Give or Get Lei'd

Many people think of a lei worn like a crown on the head as a "Haku Lei." While a Haku can be worn on the head, Haku actually means to "Braid" usually using 3 strands. Not all head lei are Haku, nor are all Haku Lei worn on the head. The name Lei Po'o is the more general term as Po'o can means "Head or Summit".

Most of our lei will consists of more than one color. In nature, no two flowers are exactly the same color nor are the leaves completely symetrical or of the same color, shade or tone. By adding shades of color to our lei, even though they are artificial, it gives the lei depth and texture. 

Kino means body. Hence a "Lei Kino" would be a lei worn on the body. These, like the lei po'o can be made in many different ways. These two lei are kui, or pirece. A lei kui (pierced) is the most common. They are usually lei which are sewn or strung on thread.  

Some of our featured lei will offer you a choice of a lei Kino or lei po'o r both. There will also be discounts for order more than one. 

What Makes a Lei, A Lei?

Traditional Hawaiian leis are created entirely out of natural foliage, with flowers and seeds used as adornment and vines or bark used as the strands holding it together. Commonly used flowers include plumerias, carnations, orchids and ti leaves. The types of flowers and methods used vary greatly. 

Today, lei are made of fabric, ribbon, yarn, paper, string and almost anything you can imagine. Even money!  New looks progress while the traditional methods continue to live in many ways.

Below you will find information on some of the "traditional" lei. The traditional names, and concepts of the lei are being lost and blurred into general groupings.

Most people generalize a lei, when in fact there are specific names for the way a lei is made. Over time, we have forgotten the names, designs and methods of creating. Maybe you can be a part of restoring this part of the Hawaiian Culture.

 Here are some of them. 

Haku (mounted): Usually a three ply braid, where other decorative material is attached and secured in each cross wrap.  Traditionally softened tree bark or long leaves might have been used as the strands of the braid and other foilege, petals or natural fibers were used as decorative material.

Hilo (twisted): A rope created by twisting two strands together such as in the popular braided ti leaf lei. Rope or lashing were also braided in this same manner.

Hipu`u (knotted): Similar to a daisy chain, this method knots the stems of decorative plants together. Each additional strand is included by stringing a new stem through the knot.

Kui (piercing): This style most commonly associated with lei making. Usually a needle and thread is used to string flowers or other decorative objects together.

Hili (braided): A braid or plait using only one type of material. Traditionally, the plait is braided using vines, ferns  or leaves and would contain a minimum of three strands. 

Wili (twisted): Short lengths of decorative material held together by a wrapped coil. A common material to create the wrap is raffia. Most people think of this as "Haku" when in fact, it is not.

Humu (basting): Decorative material is sewn to a backing using a basting stich. Each row overlaps the previous row, which creates the scale like effect.  

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