Duration: 90 Minutes
Subject: Storytelling, Textile Art & Cultural Studies
Facilitator: Nyla Fujii-Babb

Month: May

Creator: Farah Amanda Bobbitt

Introduction

“Tutu” (grandmother) Nyla is an expert storyteller who has been sharing stories for ages. In a recent performance in the Hawaii State Library System, she delighted the crowd. The Public Hawaiʻi Library State System publicized the event:

Hawai‘i is the most ethnically and culturally diverse State in the nation. From the arrival of Polynesians to the 21st Century, pride, renewal, and fusion are terms used to define the stories we tell of ourselves and of those who influenced our island lifestyle. Aunty Nyla will share stories and music that took root in our island home. (HSPLS 2023).

Experiencing her talents and skills, Nyla is able to share her gift of storytelling as well as teach others how to engage an audience. She will share the history of the lei and May Day. In the second part of the session participants will make their own leis. Tutu Nyla grounds the experience with her expertise and ancestral knowledge.

National Art Standards

• Arts as Culture, History, and Connectors

• Arts as Community Engagement

• Arts as Means to Well-being

Goals

• Participants use storytelling as a mode of communication

• Participants create a cultural piece of art

• Participants explore community engagement as an act of creating ribbon leis

Objectives

• Experience storytelling practices

• Practice skills to braid leis

• Examine how this cultural practice builds community

Outline of Learning Plan

Engagement, 35 minutes:

Aunty Nyla Fujii-Babb will lead the group in an immersive storytelling experience.  The tone of this session will set up the intentionality of the workshop experience.l This session is taking place in May, so she will share a traditional story about leis and their significance on May Day.

Process - Creation of Leis, 45 minutes: 

Lei Making Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU_cOovtOCw 

 Student will learn the significance of “May Day as Lei Day in Hawaiʻi” and listen to the song: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3GuJp2PZPU 

Students will learn to make ribbon leis. Leis are often made for many kinds of occasions. Materials needed for this activity are ribbons and scissors. Facilitators will show how to braid the leis. This braiding experience reinforces the earlier lesson with hair braiding. It is thought that when you are creating leis you are sharing a part of yourself with the person you are adorning your lei with (History of Lei Day). Leis are often used for celebration and congratulatory occasions. Participants can take leis home to give as gifts to friends and family. The time frame for this is intentional as people make leis for many celebratory occasions such as graduations or May Day. For example, the Hawaiʻi Public Library System does ribbon lei-making for teens during graduation season. 

Reflection, 10 minutes: How does lei making build community?

Participants reflect on the skills they learned while creating the leis. 

Participants can share about their thought and intentions they have for the person they are making their lei for. 

Assessment:

Patricipant show their leis. 

Post-Workshop Survey

If the archivist does not have enough time to speak with everyone they can do the survey post workshop on iPads. 

Annotated List of Resources

Booking purposes:

https://www.outreach.hawaii.edu/arts-culture/statewide-cultural-extension-program/artist-booking-information/  This information is for booking purposes. 

Hawaiʻi Public Library System: Island Stories Endemic and Exotic with Aunty Nyla:https://www.librarieshawaii.org/event/island-stories-koloa/ This is about a free event that Tutu Nyla did for the Hawaiʻi State Public Library.

Hawaiʻi State Public Library: Teen Craft Night: Ribbon Lei Making: https://www.librarieshawaii.org/event/island-stories-koloa/ The ribbon lei is an event sponsored in Hawaiʻi. It is open to teens, so they can make leis for graduations.

History of Lei Day: https://www.honolulu.gov/rep/site/dpr/leiday_docs/Brief_History_of_Lei_Day.pdf Some background information on 'May Day as Lei Day' and the respective flowers for each island. 

“May Day as Lei Day in Hawaiʻi” song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3GuJp2PZPU This song is sung on May Day and often taught to young children. It is performed at gatherings and May Day celebrations. 

Nyla Fujii-Babb Bio:https://www.outreach.hawaii.edu/artists/nyla-fujii-babb/ A bio of Nyla Fujii-Babb and her experiences as a storyteller in Hawaiʻi and around the world.

Ribbon lei making video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZU_cOovtOCw Joy from Hawaiʻi magazine does a step by step tutorital of the ribbon lei. 

Image Credit: Queen Liliʻuokalani's quilt from ʻIolani Palace