Hilo, Hawai`i
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Mo`olelo o na Lei
( Stories of the
Lei )
Calendar * Workshops * Lei Day Pageant * Lei Competition * Lei Links * Lei Songs * Lei Gifts
2007 Workshops on Hawaiian
Lei
Workshop Photos 2007
The Mo`olelo o na Lei workshop series explores the art of traditional Hawaiian lei and how they incorporate stories as beautiful as the natural materials from which they are woven. Learn the haku, hipu`u, nipu`u, wili, kui, hili, hilo, and humupapa techniques, and protocols for harvesting, giving, receiving and disposal, including appropriate chants. Also covered will be tips on keeping lei fresh. Please bookmark and return to this page regularly for updates and added information. Mahalo.
March Workshops
Lei Making
- Lei Hilo & Lei Hili
March 8, Thursday, 10:00 am
- noon - Hilo Palace Theater. Features
two related lei styles, the lei hilo and
the lei hili. Both lei use a single type of material which is either
plaited or twined. Free and open to the public. Some lei-making
materials will be available, but participants also are encouraged to
bring materials from their own gardens each week so they may learn how
to use what they have available. Recommended materials for this
week's class are la`i (ti leaves),
kauna`oa, any pliable fern fronds, pōhuehue, and other vining
plants. Supporting materials are available for purchase. Class size
limited to 20. E-mail Leilehua
or phone 935-1722 for more information.
At left, Makanani twists a lei hilo from lā`ī. At right, Pi`ikea wears a lei kupukupu in the hili style.
Lei
Making - Lei Kui & Lei Humu
March 15, Thursday, 10:00 am -
noon - Hilo Palace Theater. Features
two stitched lei styles, the kui and the
humu, or humupapa. Kui is frequently used for such flowers as
plumeria and rose, kou, and ilima. Humu is often used to make lei hulu
and lei bouganvilla. Free and open to the public. Some lei-making
materials will be available, but participants also are encouraged to
bring materials from their own gardens each week so they may learn how
to use what they have available. Recommended materials for this week's
class are plumeria, carnation, rose, pikake, or any other similar
flower. Feathers, bouganvilla, and small leaves can be used for the
humupapa style. Supporting materials are available for purchase. Class
size limited to 20. E-mail
Leilehua or phone 935-1722 for more information.
Above, Yuen `ohana women wearing lei kui at a family gathering in 1932. Right, March 2007 workshop attendee making a lei kui.
Lei Making -
Lei Haku & Lei
Hipu`u
March 22,
Thursday, 10:00 am -
noon - Hilo Palace Theater. Features
two long-petiole lei styles. Both
haku and hīpu`u require long pliable material for the best results.
Laua`e and lau kukui are commonly used for haku. Kukui, olapa, and other
leaves with a long petiole are best for hipu`u. Some lei-making
materials will be available, but participants also are encouraged to
bring materials from their own gardens each week so they may learn how
to use what they have available. Recommended materials for this week's
class are laua`e, other pliable ferns, lau kukui, lau hau, lau milo, or
any leaf with long petioles. Free and open to the public. Supporting
materials are available for purchase. Class size limited to 20.
E-mail Leilehua or phone
935-1722 for more information.
At left, Leilehua shows a student how to use la`i to create a base for the lei haku.
Lei Making
- Lei Wili & Haku Mele
March 29, Thursday, 10:00 am -
noon - Hilo Palace Theater. Features
two vastly different lei styles, lei
wili and haku mele. Liko lehua, ferns, and plants with short woody
stems are commonly used in lei wili. Students also will be encouraged to
haku mele, to write a lei song. Some lei-making materials will be
available, but participants also are encouraged to
bring materials from their own gardens each week so they may learn how
to use what they have available. Students should bring their own
notebooks and pens for their haku mele. Free and open to the public. Supporting materials are
available for purchase.
Class size
limited to 20. E-mail Leilehua
or phone 935-1722 for more information.
At left, Leilehua's dancers wear lei lehua in the wili style. See if you can pick out which are lei yarn crochet! Back Row, L-R: Pi`ikea, Kanoe, Puakea, Regina, PuaMahina. Front, L-R: Leilehua, Meilani.
Special Story-Telling Event
March 30 - Special
pre-workshop event at
Pāhala
Plantation House.
Click here for details.
Lei Garden Intensive Workshop
March 31 - April 1 Saturday and Sunday,
Pāhala
Plantation House. Intensive workshop on creating a lei garden. Also
covers simple lei techniques. Fee. On-site lodging available. Free
concert and talk-story session with Leilehua on Sunday. To register,
contact
Pāhala Plantation House.
