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Lei (garland)
Lei (/leɪ/) is a garland or wreath. More loosely defined, a
lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent
to be worn. The most popular concept of a lei in
Hawaiian culture is a wreath of flowers 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.

Children and sweethearts are poetically referred to as

"lei" and many ancient and modern songs and chants
refer to this imagery. Fragrant lei of fresh pikake (Arabian
jasmine)

Contents
Symbolism
Materials
Crafting
Historical context
Customs
Polynesia
Hawaii
Gallery
See also
References
Further reading
External links

Symbolism
A lei can be given to someone for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, these reasons include
peace, love, honor, or friendship for another person.[1] Common events during which leis may be
distributed include graduations, weddings, and school dances.[1] Often the composition of a lei
determines its significance; a lei made using a hala fruit, for instance, is said to be connected to
love, desire, transition, and change.[2]

Materials
A lei may be composed of a pattern or series of just about anything, but most commonly consists of
fresh natural foliage such as flowers, leaves, vines, fern fronds, and seeds. The most commonly
used flowers are those of plumerias, tuberose, carnations, orchids, and pikake, though maile

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leaves, ferns, and tī leaves are extremely popular as well as

traditional among hula dancers. Other types of lei may include
sea or land shells, fish teeth, bones, feathers, plastic flowers,
fabric, paper (including origami and monetary bills), candy, or
anything that can be strung together in a series or pattern and
worn as a wreath or a necklace. The Hawaiian Island of
Niʻihau is famous for its lei made of tiny gem-like shells
(pūpū).[3] Lei hulu, made from feathers

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.[4]

Hili: braid or plait with only one kind of material. Most Wili method of making leis
commonly made from three or more strands of supple vine or
fern braided together.[4]

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 lāʻī (tī leaf lei) is made using this method.[4]

Hipuʻu / nipuʻu: 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.[4]

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 hala, laʻi, paper, or felt. Each successive
row of lei material is overlapped on the previous to create a scale-like effect. Bougainvillea lei and
feather hat lei often are made with this method.[4]

Kui: pierce, piercing stitch. A method of making a lei by sewing or piercing the decorative material
with a needle and stringing it onto a thread. This is probably the style with which most Westerners
are familiar. This method is commonly used to string flowers such as plumeria, rose, carnation,
etc.[4]

Wili: wind, twist, crank, coil. A corkscrew-type twist, as found in a pig's tail and the seed pod of
the wiliwili tree. A method of making a lei by winding fiber around successive short lengths of the
decorative material. Sometimes base materials such as hala, laʻi, strands of raffia, or even strips of
paper are used to make wrapping easier.[4]

Haku mele: to braid a song. A song composed out of affection for an individual is considered a
lei.

Lei may be open or closed, depending on circumstance.

These leis are traditionally constructed using natural foliage.[4]

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Historical context
Leis were originally worn by ancient Polynesians and some Asian people as part of custom.[5] They
were often used by Native Hawaiians to signify their ranks and royalty.[5] They are also worn as a
form of honor to each other and their gods.[6] The religion of the Native Hawaiians as well as the
hula custom is tied into the leis that they wore.[5] Native Hawaiians, who are Polynesian, brought
the tradition of lei making and wearing with them to the Hawaiian islands when they arrived. [5]
On the first of every May, an event called Lei Day is celebrated to honor the act of lei making and
the custom surrounding it.[7]

Customs
There are many customs and protocols associated with the giving, receiving, wearing, storing, and
disposing of lei.[2] A story that originated during World War II tells of a hula dancer who dared to
give a lei to a US soldier along with a kiss, leading it to become a tradition of lei distribution in
modern times.[2] To this day, leis remain a notable aspect of Hawaiian culture.[2] Traditionalists
give a lei by bowing slightly and raising it above the heart, allowing the recipient to take it, as
raising the hands above another's head, or touching the face or head, is considered disrespectful.
By tradition, only open lei are given to a pregnant or nursing woman. If due to allergies or other
reasons a person cannot wear a lei which has just been given (for instance a musician who would
tangle the lei in his or her guitar strap), the lei is displayed in a place of honor, such as the
musician's music stand or microphone stand. Lei should never be thrown away casually, or tossed
into the trash. Traditionally they should be returned to the place they were gathered, or if that is
not possible, they should be returned to the earth by hanging in a tree, burying, or burning. A lei
represents love, and to throw one away represents throwing away the love of the giver. Many types
of lei can be left in a window to dry, allowing the natural fragrance to fill the room. This technique
is often used in cars as well.

