International Education Week: Arts & Crafts 2021

Below are a list of common terms associated with different aspects of Hawaiian arts and crafts.

• Lei

  From Hawaiian Dictionaries
  Lei, garland, wreath; necklace of flowers, leaves, shells, ivory, feathers, or paper, given as a symbol of affection; beads; any ornament worn around the head or about the neck; to wear a lei; special song presenting a lei; crown

• Lei hilo

  From Kamehameha Schools Ho’okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group
  A very popular and convenient lei-making method is known as hilo. Hilo means to twist or braid and is used not only for lei but in the making of cordage.

• Lāʻī (tī leaves)

  From Kamehameha Schools Ho’okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group
  Most common material used for lei hilo. This technique and style of lei is great because lāʻī are readily available and they possess cleansing and healing properties associated with safety and purity. To make a lei lāʻi, two stripped or cut pieces of lā‘ī are twisted together to form a rope.

• Lei hīpuʻu/ lei kīpuʻu

  From Kamehameha Schools Ho’okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group
  Another method of lei-making is known as hīpuʻu or kīpuʻu. Hīpuʻu refers to a knot, bond, fastening, or the act of tying a knot. Lei hīpuʻu are often made with lau kukui, the leaves of the kukui tree, which have long, flexible, and durable stems. To make a lei hīpuʻu kukui, face a leaf downwards, and overlap onto it another downward-facing kukui leaf. Tie the two leaves securely together with a knot at their stems. Continue this process by adding more leaves and knotting their stems; this will form the chain of lau kukui that will make up your lei.

• Lei haku

  From Kamehameha Schools Ho’okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group
  Haku means to braid. It also means to create and to arrange in order, both of which apply to this technique. A lei haku has at least two types of flower materials incorporated into the lei using a three-strand braid. Nowadays, people mistakenly refer to nearly all lei poʻo, or lei that are worn on our heads, as haku lei; but haku refers to the style of lei-making, not where the lei is worn.

• Lei wili

  From Kamehameha Schools Ho’okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group
  Wili means to wind and is a common method of lei-making known for its durability and versatility. Any variety of flower and foliage are bound onto a base using lāʻī or some type of twine such as raffia, string, or even floral wire. As in lei haku, the maker of lei wili creates his or her pattern of choice by selecting materials based on color, shape, texture, and meaning. Experienced lei makers may hide the exposed twine by cleverly securing ferns to form a backing which redirects the heat of the body away from the lei, allowing more delicate blooms to last longer.

• Lei hili

  From Kamehameha Schools Ho’okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group​​​​​​​
  Hili means to braid or plait. Unlike lei haku, which uses at least two types of floral materials, lei hili are braided using only one type of material. Ferns and vines are commonly used for this method. Fragrant maile, luxurious palapalai ferns and bright yellow-orange kauna‘oa are favorite lei hili.

• Lei humupapa

  From Kamehameha Schools Ho’okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group​​​​​​​
  To make a lei humupapa, materials are sewn to a backing. Feather lei that adorn pāpale (hats). Foliage is sewn using a string and needle onto a strip of lāʻī, lau hala (pandanus leaves), felt, burlap, or other material. The size of the needle and strength of the string used depends on the type of foliage and flowers used in the lei. A dainty sewing needle is used for delicate blooms or feathers while sturdier needles for carpets or upholstery are sometimes preferred to attach thicker and heavy flowers and foliage.

• Lei kui

  From Kamehameha Schools Ho’okahua Cultural Vibrancy Group​​​​​​​
  The most common and beloved of our lei-making traditions is lei kui. Kui is the term for needle, and refers to piercing or stringing things together. Lei kui are most often worn around the neck, lei ‘āʻī. Specialized lei needles ranging in length from 10-18 inches are easily purchased at craft or grocery stores in Hawaiʻi. Multiple blossoms can be pierced and bunched together on the length of the needle, and then pulled gently along onto the string in sections to create a lei kui. Flowers such as ginger, pīkake, pakalana, and plumeria are island favorites that are made using this efficient time-honored technique. The kui technique is also used to string the aromatic keys of the hala (pandanus fruit), nuts such as kukui and kamani, seeds like kākalaioa and Job’s Tears, and especially our precious shells – pūpū Niʻihau.

• Lau hala/lauhala

  From Ulukau: The Hawaiian Electronic Library
  Pandanus leaf, especially as used in plaiting

Learn more about lei making using traditional and modern methods! 

Books are available for checkout or currently on display at the Learning Commons' main entrance. Click on the title to view more information.

Below are online resources about Lei making. Click on the title to view more information.

Learn more about Lauhala weaving using traditional and modern methods! 

Books are available for checkout or currently on display at the Learning Commons' main entrance. Click on the title to view more information.

Below are online resources about Lauhala weaving. Click on the title to view more information.

Learn more about various other arts and crafts found in Hawai'i!

Books are available for checkout or currently on display at the Learning Commons' main entrance. Videos can be found by clicking on the link to the PrimoSearch catalog. Click on the title to view more information.

Below are links to contemporary art and interviews with local Hawai'i artists. Art found in these links are inspired by Native Hawaiian culture, local scenes and the diverse population found here in Hawai'i.