Lei (Hawaii)

A lei () is a garland or wreath common in Hawaii, across Polynesia, and the Philippines. More loosely defined, a lei is any series of objects strung together with the intent to be worn. Lei of various styles are given as gifts to honour people throughout the Pacific, being presented, for example, to visiting dignitaries, graduates, or to loved ones who are departing.

Lei gained popularity in the United States due to the common practice of presenting one to arriving or leaving tourists in Hawaii. Sampaguita leis are also used in the Philippines for religious reason, typically worn to their Anito or religious statues.

Symbolism

A lei can be given to someone for a variety of reasons. Most commonly, these reasons include peace, love, honor, or friendship. Common events during which leis may be distributed include graduations, weddings, and school dances. 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.

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'' 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'').

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 lāī'' ('' tī'' leaf lei) is made using this method.

''Hipuu / nipuu'': 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 ''hala'', ''lai'', 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.

''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.

''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'', ''lai'', strands of raffia, or even strips of paper are used to make wrapping easier.

''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.

Historical context

Leis were originally worn by ancient Polynesians and some Asian people as part of custom. They were often used by Native Hawaiians to signify their ranks and royalty. They are also worn as a form of honor to each other and their gods. The religion of the Native Hawaiians as well as the hula custom is tied into the leis that they wore.

Native Hawaiians, who are Polynesian, brought the tradition of lei making and wearing with them to the Hawaiian islands when they arrived. 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.

Customs

There are many customs and protocols associated with the giving, receiving, wearing, storing, and disposing of lei. 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. To this day, leis remain a notable aspect of Hawaiian culture. 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 their 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", 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".

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. In Niue the iconic lei is the kahoa hihi which made from strings of tiny, distinctively yellow snail (hihi) shells. 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 Hawaii, the most popular occasions at which nā lei can be found are birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals, retirement parties, and bridal showers. It is not uncommon for a high school or college graduate to be seen wearing so many nā lei that they reach their ears or higher.

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.

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 in length, more than a mile.

All of the major islands celebrate Lei Day, and each island is symbolized in pageantry by a specific type of lei and a color.

* Hawaii: red, ōhia lehua (''Metrosideros polymorpha'')
* Maui: pink, lokelani ('' Rosa damascena'')
* Kahoolawe: gray or silver, hinahina (''Heliotropium anomalum'' var. ''argentum'')
* Lānai: orange, kaunaoa ('' Cuscuta sandwichiana'')
* Oahu: yellow or gold, ilima (''Sida fallax'')
* Molokai: green, kukui (''Aleurites moluccanus'')
* Kauai: purple, mokihana ('' Melicope anisata'')
* Niihau: white, pūpū o Niihau (Niihau shells)

Philippines

The old custom for welcoming guests in the Philippines is by giving a flower necklace made of sampaguita, the country's national flower. However, in the recent years, more affordable options has emerged. This became popular over time as fresh flowers are hard to maintain especially during long events. One of the popular modern option are rosette leis, it's made of Brocade cut into necklace of various designs and a center piece flower petals made of satin ribbon.

Gallery

File:Prince Alexander Liholiho with leis.jpg, Prince Alexander Liholiho wearing a lei garland
File:Queen Emma wearing lei pupu o Niihau.jpg, Queen Emma is wearing multiple strands of lei pūpū o Niihau
File:Hawaiian lei venders, c. 1901.jpg, Hawaiian lei vendors, c. 1901.
File:Close up giant parol inspired rosette leis vp leni robredo.jpg, alt=Pink and gold rosette leis for VP Leni, Giant-parol inspired rosette leis given to then Vice President Leni Robredo donated b
Letra 'To Arts and Crafts Philippines
File:Kukui nut lei.jpg, Young hula dancers wearing kukui nut lei in preparation for a performance on Molokai.
File:Canoe lei.jpg, Lei of plumeria flowers and umi'umi-o-dole'' ( Spanish moss) on an outrigger canoe at a blessing.
File:Flower wreaths (Cook Islands).jpg, Lei for sale in the Cook Islands
File:2017 Pacific Islands Forum Opening Ceremony (36867027022).jpg, Delegates at the 2017 Pacific Islands Forum
File:Gg-visit-cook-islands-pacific-visits-formal-ariki.jpg, Anand Satyanand and Lady Satyanand wear lei while visiting the Cook Islands
File:Gg-visit-cook-islands-pacific-visits-pm-cook.jpg, New Zealand Governor General and members of the Cook Islands cabinet wear lei at a meeting.
File:Labour-Pacific-Launch-21 (36689535431).jpg, Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and Pasifika Members of Parliament wear lei at an event.
File:Royal Tongan Wedding of 1976.jpg, Royal Tongan Wedding of 1976
File:Pink rosette leis in giant parul design for VP Leni Robredo.jpg, alt=Pink and gold rosette leis, A giant-lantern inspired rosette leis in pink and gold color. Given to Former Vice President Maria Leonor Robredo during the Manalakaran people's rally.

See also

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References

Sources

"Finding a lei-making class in Hawaii"
Featured article in the '' Los Angeles Times''.

Further reading

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External links

{{Commons category, Lei (Hawaii)

History of the Lei



Lei History

Leis over time



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.

Leis in the Philippines

Hawaii culture
History of Oceanian clothing
Necklaces
Symbols of Hawaii
Tourism in Hawaii