More Than a Garland: The Deep Meaning of the Hawaiian Lei

The moment a fragrant lei is draped over your shoulders, you are participating in one of Hawaiʻi's most enduring customs. Far more than a souvenir, the lei is a physical expression of aloha — given to mark arrivals and farewells, birthdays and graduations, weddings and funerals, love and respect.

Woven With Intent

Lei can be made from flowers, leaves, seeds, shells, feathers or nuts, each material and island carrying its own associations. The plumeria lei of the tourist image is only one of many; a maile lei of fragrant leaves, for instance, holds special significance at weddings and honors.

Giving and Receiving

Custom asks that you accept a lei graciously and never refuse one, as it is offered with genuine affection. Wear it draped evenly front and back, avoid tossing it in the trash in front of the giver, and return the natural materials to the earth when it fades rather than discarding them carelessly.

To give a lei is to give aloha — and to refuse one is to refuse the heart offered with it.

Good to Know

• Lei mark milestones from birth to farewell
• Materials range from flowers to shells and feathers
• Accept a lei graciously; never refuse one
• Return natural materials to the earth when it fades

Learn a little, listen a lot, and the culture opens like a flower.