Lei (garland)
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.
A lei made using a hala fruit, for instance, is said to be connected to love, desire, transition, and change.
[3] 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.
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).
[4] The eight most common methods of making lei are: Haku: three-ply braid incorporating additional materials.
A method of making a lei by sewing the decorative material to a backing such as hala, laʻi, paper, or felt.
A method of making a lei by sewing or piercing the decorative material with a needle and stringing it onto a thread.
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.
Many types of lei can be left in a window to dry, allowing the natural fragrance to fill the room.
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.
Among residents of Hawaiʻi, the most popular occasions at which nā lei can be found are birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals, retirement parties, and bridal showers.
[13][14] 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.
