The maile, commonly used in the making of lei and known for its sweet fragrance, is a very important plant in Hawaii. It is endemic to Hawaii, and grows on all islands except Kahoʻolawe and Niʻihau. The ancient Hawaiians classified maile into a few different groups, based on the leaf shape and features. There are many varieties, but a few are maile lau liʻi, maile hai wale, and maile lau nui. Maile is still fairly common in some preserved forests, but it is definitely less abundant than it used to be. Because of this, some cheaper maile lei may actually be made out of similar, but not native to Hawaii, plants from the Cook Islands. 

It is a common sight to see maile leis at events like graduations and weddings. They also have a major presence at the Merrie Monarch Festival, where they are an important part of the hula culture. Although they are particularly popular around May Day they can also be seen in other events around Hawaii as well. For example, the lei can be used during memorial day in this practice the ocean is filled with them to honor loved ones we have lost. During May Day celebrations however they can not only be seen around the necks of dancers and special guests but the air is filled with their delicate fragrance too.  

When many people think of maile, they think of the invasive weed that you see choking out other plants. The confusion is understandable, because both plants look very similar. However, they are actually not related and come from entirely different families of plants. Known in Hawaii as maile pilau, due to its bad smell, this invasive weed originated from East Asia. It is now listed as invasive in Hawaii, as well as many other places, such as Florida, Papua New Guinea, and New Caledonia.

     Donʻt forget to wear your maile at May Day!

 The beautiful and strong lehua flower

By Sri Butz

      During May Day and local Hawaiian festivities, the lehua is considered one of the most beautiful and recognizable flowers that stand out on these occasions. The lehua flower on the Ohia tree has very strong roots in Hawaii for various reasons.  It is not only beautiful, it is also strong.

     The lehua is one of the first trees to grow after a lava flow which is why people speak of them as strong and resilient. The lehua flower also provides nutrients and shelter to many of the species indigenous to Hawaii making it a vital part of the environment in Hawaii.

Along with its importance in the ecosystem of Hawaii, there is a famous legend surrounding the lehua flower. This legend is that Pele, the volcano goddess, fell in love with the warrior named Ohia. When she proposed to him, he rejected her denied because he had already professed his love for Lehua, a girl from his village. Pele became furious at this rejection and turned Ohia into a twisted tree.

Sadly, Lehua became so heartbroken that the other gods took pity on her and decided to reunite Lehua and Ohia. They did this by turning Lehua into a flower that would grow on the Ohia tree. Both the Lehua and Ohia symbolize a token of love, strength, and intimacy.  During May Day, consider the lehua.

 Hawaii's last monarch:

 Queen Lili'uokalani

By Lacey Wong

    Many people know of (or have at least heard of) Hawaiʻi’s last monarch, Queen Liliʻuokalani. She was the first (and also last) queen of Hawaiʻi before the monarchy was overthrown. This article’s intention is to give information on that event, as well as information about Queen Liliʻuokalani in general.

Early Life

Queen Liliʻuokalani was born on September 2nd, 1838. She was baptized into Christianity under the name of Lydia Kamaka‘eha Pākī. Growing up, Liliʻuokalani attended The Chiefs’ Children’s School (now a public elementary school called the Royal School). At the age of 24, she married John Owen Dominis and they moved to Washington Palace. In modern day, the Washington Palace is a historic landmark and where Hawaiʻi’s governor resides.

1874-1891 (Pre-Monarch Days)

In the year of 1874, her brother, David Kalakaua, took the throne as king. At the time, Liliʻuokalani was not considered to be the successor to him. Another brother of hers, W.P. Leleiohoku was originally the successor to Kalakaua. However, following Leleiohoku’s death in 1877, Liliʻuokalani was named “heir presumptive” to Kalakaua (heir presumptive'' apparently means “an heir whose claim could be set aside by the birth of another heir”). From 1877 up to 1891, she firmly established herself in this role of an heiress to the throne. During Kalakaua’s world tour in 1881, Liliʻuokalani served as a regent (or someone who governed Hawaiʻi in the monarch’s absence), and she had an active role in establishing schools for Hawaiian youth. It was also during this period of time that she composed one of her most recognizable works, Aloha ʻOe. 

