About Hawaiian Flower Leis: Wearing, Receiving And Customary Etiquette

Hawaiian Flower Leis...

There are very few “rules” to consider when it comes to wearing Hawaiian flower leis; anyone can wear one, at anytime, so there really need not be an occasion. It is perfectly fine for one to purchase or make Hawaiian flower leis for themselves. Hats are often adorned with flower, fern or feather leis as well.

There are, however, a couple of "unspoken rules" one should know when receiving a lei for the first time. Lei should be a welcomed celebration of one person's affection to another. Therefore, always accept lei, never refuse. The proper way to wear lei is gently draped over the shoulders, hanging down both in front and in back. It is considered rude to remove a lei from your neck in the presence of the person who gave it to you, so if you must, be discrete.

Lei giving are a regular part of any special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and graduations. It is not uncommon for a politician at a fundraising event or a graduating senior to have so many leis around their neck that they can no longer see or for a co-worker to receive birthday greetings from perfect strangers when wearing many lei at lunchtime, it is often assumed that the lei were given to celebrate a hauoli la hanau (happy birthday).
Depending on the flowers and plants used to create them, different lei hold particular meanings and are worn for specific reasons, for example, the lei made of the keys of the hala (pandanus) fruit is appropriate at New Year, when the old gives way to the new, or for commemorating a life event. Hala means "to pass."
On the other hand, hala is to be avoided when embarking on any venture in which success or failure is measured. In ancient times, if a fisherman on his way makai (to the ocean) encountered a person wearing a hala lei, he would recognize it immediately as a bad omen and return home. He knew that danger lay ahead, for hala also means "to be gone, to depart or die." Among Hawaiian flower leis, Hala would also be inappropriate in business dealings, political campaigns or other undertakings.

Learn more about Hawaiian flower wedding leis, Orchids, Plumeria, Tuberose and more...
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