palette

Today in History

Spanning the soft sunlight
A snapshot of Spring
May 1, 2025Lei Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Oct. 26, 2025National Pumpkin Day
Oct. 18, 2024Jasper Dark Sky Festival, Alberta
A convocation of eagles assembles
Jan. 16, 2026Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia
Oct. 29, 2024Great horned owl
Oct. 12, 2024World Migratory Bird Day
So fresh, so clean
Dec. 15, 2023SantaPark, Lapland, Finland
Jun. 13, 2024Registan Square, Samarkand, Uzbekistan
God’s Own Country
Jul. 27, 2024Vineyards above the Moselle River, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
May 4, 2024Star Wars Day
Feb. 17, 2025Coll dAres, Catalan Pyrenees
Black sands in a tropical paradise
A very public display of affection
Jan. 22, 2024Walton Lighthouse, Santa Cruz, California, USA
Little Island, Big Sea
Meet an expert on the dog days of summer
Oct. 7, 2025Fall colours below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado, United States
Apr. 11, 2024Dragon waterfall, Venezuela
May 1, 2025Lei Day
May 22, 2024International Day for Biological Diversity
Where we go to play
Rocks rock!
A view that’s out of this world
Aug. 23, 2024Prasat Phanom Rung temple ruins, Thailand
Reflecting its stylish past today
Happy Canada Day!
Oct. 17, 2023Vieste, Apulia, Italy
Feb. 10, 2025Banff National Park, Alberta