Many elementary schools in Hawai‘i host May celebrations showcasing child performances of Hawaiian song and dance or other performance traditions from various ethnic groups that populate the islands. May Day is known as Lei Day in Hawai‘i. Through interviews, observations, and autoethnographic reflections our collaborative research team revealed a range of contrasting views of May Day as a mechanism for arts education, social reproduction, and the perpetuation of culture. We synthesized these multiple perspectives into a performance to create dialogue and submit a call to become more conscious of choices when inscribing culture in children’s bodies. This article includes excerpts of the performance.
