The Meaning & History of Hawaiʻi’s Lei Traditions

The History and Meaning of Hawaiʻi’s Lei Traditions: From Flower Garlands to Maile and Haku Lei

Few symbols are more instantly associated with Hawaiʻi than the lei—a fragrant, colorful garland of flowers or leaves worn around the neck or head. A universal emblem of aloha, the lei is more than just a welcoming gift or festive accessory; it is a powerful expression of love, respect, celebration, and connection.

In Hawaiʻi, lei are given for nearly every significant life moment—from birthdays, graduations, and weddings to welcoming visitors and honoring ancestors. But not all lei are the same. The islands are home to a diverse array of lei types, each with its own history, meaning, and cultural significance.

This article explores the origins of the Hawaiian lei, the traditional and modern forms it takes—particularly flower lei, haku head lei, and maile lei—and why these handmade garlands continue to play a vital role in Hawaiian culture today.

A Brief History of the Lei in Hawaiʻi

The tradition of wearing and giving lei arrived in Hawaiʻi with the early Polynesian voyagers who settled the islands more than 1,000 years ago. These skilled navigators brought with them customs, chants, religious practices—and a reverence for nature that included the creation of garlands from native flora.

In pre-contact Hawaiʻi, lei were worn by aliʻi (royalty), kahuna (priests), and commoners, each with different materials and designs to indicate status, purpose, or ceremonial role. Lei were not only decorative but deeply spiritual—used in religious offerings, hula rituals, and as signs of rank, affection, or mourning.

As Hawaiʻi modernized, the lei evolved too—but it has never lost its importance. Today, it remains a living cultural tradition practiced across generations and islands.

The Classic Flower Lei: A Symbol of Aloha

When most people picture a Hawaiian lei, they imagine a fragrant necklace made of plumeria, orchids, or tuberose. These are the flower lei most often presented to travelers upon arrival or worn at celebrations like graduations, birthdays, weddings, and May Day (Lei Day).

Common Flowers Used in Lei:

• Plumeria (melia): Symbolizes positivity and new beginnings
• Tuberose (kupaloke): A fragrant white flower often used in wedding lei
• Orchid (okika): Known for its beauty and durability
• Carnation: Popular for graduation and hula dancers
• Ilima: Oʻahu’s island flower, often worn in royal-style lei

Flower lei are typically sewn using the wili (wrap), kui (stringing), or hilo (twist) techniques. The process of making a lei by hand is a meditative act, done with care and respect.

Gifting Etiquette:

• Always offer the lei with both hands
• It’s impolite to refuse a lei unless for cultural reasons
• If you must remove it, do so discreetly and never in front of the giver
• Traditionally, a lei is not thrown away, but returned to nature

Haku Lei: The Headpiece of Celebration

A haku lei, often called a “lei po’o” (head lei), is a crown-like lei worn around the head. The term “haku” refers to the technique of braiding or weaving flowers, greenery, and sometimes ferns, feathers, or shells into a structured band.

When Haku Lei Are Worn:

• Graduations
• Hula performances
• Weddings and baby showers
• Merrie Monarch Festival and May Day events
• Photo sessions and cultural ceremonies

Each haku lei is handcrafted to reflect the wearer's personality, occasion, and spirit. Modern interpretations may incorporate tropical or imported flowers, but traditional haku often highlight native Hawaiian plants like palapalai fern, maile, lehua, and naupaka.

The haku style represents creativity, joy, and mana (spiritual energy), making it a favorite for celebrations.

Maile Lei: The Lei of Honor and Nobility

The maile lei is perhaps the most sacred and revered of all Hawaiian lei. Unlike flower lei, maile is a leafy vine with long, glossy green leaves and a woodsy scent. It is traditionally left open-ended, draping over the shoulders rather than being tied in a circle.

Cultural Significance:

• Associated with aliʻi (chiefs) and ancient Hawaiian nobility
• Worn in hoʻoponopono (conflict resolution) and peace ceremonies
• Symbolizes respect, honor, and aloha

When Maile Lei Are Used:

• Weddings (often worn by the groom)
• Blessings and dedications
• Graduations and retirements
• Spiritual or ceremonial events
• In some traditions, a pair of maile lei may be knotted together during a wedding or unity ritual, symbolizing the bond between two people or communities.

Native maile grows in upland forests and is harvested with respect and ceremony. Some lei artisans now use maile-style ti leaf lei as a sustainable alternative, preserving the look and symbolism without disturbing native ecosystems.

Lei Day: A Statewide Celebration of the Lei Tradition

Since 1929, Hawaiʻi has celebrated Lei Day every May 1st, a statewide holiday honoring the art, history, and cultural importance of the lei.

Schools and communities across the islands host lei-making competitions, hula performances, music, and pageantry, with each island represented by a specific flower and color.

• Oʻahu: Ilima (yellow)
• Maui: Lokelani rose (pink)
• Kauaʻi: Mokihana (purple berries)
• Hawaiʻi (Big Island): Lehua (red)
• Molokaʻi: Kukui (green)
• Lānaʻi: Kaunaʻoa (orange vine)
• Niʻihau: Pūpū shell (white)

Lei Day is both a celebration and a reaffirmation of identity—a way to teach younger generations the sacredness of lei and keep the practice alive.

The Lei as Living Culture

While the lei has become globally recognizable—thanks in part to Hollywood, tourism, and airline greetings—it remains a deeply Hawaiian tradition rooted in love, mana, and heritage.

In recent years, there’s been a resurgence in native Hawaiian plant use, sustainable gathering practices, and teaching traditional lei-making methods in schools and cultural programs.

Artisans and lei-makers are not just creating beautiful adornments—they are weaving stories, honoring ancestors, and preserving culture.

Final Thoughts

To wear or give a lei is to participate in something timeless and uniquely Hawaiian. Whether it’s a fresh orchid strand draped over a graduate’s shoulders, a carefully woven haku atop a dancer’s brow, or the sacred green of a maile lei at a wedding, each one carries a message:

“Aloha is given and received here.”

The next time you wear a lei, remember—it is not just decoration. It is a gift of breath, life, and aloha, made by hands and hearts that understand the sacred power of connection.