The Beautiful Leis of Hawaii

Ah, the beautiful leis of Hawaii! If a friend or relative is waiting for you when you get off the airplane in Hawaii, chances are you will receive a necklace made of flowers, called a lei. You might even receive more than one. Leis can me made from practically any flower, but some are more popular than others. You’ll see many made from orchids, tuberose, and plumerias. Of course, there are also many leis made out of various nuts, a common one being the kukui nut lei.

They sometimes given just to say I love you, and the islands are famous for beautiful Hawaiian wedding leis. They are always present at any cause for celebration, including graduations, anniversaries, retirements, birthdays, and grand-openings. You will also see beautiful leis during times of mourning, draped over caskets, and dropped into the ocean following burials at sea. (It should be noted that while dropping leis into the ocean is a tradition, the thread from the leis pose a fatal threat to the honu [turtles]; an acceptable and welcome alternative is to scatter loose plumeria flowers.)

Leis are hand strung, and even young children of the islands can quickly put together the simple ones. They are encouraged to bring leis to school in honor of fallen veterans a few days before Veteran’s Day. Then on Veteran’s Day, the leis are placed on the graves of veterans buried in Hawaii.

Most of those are made from the plumeria flower. They are easy to find and pick, flourish on all the islands, and can be found in a variety of colors. I would say they are mainly red, yellow, pink, and white, but that would be misleading. There are many shades, hues, and combinations. One of my favorites is a blend of dark pink and strong yellow, but they are all pretty and have a strong fragrance. If you really like the smell, you can even pick up a bottle of plumeria perfume.

If you attend a luau, a Hawaiian feast that should certainly not be missed if you are a visitor to the islands, you’ll see leis all over the place there too. You will most likely receive one yourself as a welcome gift. The hula dancers will have leis not only around their necks, but also on their ankles, wrists, and heads. Sometimes you will see head leis, known as haku leis, woven with intricate designs of beautiful flowers and foliage. They are often designed to remain beautiful as dried flowers, long after the day of their use. Brides may choose to wear a haku instead of a traditional veil, or even to have a veil attached to a haku.

You can get them at the airport, flower shops, “vendors” sitting on seawalls stringing while you watch, heck, you can even get them in most grocery stores here. Not hard to find at all. When all is said and done, if your visit to Hawaii is over and done, and you have not received lei, buy one for yourself. It is a definite part of the Hawaii experience.

How can I explain how it feels to inhale the sweet fragrance of the plumeria all day long as a delicate reminder of whatever I am celebrating? And if you bought it for yourself, celebrate life, give thanks to the Creator that you have breath and are alive to experience the beauty of His creation.