Woman wearing a plumeria lei and making the shaka sign

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Leis

Lei is a Hawaiian word for a garland or wreath. More loosely defined, a lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. more...

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The most popular concept of a lei in Hawaiian culture is a wreath of flowers draped around the neck presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of affection. This concept was popularized through tourism between the Hawaiian Islands and the continental United States in the 19th and 20th centuries. In Samoa, a similar garland is called an ula.

Children and sweethearts are poetically referred to as "lei" and many ancient and modern songs and chants refer to this imagery.

Materials

A lei (nÄ lei is the plural in the Hawaiian language) may be composed of a pattern or series of just about anything, but most commonly consists of fresh natural foliage such as flowers, vines, or fern fronds. Among the flowers used are the plumeria, lehua blossom or the orchid, though maile leaves are extremely popular as well as traditional among hula dancers. Other types of lei may include sea or land shells, feathers, plastic flowers, fabric, paper (including origami and monetary bills), candy, words (as in a song), or anything that can be strung together in a series or pattern and worn as a wreath or a necklace.

Crafting

The eight most common methods of making lei are:

haku - three-ply braid incorporating additional materials. A method of making a lei by using a base material, such as softened tree bark or long leaves, and braiding it while adding the decorative plant material into each wrap of the braid. Normally used for flowers and foliage with long pliable petioles or stems.

hili - braid or plait with only one kind of material. Most commonly made from three or more strands of supple vine or fern braided together.

hilo - twist, double helix, intertwine. A method of making a lei by twisting two strands together to form a "rope." The popular and simple lei laÊ»i (ti leaf lei) is made using this method.

hipuÊ»u / nipuÊ»u - a method of making a lei by knotting the stems of the decorative plant material and stringing the next stem through the knot. It requires a very long stem on the decorative material. Similar to a daisy chain.

humu / humuhumu - sew to a backing, usually using a basting stitch. A method of making a lei by sewing the decorative material to a backing such as lau hala, la`i, paper, or felt. Each successive row of lei material is overlapped on the previous to create a scale-like effect. Lei bouganvilla and feather hat lei often are made with this method.