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Nā
Lei o Hawai`i
Types of Lei
E Komo Mai!
Visit
our Lei Day Pages
Types of Lei
`A`ohe pau ka `ike i ka hālau
ho`okāhi
All
knowledge is not taught in the same school
It is necessary to remember that from ancient times there has been a
certain amount of variation in terminology between different islands,
districts, and families. The Hawaiian culture and language are far more
complex, diverse, and varied than would be indicated by most tourist
publications, or even Western school texts.
hīpu`u / nīpu`u - a method of making a lei by knotting the stems of the decorative plant material. Various knotting techniques are used, including overhand, and square knots. Sometimes several strands made in this fashion will be braided or twisted together using hili, hilo, or wili techniques. It requires a very long stem on the decorative material. Some lei laukukui and lei laupohuehue are made with this method. (Same as nipu`u)
At left, learning the tying technique for the lei hīpu`u.At right, Elaine knots the petiole of kukui leaves to make a hipu`u, or nipu`u, style of lei lau kukui. March 22, 2007 lei workshop at the Hilo Palace Theater.
Knotting the kukui petioles to make lei hīpu`u.
