Lei Making

Wearable aloha

By Kai Lani | WAHA Surf Shop

The Gift of Aloha

A lei is more than a necklace of flowers - it's a symbol of love, respect, and the spirit of aloha. The act of giving a lei represents sharing your heart with another person.

If you have ever attended a hula performance, you have seen lei in action. Dancers wear specific lei chosen to match the song they are performing. Head lei, wrist lei, ankle lei, and neck lei all play a role in the visual storytelling. The tradition connects to every corner of Hawaiian life, from the casual plumeria lei you receive at the airport to the rare feather lei that are family heirlooms passed down through generations.

Lei Styles

Kui (Strung)

Flowers or materials threaded onto string. The most common method for plumeria and orchid leis.

Hili (Braided)

Materials woven or braided together. Common for ti leaf and fern leis.

Wili (Wound)

Materials wrapped around a core of leaves or raffia. Creates dense, full leis.

Haku (Braided on Base)

Flowers attached to a braided base. Traditional for head leis worn by dancers.

Popular Lei Flowers

Other Lei Materials

When to Give Lei

Lei Etiquette

Lei for Every Occasion

Different moments call for different lei, and choosing the right one shows thoughtfulness and cultural awareness.

For graduations, lei are piled so high that the graduate's face nearly disappears. Multiple lei from family, friends, and teachers are layered together. Money lei (bills folded into flowers and strung together) and candy lei are popular for younger graduates. Pikake and tuberose are traditional choices, but orchid lei in school colors are common too.

At weddings, the bride traditionally wears a pikake lei, a tradition said to have started with Princess Ka'iulani, who loved the fragrant jasmine. Grooms receive maile lei, an open-ended vine lei draped over the shoulders. The maile's woodsy scent and green color symbolize respect and connection to the land. During the ceremony, the couple's maile lei may be intertwined to represent their union.

For welcoming visitors, plumeria and orchid lei are the standard. Plumeria carries that classic Hawaiian fragrance most people associate with the islands. Orchid lei last longer and travel well, making them practical for airport greetings. When someone arrives for their first visit to Hawaii, the lei greeting creates an immediate emotional connection to the place.

Funerals and memorials also use lei. Mourners drape lei on caskets or scatter lei flowers in the ocean. The lei serves as a final expression of love and respect, and it is common to see them placed at gravesites throughout the islands.

The Meaning Behind the Flowers

Each flower carries its own significance. Plumeria represents birth and new beginnings, which is why it appears at both baby showers and graduations. Pikake (jasmine) symbolizes romance and is associated with love stories. Ilima, a small orange flower once reserved for royalty, represents Oahu and is considered among the most prestigious lei flowers. A single ilima lei requires roughly 500 to 700 tiny blossoms, each picked and strung by hand.

Maile vine holds spiritual significance and is used in blessings, building dedications, and ceremonies. Breaking a maile lei (rather than untying it) during a ribbon-cutting or building opening is a Hawaiian tradition that has replaced the Western ribbon in many local events. You can learn more about these cultural connections through traditional Hawaiian celebrations where lei play a central role.

Making Your Own Lei

Basic supplies needed:

The simplest method is the kui style: thread your needle with about 40 inches of line, tie a knot at one end, and pierce each flower through the center of the bloom. Alternate flower directions (face up, face down) for a fuller look. Once all flowers are strung, tie the ends together with a secure square knot and trim any excess line. The whole process takes about 30 to 45 minutes once you get into a rhythm.

Keep your flowers in the refrigerator until you are ready to string them. A light mist of water helps maintain freshness. Finished lei can be stored in the fridge wrapped in a damp paper towel inside a plastic bag. They will stay fresh for one to two days depending on the flower type.

Where to Buy Authentic Lei

In Hawaii, the best lei come from small shops and individual lei makers rather than hotel gift shops. On Oahu, Chinatown in downtown Honolulu has a row of lei stands along Maunakea Street where vendors string fresh lei daily. Prices range from about $10 for a simple orchid lei to $50 or more for specialty lei made with pikake, tuberose, or rare flowers. The Chinatown Historic District is worth visiting for the lei stands alone.

On the other islands, farmer's markets often have lei vendors. Airport lei greeters can be arranged in advance through companies that deliver a fresh lei right as you step off the plane. If you want to ship lei to the mainland, several Hawaiian florists offer overnight delivery so lei arrive fresh for graduations, birthdays, or other celebrations on the continent.

Hawaiian Language Guide