1892-1893 (Monarch)

Following the death of King Kalakaua, Queen Liliʻuokalani ascended the throne. This made her the first queen of Hawaiʻi. She named Kaʻiulani, the daughter of Princess Miriam Likelike and Archibald Scott Cleghorn, as heir apparent. Her signature was a butterfly hairpin, and the color of her reign was yellow.

1893 (Overthrow)

In 1893, Queen Liliʻuokalani was overthrown by a group of businessmen and sugar planters, with the aid of the U.S. Marines. In order to avoid death and bloodshed, Liliʻuokalani yielded. A “provisional government” was established following this with Sanford Dole, one of the main contributors to her overthrow, as the president.

1895 (Imprisonment)

In 1895, Liliʻuokalani was placed under house arrest at ʻIolani Palace for allegedly having “knowledge of counterrevolutionary activities”. For eight months, she remained under house arrest. During her imprisonment, she translated Kalakaua's text of the Kumulipo into English. After the eight months had passed, she was released on parole and pardoned.

1896-1917 (Later Life and Legacy)

In 1896, Liliʻuokalani was baptized into Episcopalism. Hawaiʻi was annexed by the United States in 1898, and Liliʻuokalani published Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen. Liliʻuokalani executed a Deed of Trust in 1909, establishing a legal and financial foundation for an institution dedicated to the welfare of orphaned Hawaiian children. In 1917, at the age of 79, Liliʻuokalani passed away due to a stroke. To this day, her legacy lives on. Liliʻuokalani was known for what she did during her years as queen, but she was also known for her music. Being well-versed in playing many instruments, such as the piano and ukulele, she composed many songs. During her lifetime, Queen Liliʻuokalani composed more than 150 songs. Her legacy also lives on through the Liliʻuokalani Trust.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Queen Liliʻuokalani is an important person to Hawaiʻi’s history. She did so much for the Hawaiian public, and composed many notable songs during her lifetime. I’ve attached Aloha ʻOe in audio form to this article so that you can listen to one of her most notable songs in full. Thank you for reading this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1bIxMYPlas

     When we think about May Day, most people in Hawaii visualize our colorful and cultural celebrations.  But in reality, May Day is a worldwide public holiday, celebrated by many different regions of the world. May Day is on May 1st, and it marks the first day of summer, and a celebration of spring in some European cultures. 

In China, a celebration takes place in the month of May. This celebration is their way of honoring their working people.  It was started during the Communist Movement in China during the 1920s, but the main focus was to ensure that the working class would be recognized and provided better conditions.  Because China is a country known for its celebrations, when May Day swings around, China is ready. The traditional ways of celebrations are meeting with friends and attending smaller solemn events. They also have parades in the streets and performances. 

Like in China, May Day in North Korea is celebrated as Workers Day or Labor Day. This day is celebrated as “Liberation Day” and “Victory Day”. People would gather in local parks and celebrate by drinking, dancing, and doing common activities.  Ironically, North Koreas citizens today still struggle with their own individual freedoms.

     In England, the traditional May Day rites and celebrations are among the most colorful around the world.  Their festivities include crowning a May Queen and dancing celebrations around involving a maypole, where dancers often circle with ribbons. Historically, this dance is called Morris dancing and has been linked to May Day celebrations in England and in other European areas as well.

     Lastly, in Mexico, Labor Day parades, rallies and demonstrations often feature large crowds holding banners to promote workers' rights in the main streets of major cities. Having the day off means people can either relax at home or spend time with family or friends.

     When leaving for college many of us will come to the reality that we are not just leaving our friends and family, we are also leaving Hawaii and our island life.  Once in college many of us become homesick and realize how good our home in Hawaii was and want to return back to the islands.  Ask yourself, what will you miss most about your home when you leave for college?

