May Day Is Lei Day in Hawaii

Well we did it!! Another May Day and it went off without too many hiccups:))

 Every year I dread getting ready for May Day.  I know I am supposed to be excited, but it is very stressful!!  We have to come up with a hula, costumes and practice it to perfection.  It is a huge production!  This year I was in charge of creating a Kung Fu routine for the boys.

 I did it 5 years ago, but I couldn't remember the routine!! I employed the help of my husband who happens to be a black belt in Kung Fu. Once I got that down I had to work for the last month with 40 second grade boys to get it right!! We have practiced everyday for the last three weeks!!

Our performance takes place outside on our field.  Here is a what it looks like normally.

The May Day Committee decorates this area every year.  They do an amazing job!!

May Day begins with all the students singing Hawaii Ponoi our state song.  Then Makua Leong, our Hawaiian Studies Kumu, performed a chant in Hawaiian welcoming everyone to our performance.

The 6th grade begins by coming in.  They are the Royal Court.  Each student is assigned  a position in the Court.  There are kahili bearers, guards, ladies in waiting, princes and princesses and a May Day King and Queen.

Each color of the court represent a certain island.  Each island has its own prince and princess.

The King and Queen enter last and are presented with leis from their parents.  Then the performances begin.

This year the teachers came out first and performed a hula entitled My Yellow Ginger Lei.  I don't have any pics, because I was dancing:)  I was front row this year and I only had a few mistakes, lol!! While I was dancing I noticed a pile of something that a dog left on the field!!  I got totally distracted and had to warn others around me, while I was still dancing!!  In the end I pulled it off, and luckily someone ran out and cleaned it up before the kids came out!

Kingergarten did a cute little number called the Tiki Room.  Aren't they adorable!

First grade performed a hula called Happy Me.  Sooo cute!!!

Our Second Grade girls performed a Chinese Ribbon Dance.  They were so beautiful!!

Then the boys came out ready to fight!!

Third grade peformed a traditional hula.

Fourth Grade performed a Phillipino number.

Fifth grade stole the show with a fabulous Tahitian routine!!  Their dancers were amazing!!

The program ends with the Queen performing a hula with all of her ladies in waiting.

I know I said I dread it but....every year everyone looks so amazing and the parents just love it!!

This is the only picture I have of me from the whole day.  I'm sad you can't see my dress, it was so pretty and it had an asian collar to match the girls outfits.  My hair cracks me up in this picture because it is actually really long down to the middle of my back.  I received so many leis from my students,  it covered up my hair and bunched it up to make it look like I had a bob!!

So another May Day come and gone and I am looking forward to 9 days left of school with NO May Day practice!!!

I hope you all had a fabulous week and are done with testing and performances and able to enjoy the last few days of school!!