How to Make a Pikake Lei

The Pikake Lei is a very popular, fragrant lei. It can be used alone or intertwined with a Maile or Ti Leaf Lei. For a wedding ceremony or parade, multiple strands of Pikake are used to produce a royal look and/or sweet aroma.

Things You'll Need

• 60 Pikake Flowers
• 6 in. Lei Needle
• 6 ft. White thread

Instructions

1. Slip one end of the thread through the eye of the needle, and pull the needle to the middle of the thread. There should be 3 ft of thread on either side of the needle. Tie the two ends of the thread together in a double knot approximately 3 inches from the end.

2. Hold 1 Pikake flower between the thumb and index finger. With the other hand, grab the lei needle, and push the point of the needle through the bottom center of the flower.

3. Pull the needle through the top center of the flower, and gently push the flower down to the end of the thread until the bottom of the flower touches the knot.

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 until the flowers cover the thread up to 3 inches away from the end.

5. Tie the ends of the lei together in a double knot. Cut off any excess thread.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a bow made out of ribbon where the two ends meet to accentuate the lei.

• Use caution when working with a needle to prevent injury.