Click here for details.
Read more here.
May Workshops
Lei
Making - Lei Hilo & Lei Hili
May 3, 10:00 Thursday, am - noon -
Hilo Palace Theater. Features
two related lei styles, the lei hilo and
the lei hili. Both lei use a single type of material which is either
plaited or twined. Free and open to the public. Some lei-making
materials will be available, but participants also are encouraged to
bring materials from their own gardens each week so they may learn how
to use what they have available. Recommended materials for this
week's class are la`i (ti leaves),
kauna`oa, any pliable fern fronds, pōhuehue, and other vining
plants. Supporting materials are available for purchase. Class size
limited to 20. E-mail Leilehua
or phone 935-1722 for more information.
At right, Kahalelaukoa
wears a lei po`o of various flowers in the wili style, and a lei la`i.
Dr. Blaisdell aand
Leilehua wear lei maile in
the hili style. Leilehua also wears lei hulu in her hair, and lei silika
at the neck.
Lei
Making - Lei Kui & Lei Humu
May 10, Thursday, 10:00 am - noon
- Hilo Palace Theater. Features
two stitched lei styles, the kui and the
humu, or humupapa. Kui is frequently used for such flowers as
plumeria and rose, kou, and ilima. Humu is often used to make lei hulu
and lei bouganvilla. Free and open to the public. Some lei-making
materials will be available, but participants also are encouraged to
bring materials from their own gardens each week so they may learn how
to use what they have available. Recommended materials for this week's
class are plumeria, carnation, rose, pikake, or any other similar
flower. Feathers, bouganvilla, and small leaves can be used for the
humupapa style. Supporting materials are available for purchase. Class
size limited to 20. E-mail
Leilehua or phone 935-1722 for more information.
At left, Leilehua and husband Manu wear many styles of lei. The orchid and ginger lei Leilehua wears are in the kui style, and her lei po`o is a`ali`i in the wili style. Manu wears a long lei la`i in the hilo style, and his orange colored lei is cigar flower in the poepoe style.
Lei Making - Lei Haku & Lei
Hipu`u
May
17, Thursday, 10:00 am - noon
- Hilo Palace Theater. Features
two long-petiole lei styles. Both
haku and hīpu`u require long pliable material for the best results.
Laua`e and lau kukui are commonly used for haku. Kukui, olapa, and other
leaves with a long petiole are best for hipu`u. Some lei-making
materials will be available, but participants also are encouraged to
bring materials from their own gardens each week so they may learn how
to use what they have available. Recommended materials for this week's
class are laua`e, other pliable ferns, lau kukui, lau hau, lau milo, or
any leaf with long petioles. Free and open to the public. Supporting
materials are available for purchase. Class size limited to 20.
E-mail Leilehua or phone
935-1722 for more information.
Above, Naoko shows off the the lei haku she is braiding.
Lei Making
- Lei Wili & Haku Mele
May
24, Thursday, 10:00 am - noon
- Hilo Palace Theater. Features
two vastly different lei styles, lei
wili and haku mele. Liko lehua, ferns, and plants with short woody
stems are commonly used in lei wili. Students also will be encouraged to
haku mele, to write a lei song. Some lei-making materials will be
available, but participants also are encouraged to
bring materials from their own gardens each week so they may learn how
to use what they have available. Students should bring their own
notebooks and pens for their haku mele. Free and open to the public. Supporting materials are
available for purchase.
Class size
limited to 20. E-mail Leilehua
or phone 935-1722 for more information.
At Right, Aunty Nona Beamer in the role of haku mele
Leilehua and her grandmother
making lei puamelie
The Mo`olelo o nā Lei series of programs was created to preserve and teach the cultural traditions of Hawaiian lei. The series is funded in part by the Hawai`i Tourism Authority, CPEP, and Destination Hilo. Additional funding comes from the Pāhala Plantation Cottages, Ka`u Calendar, Keoki Kahumoku, LeiManu Designs, Yuen Media Services, and Pacific Islands Shipping & Trading.
Mahalo to
County of Hawai`i Department of Research and
Development
County Product Enrichment Program
Pacific Islands Shipping & Trading
Sadorra Floral
Ka`ahele Hawai`i is an electronic magazine of Hawai`i Island. We hope to provide material of interest and usefulness to readers both on and off Ka Moku Hawai`i. It is currently under development as the first website designed and managed by Yuen Media Services. We would like to invite YOU, the reader, to participate in the development of this site. Please let us know of any suggestions you may have to make this site more useful and enjoyable. Mahalo, Leilehua Yuen.