The Lei and Haku

You may be interested in some facts about THE LEI
(The word LEI in Hawaii is both singular and plural.)

The lei is a symbol of Hawaii. The making of the lei has its early beginnings with the hula.

In the tradition of the hula, the halau (dancers and friends) would gather flowers and foliage to be woven into lei for the performance. A prayer was offered in thanks to the plant or tree producing the blooms or leaves. They harvested from an area least visible so that the integrity and beauty of the plant or tree would be preserved.

The lei is woven or strung with care placing each bloom in the same direction or in the case of weaving the haku, (head lei) the flowers and creativity of the leimaker. The making of the lei is recognized as an art form. The possibilities are endless.

What is the difference between a single lei and a double lei? We are often asked this question. The answer is how the lei is created.

A single lei is a series of blossoms one following the next and the lei needle passes through the center of the bloom.

In a double lei, the needle goes through the side of the bloom creating a rounded lei of many more flowers.

The Hawaiian custom is that a pregnant lady DOES NOT wear a closed lei around her neck but rather an open ended lei.

We have provided custom lei for special occasions such as retirements, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, Mothers Day, Holidays such as Christmas. We have provided lei for the blessing of the traditional outrigger canoe in many parts of the Mainland. It is draped over the bow as well as individual lei adorning the paddlers.

Check out our section “ Say it in Hawaiian” for your gift message.

Mahalo!