Polynesia

In Polynesian cultures, a lei is something that is created by someone and given to another with the
intent to decorate that person for an emotional reason—usually as a sign of affection. Common
reasons include greeting, farewell, affection or love, friendship, appreciation, congratulation,
recognition, or to otherwise draw attention to the recipient. In Samoa, similar garlands fashioned
of entire flowers, buds, seeds, nuts, plant fibers, leaves, ferns, seashells, or flower petals are called
"asoa" or "ula",[8] while single flowers or clusters worn in the hair or on the ear are called sei. In
Tahiti such garlands are referred to as "hei" and in the Cook Islands they are called an "ei".[9]
Tongans are known for creating unique "kahoa" leis made of chains of flat, crescent or triangular
arrangements made of flower petals and leaves sewn onto a leaf or cloth backing.[10] In Niue the
iconic lei is the kahoa hihi which made from strings of tiny, distinctively yellow snail (hihi)
shells.[11] Many modern Polynesian celebrations include the giving and receiving of leis in various
forms, including recent adaptations of the flower/plant lei in which candy, folded currency bills,
rolls of coinage, and even spam musubi are tied into garlands. "Non-traditional" materials such as
cloth ribbon, sequins, cellophane wrap, curling ribbon, and yarn are often used to fashion leis in
various forms today.

Hawaii

Among residents of Hawaiʻi, the most popular occasions at which nā lei can be found are

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birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals, retirement parties,

and bridal showers.[12][13] It is not uncommon for a high
school or college graduate to be seen wearing so many nā lei
that they reach his or her ears or higher.[14]

On May 1 each year, Hawaiians celebrate "Lei Day", first

conceived in 1927 by poet Don Blanding. At the time, Blanding
was employed by the Honolulu Star Bulletin, and he shared
his idea with columnist Grace Tower Warren, who came up
with the phrase, "May Day is Lei Day". The Hawaiian song,
"May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii" was composed in 1927 by Ruth
and Leonard "Red" Hawk.[15]

At the 81st Annual Mayor's Lei Day Celebration at Kapiolani

Park in 2008, Honolulu set the record for the World's Longest
Lei. Unofficially, the lei measured 5,336 feet (1,626 m) in
length, more than a mile.[16] U.S. President Lyndon Johnson
wears lei while visiting Hawaii
All of the major islands celebrate Lei Day, and each island is
symbolized in pageantry by a specific type of lei and a color.

Hawaiʻi: red, ʻōhiʻa lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)

Maui: pink, lokelani (Rosa damascena)
Kahoʻolawe: gray or silver, hinahina (Heliotropium anomalum var. argentum)
Lānaʻi: orange, kaunaʻoa (Cuscuta sandwichiana)
Oʻahu: yellow or gold, ʻilima (Sida fallax)
Molokaʻi: green, kukui (Aleurites moluccanus)
Kauaʻi: purple, mokihana (Melicope anisata)
Niʻihau: white, pūpū o Niʻihau (Niʻihau shells)

Gallery

Prince Alexander Queen Emma is Hawaiian lei Young hula dancers

Liholiho wearing a wearing multiple vendors, c. 1901. wearing kukui nut lei
lei garland strands of lei pūpū o in preparation for a
Niʻihau performance on
Molokai.

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Lei of plumeria
flowers and
'umi'umi-o-dole
(Spanish moss) on
an outrigger canoe
at a blessing.

See also
Buddhist prayer beads
Hindu prayer beads
Mala, used in India
Namaste
Phuang malai

References
"Finding a lei-making class in Hawaii" (http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-tr-leibox27apr27)
Featured article in the Los Angeles Times.

1. "Symbolism" (https://www.flowerleis.com/info/symbolism/). Flower Leis. Retrieved 2015-12-04.

