LEI DAY CELEBRATION
Saturday May 1 - 9am
The city and county of Honolulu presents the 77th Annual Lei Day celebration at Queen Kapiolani Park. The festival will include the traditional investiture of the Lei Day Queen and her court, craft demonstrations, Hawaiian entertainment and an adult and youth lei contest. The theme for this year’s celebrations is “Na Mele No Na Lei” (The Songs of the Lei). The event is free and open to the public. For more information call 692-5118.

BROTHERS CAZIMERO MAY DAY CONCERT
Saturday May 1 – 7:30pm
This annual concert celebrates Lei Day with an evening of Hawaiian song and dance under the stars at the Waikiki Shell. The concert features the music of The Brothers Cazimero along with special musical guests and premiere hula entertainment. For more information and tickets call 591-2211.

LEI DAY MAUNAALA CEREMONY
Sunday May 2 - 9am
The Lei Day celebration culminates on Sunday, when all leis are taken to the Royal Mausoleum, 2261 Nuuanu Ave., and placed on the tombs of the Alii. There is a short program before and after the lei distribution. At noon, the ceremony will continue at Kawai-ahao Church where a lei will be placed on the tomb of King Lunalilo. The public is welcome to attend and encouraged to participate. For more information call 692-5118.

CINCO DE MAYO
Wednesday May 5 – 5:30pm to 2am
Aloha Tower Marketplace will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a waterfront block party that will include entertainment at six separate locations throughout the marketplace. There will be give-aways, Corona beer specials and a free shuttle to Waikiki. For more information call 528-5700.

CELEBRITY THRIFT FASHION SHOW
Saturday May 8 – 11:30am
The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary of Honolulu presents their annual boutique, fashion show and luncheon. The event will take place at the Sheraton Waikiki and will feature the best in thrift shop fashion being modeled by local entertainers and personalities. For tickets and info. call Natalie 440-1859.

MOTHERS DAY
Sunday May 9 – All Day
Don’t forget your mom! Let her know how much you love her by taking her out for lunch or dinner, a nice walk on the beach or stay at home and talk story.

WORLD FIREKNIFE DANCE COMPETITON
Thursday May 13 to 15 – call for times
The Polynesian Cultural Center will host the 12th Annual World Fire-knife Dance Competition. The event begins with the preliminaries on Thursday and then things really heat up on May 14-15 as the semifinals and finals take place at Hale Aloha Theater. For more information call 293-3000.

LION DANCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday May 14 & 15 - 6pm
The Hawaii World Invitational Lion Dance Championship will be held at the Blaisdell Arena. The event will offer spectators an opportunity to experience and see world-champion teams from Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, United Kingdom and Japan go up against Team USA. Lion dancing requires the player to portray the lion encountering and overcoming obstacles to reach its goal of “getting the greens,” while carrying out death-defying acrobatic stunts on 6- to 10-foot steel poles.

26TH ANNUAL VISITOR INDUSTRY CHARITY WALK
Saturday May 15 – 6am
The annual 7-mile Charity Walk sponsored by the Hawaii Hotel Association will begin and end at the McCoy Pavilion in Ala Moana Beach Park. For participation details and more information call 923-0407.

HONOLULU CHORALE CONCERT
Saturday May 15 – 7pm
The Honolulu Chorale will be having their annual spring concert at the Mamiya Theatre, St. Louis School - Chaminade University. The concert will feature guest soloists Crystella and Kaipo Kauka. For tickets and more information call 680-7702.

MOLOKAI CHALLENGE CANOE RACE
Sunday May 16 – 8am to 3pm
The world championship of kayak and one-person canoe racing will include an international contingent of men and women who race for 32 miles across the Kaiwi Channel from Molokai to Koko Marina. The Kaiwi Channel, referred to as the “Molokai Channel”, is considered one of the most challenging and treacherous in the world. The first finishers are expected to cross the finish line at about 12:30pm. For more information call 222-2484.

BRUNCH ON THE BEACH
Sunday May 16 – 9:30am to 1:30pm
City crews will once again transform Kalakaua Avenue into a charming Hawaiian outdoor cafe with artificial turf, tables, chairs and bright blue umbrellas. It’s ”Brunch on the Beach” and all are welcome to join in the spirit of Aloha to enjoy the best Hawaiian entertainment and brunch delicacies at incredibly low prices. For more information call 523-2489.

Country Cowboy Party
Sunday May 16 – 3pm
Naturally Hawaiian Gallery will be sponsoring the, “Chris Dudley Puka Head Bash,” for rodeo clown Chris Dudley who was seriously injured during a Big Island rodeo. The event will be held at the Correa Ranch and will include horseback riding, country dance bands, Hawaiian barbeque, prizes and much more. For more information call 259-5354.

“REMODEL IT RIGHT” SEMINAR
Thursday May 20 – 6:30pm til 7:45pm
Hawaii Remodelors Council Kicks Off National Home Remodeling Month with the “Remodel It Right” seminar and mini-remodeling expo at St. John Vianney Church in Kailua. The seminar will teach homeowners how to remodel their existing homes to accommodate additional family members of various ages and lifestyles, Marshall Hickox of Homeworks Construction, Inc. will be the guest speaker. The event is free and open to the public. For more information call 847-4666 ext. 201.

FILIPINO FIESTA AND PARADE
Saturday May 22 - 9am
The Mabuhay Festival 2004 will feature a parade through Waikiki that includes colorful floats, marching units, bands and many performers. The fun continues with an all day fiesta at Kapiolani Park and Bandstand. At the park you’ll be able to enjoy delicious foods and savory Philippine dishes, arts and crafts, cultural displays and live entertainment. For more information call 680-0454.

HAWAII BOAT SHOW & OCEAN EXPO
Saturday May 22 & 23 – 10am to 6pm
Ko Olina Marina will be the location for Hawaii’s biggest and only in-water boat show. This free expo will feature in water and land displays of boats and state-of-the-art marine accessories, harbor cruises and boat test rides, daily entertainment from a main stage, an extensive keiki play area, major prize giveaways, fun, food, beverages and more. For information call 732-6699.

HAWAII UNCORKED: A CELEBRATION OF WINES
Sunday May 23 – 11am to 5pm
Hawaii Public Radio’s 18th annual fundraising benefit wine event will be subtitled “Rapsodie espagnole,” focusing on wines of Spain, but it will also include wines from throughout the world in its grand tasting. The event will take place at the Koolau Golf Course Club, Kaneohe. For tickets and more information call Judy 955-8821.

NA HOKU HANOHANO AWARDS
Monday May 24 – 5pm
Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (Hawaii’s version of the Grammy Music Awards) will be held at that the Sheraton Waikiki Grand Ballroom. Most Promising Artist of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award and Popular Hawaiian Album of the Year are just some of the many Hoku awards being presented by the Hawaiian Academy of Recording Arts. For information and tickets call 235-9424.

MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY
Monday May 31 – 8:30am
The Mayor’s Memorial Day Ceremony honoring those who died in the military service of their country will take place at Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punch-bowl. For information call 692-5725.

LANTERN FLOATING CEREMONY
Monday May 31 – 6pm
At sunset on Memorial Day, over 1,000 candle lanterns will be cast afloat from the shores of Ala Moana Beach Park by members and friends of Shinnyo-en Hawaii. The toro nagashi, “lantern floating,” ceremony is a time-honored Buddhist tradition that is practiced throughout Japan to express respect for ancestors and comfort the spirits of the deceased. All are invited to take part in this spiritual event. For further information call 947-2814.