Residents of multi-cultural Hawaii speak in any of dozens of different languages at home. But the state's symbolic lei -- understood by all -- expresses a message of welcome, friendship and love.

History

According to old Hawaiian legends, the custom of giving lei probably originated in Asia thousands of years ago. Centuries later, no self-respecting Hawaiian chief would go anywhere without being adorned with garlands of flowers. In those days, the blossoms called ilima could only be worn by the high chiefs and it was the sole flower grown specifically for lei. Through the years, however, lei became a tradition with all the islands’ people, and today are part of every Hawaiian occasion – birthdays, graduations, arrivals, departures – and are also given as tokens of friendship.

The Materials

Although usually fashioned of flowers like orchids, pikake, carnations and roses, lei are also made of other natural materials such as feathers, leaves, shells, seeds. They are created from man-made material, too, so you’ll occasionally see garlands of candy, little toys or other small objects.

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