Celebrating Magnificence in our ‘Ohana: Izumi Ponimō’ī and Yvonne Waioha

Two May Day Honorees
May 2025 
By Kumu Mālia Helelā

Two students have distinguished themselves as shining examples of the aloha spirit. We recognize Izumi Ponimō’ī as our Lei Day Queen, and Yvonne Waioha as the Miss Aloha Hula of our hearts! Read on for a little more of their story.

In preparation for hula performances at our annual May Day event, long time hula student Izumi Ponimo’i Sawa took it upon herself to make a dozen lei. Then, as she began making them and others joined it, and that number climbed exponentially until she surpassed one hundred lei. She called for donations, and the ti leaves poured in. People were happy to contribute leaves and quickly pitched in to help make lei. 

I asked her why she loves making lei so much.

Ponimo’i replied, “Every year I collect lots of flowers & make lots of leis for my mom’s Memorial Day. My family all go to Ala Moana Beach early in the morning and send flowers to the ocean. Lei making is a good meditation for me.”

As Ponimo’i continued making lei, the people she taught turned to others and shared the process. In that way, she facilitated the creation of over one hundred lei over the course of several lei making gatherings. 

She adds:

“I also learned how to make different kinds of leis when I was young, but I forgot all about it. You gave me an opportunity to contribute to your hula community and I love it!”

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Our Ambassador of Aloha Spirit, Yvonne Waioha Siet, has also worked tirelessly to fill this world with a little more aloha! Her creative endeavor and business, Aloha is Love, born in the time of the pandemic has continued to grow, with multiple styles and variations of t-shirts and items bearing these very words Aloha is Love. She often says, “It’s not a sales pitch, it’s a movement and a way of life.” The world needs reminders of how to live a life of aloha.

I asked her how Aloha is Love began.

“Well during the start of the pandemic I realized that Hawaii wasn’t going to have enough comfortable 3 layer masks to go around,” Yvonne replied.

“We in Hong Kong have plenty of experience with mask wearing as we already experienced SARS in 2012. (Since like Japan and other parts of Asia it was normal to wear a mask when one was ill, going to hospitals, clinics or even plane rides.)

“Initially, family and friends quickly sent lots of disposable masks (including shields that were sold out in many parts of the world). When they arrived we donated over 200 pieces to the Lunalilo home. Then I decided we should make our own and move very quickly before the factories shut down all over the world. So a dear friend and I got cracking and we received a ship load of masks made in Vietnam just before borders shut down.

“They were blank ones. So I was doodling and thought that if I were to wear one it should have a meaningful message on it and that is how Aloha is Love was born.

Of course then we evolved to other merch.

“I’m thankful to Renée for inviting me to sell at Still and Moving Center. Most of all, YOU for having all of us to perform in the black tees! I’m eternally grateful to YOU!”

Do you know someone who sends you messages all the time and checks in to make sure you got home safely? That’s Yvonne for so many people. She has taken her vivacity and enthusiasm for sharing aloha to new heights with her motto of Aloha is Love.

Through hands busy weaving lei late into the night, or in the steady effort to lift others up with a simple message: Aloha is Love, Ponimo‘i and Yvonne remind us that when we share what we love, others join in. The lei multiply. The message spreads. And just like that, a little more aloha fills the world.