Flower leis
are often made from orchids.
Fragrant flower leis symbolize the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and their welcoming spirit of aloha. Although flower leis are most recognizable, traditional leis are made from many types of semi non-perishable materials, such as wood, hair, bone and seeds, and from perishable materials, such as coconut husks, vines, seaweed, leaves and flowers. There are many traditional lei-making techniques and the method used depends upon the characteristics of the materials.
Haku
The haku technique of lei making uses a three-ply braid. Lei makers take a base plant material, such as softened la`I, to use as a central binding cord. Lei makers braid the base material either with itself or with other materials while adding a mixture of plant material, such as kukui tree leaves, flowers and fruit, into each wrap. Haku is sometimes loosely used as a term for head lei.
Hili
The hili technique is a braided or plaited lei made with only one type of material, such as a fern or other plant with long flexible stems. Several types of lei, including ti leaf leis, maile lei and lei palapalai, which uses a sacred fern, all can be made using the hili technique.
Hilo
The hilo technique is a twisted, double helix or intertwined lei made with two strands of plant material. The lei la`i or ti leaf lei is the most common type made using the hilo technique, although lei makers also use other types of vining plants.
Hipu'u, Kipu'u and Nipu'u
The hipu'u, kipu'u and nipu'u techniques use short vine lengths or leaves with long stems and knots, such as overhand and square knots. Sometimes lei makers use other techniques, such as hili, hilo or wili, to braid or twist strands created with the hipu'u, kipu'u or nipu'u techniques.
Kui
The classic lei kui made from orchids is perhaps the most familiar lei. The kui technique is a stringing method. Lei makers use a needle to pierce the lei material and string it onto a thread. Typically used with flowers, there are several types of lei kui. With the kui pololei method, lei makers pierce the flower through the center from front to back. With the kui poepoe method, the lei maker strings the flowers through the stem or ovary arranging the flowers like the spokes of a wheel. With the kui lau method, the lei maker strings the flowers through the stem or ovary alternating the flowers side to side.
Wili
The wili technique uses a simple wind, twist, crank or coil without any knots until the end. Lei makers wind fiber around a series of short pieces of decorative elements or use a base material, such as a banana leaf or raffia braid to ease winding. Lei makers using the wili technique also loosely twist lengths of lei material such as two maile vines to make the traditional Hawaiian wedding lei.
Tags: material such, made from, plant material, base material, flower leis