Hawaiian Flower Traditions
Flowers are a large part of Hawaiian culture. Each island in Hawaii has its own island flower and color. The flowers are used to make leis, which are used in various traditions.
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Early Traditions
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Hawaiian flowers originated with Hawaii's early settlers. The ancient Hawaiians made the flowers into connected, circular arrangements called leis. Women wore them believing they would aid fertility. Farmers believed wearing leis would bless their crops, and leis were offered to ancient Hawaiian gods in worship.
Pa'u Riders
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Island flowers are woven into colorful chains and leis for pa'u riders. These women traditionally wear a special type of clothing called pa'u skirts while horseback riding in parades. Horse and rider are grandly decorated with the rider's home island flower leis and colors as part of her costume.
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Wedding Flowers
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Flowers in the form of wedding leis are part of almost every Hawaiian wedding. The bride and groom exchange leis to start the ceremony. Leis also are given to family and sometimes guests. The bride wears a wedding lei on her head called a haku. The groom wears a lei called a maile, made of flowers and leaves.
Lei Day
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Lei Day is May 1. It was started in 1928 because of concerns that Hawaii's flower and lei-making traditions were fading. Every year, people from all the islands enter a lei contest, hula dancers perform, a queen of Lei Day is chosen and children's programs involve the youngsters.
Fun Fact
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When leaving Hawaii after visiting, the custom is to throw your lei into the ocean. The belief is that if the lei returns to the shore, you will return again in the future.
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