An infographic on creating your own flower lei
According to the Maui Luau official website, lei--whether they're comprised of flowers or shells–– are synonymous with the islands. These adornments were worn by ancient Hawaiians for ceremonial purposes and to decorate oneself with respect, the site says. Now, however, lei are used for everything from graduations to weddings, it says. Taken from the Maui Luau and a blog post by Diana Hansen, here are steps on how to make your own lei.
Step 1: Choose your flowers properly
According to the Maui Luau, the plumeria lei is the most famous lei in Hawaii because of the abundance of plumeria on the islands. Some alternatives include orchids, hibiscus, cigar flower and jasmine.
Step 2: Prepare your materials
According to Hansen, a large needle, waxed dental floss and scissors are needed to start the lei-making process. If waxed dental floss is not available, the website recommends a double strand of sewing thread. Then, as per Hansen's, the chosen flowers must be cut off near the top of the stem to prepare them for threading.
Step 3: Start threading
According to the Maui Luau, once the chosen strand is threaded through the needle, the needle must be inserted into the thickest part of the stem. The process is then repeated, as per Hansen's post, with the needle always going through the middle of the flower and gently moving down the strand.
Step 4: Tie it off
Once the desired length is achieved, the strand must now be completed by tying it off, said Hansen. As per her post, an additional decoration may be added to cover where it was tied, like a knotted ribbon.
Be creative
According to the Maui Luau website, though a beautiful flower lei can easily be completed with just four steps, the art of lei-making doesn't end there, other materials can also be used for lei. For example, the site says one can use ti leaves or ferns to add greenery to the lei, or kukui nuts, feathers and shells for lei that will last.