     Personally I know I will miss home, and there are three most important things I know I will miss.  The first is the food here in Hawaii. Like many of you, I will miss poke, loco mocos, spam musubis, lau-lau, kalua, haupia, and even taro chips.  Obviously, these foods will not be readily available once you move to the mainland, but you will definitely crave their tastes once you spend a few weeks in college. Sure I could buy a similar food or even try to prepare the food myself, but it's different from the food that's from home originally. You will definitely will have some difficulty finding poke, and you must prepare missing that taste until you return back home.  But if you get lucky, perhaps you will find a shop that sells raw fish.  Then, you can do it yourself by putting rice first, then the poke, then seaweed salad, and lastly edamame.  And to top it off I add my own sauces, add unagi sauce, spicy mayo, and finally chili pepper sauce. 

     The second thing I will miss from Hawaii when I leave for college is definitely the beaches and the sites.  In Hawaii, we are lucky to be able to drive anywhere on the island and find a beautiful beach. Here, you will be able to drive 10 minutes from home to go to the beach to swim, have the ability to spend the whole day just hanging out at the beach, and then enjoy the sun and the salty breeze while listening to local music.  Once you start living in the mainland, you will notice the huge difference between the ice-cold waters versus the salty warm waters. I definitely will miss being able to go to the beach on a day where it's hot and sunny, and just be able to cool off. 

     Lastly, I will miss my ohana, my family. I know I will see them when I come back and that I can communicate with them while I am gone.  Nonetheless, I wonʻt be able to be home to watch my siblings grow up, watch my parents live through their lives, and see my aunts and uncles and nephews & nieces. I will definitely miss their presence and their comfort that they bring me. It's definitely a huge adjustment, not seeing them everyday and not living in our home. I will miss everything about leaving my family, even the arguments and fights.  Everyone must make sacrifices when they make a big move, like going to school on the mainland.  Leaving home also leads to new opportunities.  For those of you making that big change, what will you miss the most?

     The kalo plant, also known as taro in Hawaii, is the most culturally significant natural food source on the islands.  According to Hawaiian history, the first wave of colonizers carrying kalo traveled from the Marquesas Islands to Hawaii around 1700 years ago, while the second migration from Tahiti came around 1100 years ago.  The Hawaiians admired, cherished, and cared for the kalo, and were nourished and supported by it for generations, as the origin story says.

     The Native Hawaiians used every part of the taro plant.  Every part of the taro plant was used by the ancient Hawaiians. The entire plant was prepared and consumed. Poi was made from the root (known officially as the corm). Steamed taro leaves, also known as the luau, were consumed. The leaves also served a practical use, as they were used to store water and food.

    The ancient Hawaiians' main food was taro. Taro is nutritionally and calorie-dense. Taro was not originally from the Hawaiian islands, despite the fact that it is now an important element of Hawaiian culture. Taro was used as both a medicinal and a source of diet. How and where taro was produced and grown determined how and where people lived. Because taro needed a lot of water to grow, Hawaiians built their homes near lo'i, or pond fields, where taro could be easily farmed.

     What is an aumakua? In Hawaiian culture, the aumakua is a family spirit animal such as a honu, bird, shark, eagle, mo’o, or other types of native living creatures.   It can also include some plants or even rocks that represent symbols.  The word “aumakua” is broken down with the first term “au” meaning a period of time(era) then “makua” meaning parent grandparent or ancestor.. Which  translates to the  meaning which is   similar to a  grandparent or ancestor that has died and returns back  in a different form (animal, plant, ect.)They act almost like a family god and are a clear way to identify different families and who you may be related to. 

But what do they do? They serve as a guardian or protector to  look over you and your family  from bad spirits or ominous  things. They can give warnings if needed and can also guide you when you lose your way. My aumakua is the mano or shark which I recently found out from asking my family members. Many people who share the same shark aumakua report sharks not attacking them but guiding them to the right fishing spots and even feeling a sense of calm and love towards the being. 

As you can see aumakua do not just serve the purpose of family god or spirit guide but also give many hawaiians a sense of belonging and identity. So now I ask you a question to ponder, who is your aumakua? In this question you may just answer not only that but also who you are.