Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Molok
Molokaʻi
aʻiKukui(candelnut) lei are either made from the laboriously polished, dark-
brown nuts of Hawaii's state tree (in which case, they're usually worn by men) or
the tree's white blossoms, which are Molokaʻi's official flower.
Kauaʻi
uaʻiOn the 'Garden Island,' leathery, anise-scentedmokihanaberries are often
woven with strands of glossy, green maile vines.Mokihanatrees grow on the rain-
soaked western slopes of Mt Waiʻaleʻale.
On Oʻahu, it's said that when passengers throw their lei into the sea as their departing
ship passes Diamond Head, if the flowers of their lei then float back toward the beach,
they're guaranteed to return to Hawaii someday.
Modern Celebrations
For visitors to Hawaii, the tradition of giving and receiving lei dates back to 19th-century
steamships that brought the first tourists to the islands. Later, disembarking cruise ship
passengers were greeted by vendors who would toss garlands around the necks of
mali-
hini
(newcomers).
In 1927, the poet Don Blanding and Honolulu journalist Grace Tower Warren called
for making May 1 a holiday to honor lei. Every year, Lei Day is still celebrated across
the islands with Hawaiian music, hula dancing, parades, and lei-making workshops and
contests.
The tradition of giving a kiss with a lei began during WWII, allegedly when a hula
dancer at a USO club was dared by her friends to give a military serviceman a peck on
the cheek when offering him a flower lei.
