ULUPONO LEIS - Information

Lei Care

Preserving Your Lei

Gently spray or sprinkle your lei with water to keep it hydrated. Place in a sealed container or Ziploc bag on a damp paper towel and store in the fridge, ideally on the middle shelf. Keep your lei away from vents to prevent freezing.

Disposing of Your Lei

When pau (finished) with your lei, it is respectful to return it to the land. This can mean placing it under a tree at a local park or releasing it into the ocean. It is acceptable to remove the flowers from the string to bury or scatter them. You can also hang your lei to dry. Please do not throw your lei in the trash.

Lei Etiquette

Accepting Your Lei

Lei-makers devote several hours to creating lei. It is respectful to accept the gesture by allowing the maker or deliverer to put your lei on you. Lei should never be refused or taken off in the presence of the lei-maker. An exception to this etiquette is if the person is allergic to the flower or material used. Lei intended for another person should also never be worn by the maker.

Pregnancy

Women that are expecting should never wear a closed lei, as it is believed to bring bad luck and symbolizes an umbilical chord around a baby's neck. Instead, pregnant women can wear an open lei in which both ends drape over the shoulders.

Lei can be worn for any occasion, or no occasion at all. It is given as a gesture of love and affection.

Lei 'Ōlelo (Language)

Ā'ī

Neck; neck of a shirt or dress.

Haku

To compose, put in order, arrange; to weave, as a lei.

Hilo

To twist, braid, spin; twisted, braided; threadlike.

Hīpu'u

Knot, bond, fastening; to tie a knot.

Kui

To string pierced objects, as flowers in a lei, or fish; to thread, as beads.

Kūpe'e

Bracelet, anklet.

Lei

Garland, wreath; necklace of flowers, leaves, shells, ivory, feathers, beads, or paper, given as a symbol of affection.

Mālama

To take care of, care for, preserve.

Pau

Finished, ended, completed.

Poepoe

Round, rounded; compact, compressed; full, as the moon.

Pololei

Straight, upright.

Pono

Goodness, uprightness, morality, correct or proper procedure, excellence, prosperity.

Po'o

(Top of) head; summit.

Pua

Flower, blossom; to bloom.

Ulu

To grow, increase, spread; growth.

Wili

To wind, twist, writhe, crank, turn, grind.

Elbert, S. H. & Pukui, M. K. (1971). In S. H. Elbert & M. K. Pukui (ed.), Hawaiian Dictionary (1-3). University of Hawai'i Press.

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