ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY observed its 10th May Day on Friday, April 28, with a beautiful celebration of music and hula. Each year, May Day is celebrated in a very traditional way at IPA, with performances by students in all grades, and a regal May Day court representing all of the Hawaiian Islands.
Preparations for the May Day celebration begin months in advance, with much thought and deliberation taken before selecting the theme, music, and hula. The theme for this May Day was “He Lei Poina ʻOle Ke Keiki”, which translates as “a child is a lei never forgotten.” This ʻōlelo noʻeau (wise saying) was selected by Kumu Momi and Kumu Makana as it represents the beauty and close relationship between keiki (children) and mākua (parents), or flowers (pua) and lei. The songs selected for this year’s program were all composed for pua of Hawaiʻi, both flowers and children alike.
The royal May Day court, an important part of traditional May Day celebrations in the islands, is a colorful pageant honoring Hawaiʻi’s royal past. The court comprises students from Grades 5 through 12, with each of the eight main Hawaiian islands represented by a Prince and Princess accompanied by a kahili bearer. The positions of Mōʻī Kāne (King) and Mōʻī Wahine (Queen) and their two attendants are held by members of the senior class. Students in the royal court are selected by a group of faculty members based on the criteria of being “pono,” or of high moral standards and excellent character, and for consistently demonstrating the aloha spirit. The Prince, Princess, and kahili bearer for each island wear the traditional color and flower lei of the island they represent. Two kindergarten students are selected to present hoʻokupu to the Mōʻī Kāne and Mōʻī Wahine.
It was a beautiful, if warm, morning for the celebration, with slightly overcast skies and a light breeze. Fortunately, the anticipated bad weather held off until, literally, the last minutes of the celebration! Many got soaked in the resulting downpour, but the students happily helped put away chairs in the rain, with their wet Aloha shirts plastered to them.
Each year, our May Day Celebration is a collaborative effort that depends on the many volunteers who give so generously of their time, talents and resources. To each of them, and to our faculty and staff, we extend a huge mahalo. Your commitment to supporting ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY is truly appreciated. We also thank all our musicians, and give special thanks to Kumu Momi, Kumu Makana and Mrs. Babas for their vision, dedication, and effort in putting together another beautiful May Day performance!
Meta Bradley (ʻ22), Preeya Prasad (ʻ21), Kristin Chun (ʻ22), and Kiana Vasilash (ʻ24) of Nā Pua o Kekoʻolani Hula Hālau perform for the May Day pre-show.IPA’s May Day musicians, including Makana Kuahiwinui, June Kuahiwinui, and Konrad Kuewa, performed all the music for the celebration.IPA’s May Day musicians, including Alyssa Chuberko (’12) and Charmaine Hauanio-Kuewa, performed all the music for the celebration.Kumu Momi Kuahiwinui performs a hula during the pre-show entertainment.Pū kani Jake Arakawa (’17), JR Gillette (’17), and Mavryk Paaluhi (’20) opened the celebration with the blowing of the conch shells.Pū kani Jake Arakawa (’17), JR Gillette (’17), Mavryk Paaluhi (’20), and James Okano (’23) open the celebration with the blowing of the conch shells.Preeya Prasad (’21) chants the Oli Aloha.Preeya Prasad (’21).Princess Karenna Meyermann (’23), Prince Donovan Ahu-Fisher (’23), and kahili bearer Cameron Cintron (’23) represent the island of Maui.Queen’s Attendant Katie Gordon (’17) and King’s Attendant Jake Yeager (’17) precede the May Day Queen and King.Mōʻī Wahine Megan Bobilin (’17) and Mōʻī Kāne Alex Kawelo (’17).Hoʻokupu bearers Carina and Katryna (’29) bring gifts to the Mōʻī Wahine and Mōʻī Kāne.Hoʻokupu bearers Carina and Katryna (’29) bring gifts to the Mōʻī Wahine and Mōʻī Kāne.Jake Yeager (’17), Megan Bobilin (’17), Alex Kawelo (’17), Katie Gordon (’17), and Carina and Katryna (’29).2017 May Day court.2017 May Day court.IPA 1st graders celebrate May Day in bright Aloha attire and fresh flower lei.Kindergarteners Aayla (’29) and Kekoa (’29) enter the field for their performance. The Kindergarten class performed together with their Senior Buddies from the Class of 2017.Miriel (’27), a member of Nā Pua o Kekoʻolani Hula Hālau, wears a plumeria lei she helped string together.Members of the senior class get ready for their final May Day Celebration at ISLAND PACIFIC ACADEMY.IPA 4th graders wait for the start of the performances.The IPA seniors perform a hula with their Kinderbuddies.The 3rd graders perform with the Grade 9 students to Ka Pua Uʻi.The 3rd grade class performs with the 9th graders at the 10th annual May Day celebration.The 5th grade boys in Aloha shirts and lei, ready to start their hula.Victoria (’28) performs Pua Melie with Na Pua o Kekoʻolani Hula Hālau.Preeya Prasad (ʻ21) performs Sweet Lei Lehua with the Grade 6-8 students.Na Pua o Kekoʻolani Hula Hālau.Mr. Stan Vincent and the senior men perform their traditional, and much anticipated, hula to Laupahoehoe.The senior men of the Class of 2017 in their final May Day performance.Kanaʻi Napuelua-AhYee (ʻ22), representing the island of Kahoʻolawe.Mōʻī Wahine, Megan Bobilin (’17), and members of the May Day court perform a hula to Lei Hala.Even the faculty and staff perform at May Day!All the faculty and staff perform at May Day.Even the faculty and staff perform at May Day!Pau!And then it rained.
