Hawaiian Tradition of Giving a Lei

Almost eveyone knows the Hawaiian custom of giving a lei on a special occasion, right?

But did you know that lei are not just for special occasions? They are a traditional Polynesian accessory, worn like jewelry. They can be worn any time and any place, are a method of adornment and distinction, and can be made of not only flowers, but seeds, leaves, feathers, bone, shell, etc.

Lei were brought to Hawaii first by early Polynesian settlers from Tahiti. Some sacred and cermonial uses are to signify peace. For example, the Maile lei agreement was traditionally used for a peace agreement between chiefs.

Now, lei are most commonly used to welcome visitors, to commemorate special days like birthdays, weddings, graduations, etc. or to give congraulations for anything else, and they have become almost a universal symbol of Hawaii and the Aloha spirit.

They are commonly passed by having the giver place the lei over the other person’s neck and giving them a kiss on the cheek. It is fine for you to purchase and wear your own lei if you desire.

There are only a few basic ettiquette rules about lei:

1. Closed lei are to be worn draped over your shoulders and hanging down both in front and back, equally. Open lei are worn around the neck with the 2 sides hanging down in the front. The ribbon is worn to the side in front, off-center, if there is one. It is OK to wear more than one lei.

2. It is rude to refuse to accept or wear a lei and you are supposed to never take it off in the presence of the one that just gave it to you. If you cannot put in on right away, it is appropriate to place it carefully in a safe “place of honor” to show respect to the giver.

3. A lei is typically diposed of by removing the string and ribbon and returning the flowers to the earth or tossing the petals in the ocean. It is disrespectful to throw a lei in the trash.

4. Ti leaves in a lei are thought to bring good luck and ward off evil spirits.

5. Do NOT wear yourself a lei you intended to gift to someone else. That is considered bad luck. It is OK to re-gift a lei that was given to you, however.

6. Pregnant women should not be given a closed lei, which is thought to be symbolic of an umbilical cord around the neck. Open lei are fine.

In Hawaii we celebrate the giving and receiving of lei on May Day. “May Day is Lei Day.”  “Lei Day” has been celebrated since 1927 and is a big day for school children, often having May Day celebrations and the crowning of a Lei Day Queen and King.

The Crowning of May Day Royalty at a local school.

The whole school participates and family usually attends. May Day/Lei Day is a fun tradition for all!

~Aloha