2. "The Evolution of the Lei" (https://www.flowerleis.com/info/evolution-of-the-lei/). Flower Leis.
Retrieved 2015-12-04.
3. "Archived copy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20110723205055/http://www.mauimagazine.net/
Maui-Magazine/July-August-2008/The-Flowers-of-Niihau/). Archived from the original (http://w
ww.mauimagazine.net/Maui-Magazine/July-August-2008/The-Flowers-of-Niihau/) on
2011-07-23. Retrieved 2009-08-17. The Flowers of Niihau by Sky Barnhart Maui No Ka 'Oi
Magazine June 08
4. "The Different Types of Leis" (https://alohaislandlei.com/resources/lei-types). Aloha Island Lei.
Retrieved 2015-12-04.
5. "The History of the Lei" (https://www.flowerleis.com/info/history-of-the-lei/). Flower Leis.
Retrieved 2015-12-04.
6. "A Custom of Aloha" (https://www.flowerleis.com/info/custom-of-aloha/). Flower Leis. Retrieved
2015-12-04.
7. "The Lei Tradition Continues" (https://web.archive.org/web/20151208110805/http://www.alohai
slandlei.com/resources/leihistory). Aloha Island Lei. Archived from the original (https://alohaisla
ndlei.com/resources/leihistory) on 2015-12-08. Retrieved 2015-12-04.
8. " 'ulafala (pandanus key necklace)" (https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/222948).
Collections Online. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

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Lei (garland) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lei_(garland)

9. "Pacifica Mamas adorn the Town Hall with a giant ei as a gift of love" (https://ourauckland.auckl
andcouncil.govt.nz/articles/news/2019/05/pacifica-mamas-adorn-the-town-hall-with-a-giant-ei-a
s-a-gift-of-love/). Auckland Council Te Kaunihera o Tāmakimakaurau. Retrieved 16 October
2019.
10. "Kahoa Kakala: Sione Monu" (http://www.objectspace.org.nz/exhibitions/kahoa-kakala/).
Objectspace. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
11. Talagi, Salote. "The beautiful Kahoa Hihi of Niue Island – Niue language week 2014" (https://bl
og.tepapa.govt.nz/2014/10/16/the-beautiful-kahoa-hihi-of-niue-island-niue-language-week-201
4/). Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
12. Kakesako, Gregg (25 May 1998). "Hero's farewell" (http://starbulletin.com/98/05/25/news/story
1.html). Star-Bulletin. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
13. "Ceremonies at Sea" (https://whipsawsportfishing.com/blog/ceremonies-at-sea/). Whipsaw
Sportfishing. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
14. Sweeten-Shults, Lana. "No lei-ing low for these GCU nursing graduates" (https://news.gcu.edu
/2019/04/no-lei-ing-low-for-these-gcu-graduates/). GCU Today. Grand Canyon University.
Retrieved 16 October 2019.
15. "A History of Lei Day" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080529080759/http://www.co.honolulu.h
i.us/parks/programs/leiday/history.pdf) (PDF). Lei Day Celebration. City and County of
Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation. 2008. Archived from the original (http://www.co.
honolulu.hi.us/parks/programs/leiday/history.pdf) (PDF) on 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
16. Fischer, John. "Lei Day in Hawaii" (https://www.tripsavvy.com/lei-day-in-hawaii-1529672).
About.com.

Further reading
McDonald, Marie A. (1995). Ka Lei: The Leis of Hawaii. Ku Pa'a Publishing.
ISBN 978-0-914916-32-1.

External links
History of the Lei (http://www.coffeetimes.com/leis.htm)
Na Lei o Hawai`i (https://archive.is/20121208131253/http://www.kaahelehawaii.com/pages/cult
ure_lei.htm)
Lei History (https://web.archive.org/web/20151208110805/http://www.alohaislandlei.com/resou
rces/leihistory)
Leis over time (http://www.flowerleis.com/info/evolution-of-the-lei/)
Photo Gallery from Lei Day (https://web.archive.org/web/20070826131109/http://www.beyondb
ordersimages.com/editorial.html)
The Feather Lei (https://web.archive.org/web/20091112232710/http://www.mauimagazine.net/
Maui-Magazine/November-December-2009/The-Feather-Lei/) A story by Cheryl Chee
Tsutsumi about the art of feather lei making in Hawaii. Published by Maui No Ka 'Oi Magazine
Nov/Dec 2009.

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