In Hawaiʻi, Lā Mei (May Day) is a special annual occasion where schools and communities come together to celebrate Hawaiian culture through music, hula, and storytelling. At Whitman College’s Second Annual Lā Mei, we invite the campus community to gather in celebration of Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) culture as well as the broader cultures of Hawaiʻi.

Hui o Moananuiākea (Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Student Organization) will proudly showcase a hōʻike hula (dance performance) from their weekly Papa Mele a me Hula (Hawaiian song and dance class). We will also be joined by our special guests, Ka ʻAha o ʻOlekona, who are our visiting community partners from Beaverton, OR. Attendees can also enjoy a variety of Hawaiian and Hawaiʻi-local foods and desserts, alongside games, cultural activities, and opportunities for community connection.

This year’s theme is drawn from the ʻŌlelo Noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb): He ʻaʻaliʻi kū makani mai au; ʻaʻohe makani nāna e kūlaʻi (I am a wind-resistant ʻaʻaliʻi plant; no gale can push me over). This proverb reflects the strength and resilience of Kanaka Maoli communities, honoring the ways in which Hawaiian culture, identity, and the lāhui (nation) continue to endure and thrive across generations, especially when faced with the ongoing illegal occupation of Hawaiʻi and the series of environmental and social upheavals in the wake of the storms and flooding.

Lā Mei also marks the beginning of Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. As we enter this month, this gathering invites the Whitman community to celebrate, listen to, learn from, and uplift the histories, contributions, and living cultures of AANHPI communities.

All are welcome to join in this space of celebration, learning, and connection.