Picture Hawaii in your mind and plenty of images come to mind: sun-kissed beaches, swaying palm trees, and stunning sunsets that instantly transport you. But let’s not forget one of the most enduring symbols of the islands: the lei.
Let’s learn about it!
A quick history of the lei
A lei is flower garland that embodies the spirit of aloha. It’s usually placed around the neck or head of an arriving visitor, hula dancer, graduating student, or…just about anyone who’s ever been to Hawaii.
Lei have deep cultural roots in Hawaii. The tradition of lei-making began with the ancient Polynesians voyagers who settled in Hawaii and brought with them the knowledge of lei-making. Much like today, leis back then were crafted from flowers, ferns, shells, seeds, feathers, and other materials found in nature.
In ancient Hawaii, lei were symbols of status, wealth, and royalty. Kahuna (chiefs) wore elaborate lei to signify their rank. The most revered and sacred lei of all was the maile lei, which is made from intertwined vines and leaves of the uniquely fragrant maile plant. Maile lei was used to symbolize peace agreements between rival chiefs.
Lei in modern Hawaii
These days in Hawaii, lei are a part of everyday life and used for pretty much any kind of occasion like hula performances, greetings, ceremonies, blessings, graduations, weddings, celebrations of life, or just because.
Lei are not hard to find, either. You can always find one:
- at the local grocery store (i.e., last minute “I need a lei”)
- at a flower or lei shops, found across the islands
- at the famous and historical lei stands at Honolulu International Airport
- from a relative, friend, or neighbor who makes lei
- by picking your own flowers and making your own
The art of lei-making
Speaking of making your own lei, it’s not hard to get started, but it can get very involved and sophisticated.
Lei-making in Hawaiian is called lei hulu, and is traditionally a sacred art form passed down through generations. Each type of lei holds significance:
- Flower garland lei: the most familiar and classic style created by stringing together fragrant flowers like orchids, ginger, tuber rose, plumerias, pikakes, puakenikeni, and others.
- Haku lei: a haku lei is worn around the head, and is made by weaving flowers, leaves, and vines together. You’ll usually see haku worn at weddings and hula performances.
- Shell lei: there are endless variety of shell leis, from the cheap ones at tourist shops made from imported Filipino shells, to the ultra exclusive Niihau shell leis made from tiny shells washed up on the shores of the Forbidden Island.
If you want to make your own lei…
The easiest and most accessible lei to make is a plumeria lei. Plumeria (or frangipani) trees are instantly recognizable and found everywhere on all islands.
The flowers come in white/yellow, pink, pink/yellow, and pink/purple. They are beautiful, simple, smell wonderful, and are quite sturdy for making lei.
Here’s a tutorial to get you started (or at least inspired):
Hawaii has an official day called Lei Day
Every May 1st, we celebrate Lei Day in Hawaii. It’s a statewide festival dating back to 1928 that honors the art of lei-making, and includes parades, hula performances, lei-making contests, and Hawaiian music.
Each Hawaiian island is represented by a specific type of lei (and color), and the crowning of the Lei Queen serves as one of the highlights of the day.
A lei is a symbol of aloha
Leis go beyond adornments — they are physical manifestations of the aloha spirit. Giving and/or receiving a lei symbolizes giving a part of yourself that represents love, affection, respect, and the interconnectedness of life.
Need a hand with your next Maui vacation? Please contact the Sunny Maui Vacations team at info@sunnymauivacations.com or call 808-240-1311, ext. 21. We’ll find you the best vacation rental condo or rental home in South Maui and help you with any and all recommendations and activities across Maui.
