Kaua`i Museum 32nd Annual Lei Contest

Mary Lou Harchis with her Kaua`i Marriot Beach Club Award winning white and green lei.

The Kaua`i Museum 32nd Annual Lei Contest and May Day Celebration was a visual feast with floral fragrance, earning many islanders awards for their efforts. Among the awardees, Mary Lou Harchis won the Kaua`i Marriott Beach Club Award in the white and/or green category and the James Anderson Award in the pink-red category.

In the latter, Harchis used, among other plants, the Mgambo.

“It’s usually only the seed that people use,” said Harchis, explaining that the seed has a velvety appearance and people often make jewelry from it.

Vendors made and sold lei and, as it was also `Ohana Day, there were additional cultural activities.