The Sweet Scent of Puakenikeni: A Treasured Lei Flower of Hawaiʻi
When you walk through neighborhoods in Hawai'i, particularly in the evening, you might catch a sweet, intoxicating fragrance wafting through the air. Follow your nose, and you'll likely find yourself standing near a puakenikeni tree, its cream-colored blossoms releasing their distinctive perfume as day turns to night.
Puakenikeni (Fagraea berteroana) isn't native to Hawaiʻi – it was brought to the islands from Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands during the period of Polynesian migration and cultural exchange. The name itself tells an interesting story: "pua" means flower in Hawaiian, while "kenikeni" is derived from "ten cents," as the flowers were once sold for ten cents each in early markets.
Despite being a relative newcomer to Hawaiian flora, puakenikeni has become deeply integrated into lei culture. The flowers are particularly prized for making lei because they possess three crucial qualities: beauty, durability, and most importantly, an enchanting fragrance. When strung into a lei, the flowers start out a pale yellow or cream color and gradually deepen to a rich orange-gold over several days, creating an evolving display of color that lei makers particularly appreciate.
In lei-making traditions, puakenikeni is often strung using the kui poepoe method, where the needle passes through the center of each flower, creating a full, rounded lei. Some skilled lei makers also incorporate puakenikeni into more complex designs, weaving them with other flowers like pikake or pakalana to create intricate patterns and layer different fragrances.
The flowers lifespan makes them especially valuable for special occasions. A well-made puakenikeni lei can last several days while maintaining its scent, making it a favorite choice for graduations, weddings, and important celebrations. The tradition of giving these lei carries deep cultural significance, and is embedded into many of our shared memories.
Today, puakenikeni trees are commonly grown inx gardens and yards, their presence a testament to the islands' rich history of cultural exchange and adaptation. The tree itself can grow quite tall, but many homeowners keep them pruned to a manageable height for easier flower harvesting. The most fragrant blooms are gathered in the early morning or late afternoon, when their scent is strongest.
A Personal Connection: An Artist's Perspective
As an artist, certain flowers capture not just our eyes but our hearts. For my husband, puakenikeni holds special memories of his high school years in Mānoa Valley. Behind his school's hula studio stood three majestic puakenikeni trees, their sweet fragrance marking a daily ritual in his teenage years. He would purposefully detour past these trees during his school day, letting their perfume guide his path. Sometimes, he'd pick a single flower to carry with him, its gentle scent becoming a companion throughout his day.
Now, whenever I draw puakenikeni in my artwork, these stories of his high school years weave themselves into each petal I create. The flower has become more than just a subject to capture on paper – it's a connection to my husband's memories, to his Mānoa days, and to the simple joy of finding comfort in a flower's familiar fragrance. Even now, as an adult, the scent of puakenikeni instantly transports him back to those cherished moments. Its presence nearby never fails to bring a smile and spark fond memories. Our love for this special flower runs so deep that we bought our own puakenikeni sapling, which now grows at my father's house – a living connection to my husband's past and our shared future. In this way, puakenikeni continues to bloom not just in our gardens, but in our family's story and in my art.
The story of puakenikeni in Hawaiʻi reflects a larger narrative about how introduced plants can become integral parts of a culture's traditions. While not indigenous to the islands, it has found its place among the most beloved Hawaiian lei flowers, alongside native species like maile and ilima. Its journey from foreign shores to becoming a cherished part of Hawaiian lei culture demonstrates how traditions can grow and evolve while maintaining their cultural significance and beauty.
Whether you're walking through a Hawaiian neighborhood at dusk or receiving a puakenikeni lei for a special occasion, the flower's sweet fragrance continues to be an aromatic reminder of the islands' rich cultural heritage and the enduring importance of lei in Hawaiian culture.
Other Links:
Our Puakenikeni Product Journey
Downloadable Puakenikeni Wallpaper
