All Hawaiians get leid on May 1, lei day. What is it about those fragrant flower garlands and the sensual image invoked by the words lei and Hawaii. From the earliest times, men and women worldwide have adorned themselves with leis. The lei custom began in Asia and followed human migration patterns, spreading eastward to Polynesia and on to Hawaii. Which has turned into a thousand-year-old tradition that is carried on daily. Early Hawaiian leis were fashioned from shells, feathers, seeds and even teeth. They were symbolic of esteem for gods, loved ones and oneself. Nursing mothers wore them in belief of their life-giving and life-symbolizing power. While farmers wore them in the fields to invoke divine blessing upon his crops. Leis signifying authority were sometimes worn by the ruling chiefs or Alii as they were called. These remarkably diverse and spectacular leis are still given today as a sign of love, gratitude and friendship.
Hawaiian leis mark any important event in a person's life. There are leis for grief, and leis of love, leis of love making, leis of marriage, of dying and birthing along with many others for social, political, and religious ceremonies. Flowers such as the lehua, ohia lehua and the tragic fire flower are commonly found in Hawaii and used for lei making. Corresponding to the many different types of flowers are the many different types of leis. .
Frequently used is the maile leaf lei. This is the lei of all people, all classes and all occasions. The Maile Lei is a very popular lei in Hawaii, although it is classified as the lei of all people, it is more commonly worn by men. It is made of the fragrant leaves of the maile vine that grows exclusively in the forests of Hawaii. Most visitors are only aware of the plumeria lei which is widely available at airports and hotels. Plumeria means perfume. The plumeria flower is seen with many different colors. Some are white with pink while others are white with yellow.
