Whether given to others or placed in a sacred location, Hawaiian lei symbolize the Islands’ culture of love and friendship. Take part in local history with lei-making classes across Hawaii.

In late March, sitting at a table with another family in Hawaii, I meticulously threaded pretty purple flowers into a lei I could wear for the next few days of my trip. Ubiquitous in the islands, the floral necklaces are handed out for happy and sad occasions, milestones, achievements, birthdays and even deaths.

As I discovered, the lei is as old as the Hawaiian Islands themselves, having been brought over with ancient Polynesians arriving from Tahiti. In fact, its entire story is truly fascinating and sheds light on the warm, welcoming culture of Hawaii.

Lei in the Past

Traditionally, the lei itself is made from found items in nature — such as bones, shells, feathers, seeds, nuts, fresh flowers and other foliage. Each piece used to make the lei reflected some aspect of Hawaiian culture or life. In ancient times, specific plants represented certain deities, allowing the lei themselves to be symbols of spirituality. They were commonly placed in or near holy areas to show reverence and respect.

Early Hawaiians wore lei to beautify themselves and show appreciation for the world around them. They were also used to show rank or status among the community, and they signified a peace agreement between chiefs. When exchanged between two people, lei were presented in pū‘olo, a bundle or package made from lau kī or ti-leaf plants.

The Modern Lei

The lei of today is similar to those of the past; each major island has its own representative color and flower, and they’re still often made from found materials.

“Certain lei are selected for specific occasions,” says R. Kaiulani Vincent Kauahi, the culture and arts coordinator at Honolulu Parks. “For instance, maile and pīkake are very often used for weddings. Plumeria is known as the hula dancer’s lei. Lei is made out of the hala fruit for passing from one important part in your life to another, like graduations and death.”

According to Kauahi, lei are also tailored specifically to the recipient — all while infusing a bit of the maker’s mana (life force) into the gift. “When someone makes a lei, a part of themselves goes into that lei,” Kauahi says. “So when you present that lei, you are giving a part of yourself. Skill, time, artistry and love all woven together. You think good thoughts as you sew or weave the material together.”

During my class, I created a lei from nasturtiums, a pretty and edible flower. The class leader joked that we could just eat our lei when they started to wilt — that way, the lei can infuse their mana into us! 

A Tradition Continues and Evolves

Today, a lei is presented by raising your arms and placing the lei around the recipient’s shoulders — followed by a kiss on the cheek. This differs from older times, when it was unacceptable to raise your hands or arms above someone else’s head.

Still, some native Hawaiians prefer the ancient custom. “The neck, shoulder, head regions are considered the more sacred areas on the body,” Kauahi says. “So in deep respect for these sacred areas, I wouldn’t raise my hands or arms over your head to give you a lei. Instead, I would wrap it and present it in a pū‘olo with honi — an exchange of hā (breath of life). Foreheads and noses are pressed together and both parties inhale each other’s hā. We know that this breath of life is divine in nature.”

This ancient method of lei giving is still in use and accepted today, especially when giving a lei to a pregnant woman. Kauahi notes this is due to symbolism — a closed lei around the neck represents the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby’s neck. So, pregnant women untie the lei and wear it open after it is given.

Make Your Own

Many resorts and hotels on the islands offer lei-making classes for tourists hoping to try their hand at the practice, and the Royal Hawaiian Center has complimentary classes several times a week. For those traveling in the spring, the city of Honolulu hosts an annual Lei Day on May 1 — a 90-year tradition that includes free lei-making classes during the days building up to the event.

No matter where you choose to make your lei, Kauahi recommends keeping the reason for the art in mind: “Aloha for people, places and things,” he says. “Lei are messages of love, respect and admiration. [They] represent the aloha we live and the aloha we have for Ke Akua (God/deities), this place (the ‘āina or land) that we live, and for each other.”