In a departure from traditional lei imagery that often celebrates the finished garland, this design turns our attention to the profound act of creation itself—the deliberate, mindful process of kui lei making. Here, we honor not just the flowers that become our lei, but the centuries-old practice that transforms individual blossoms into expressions of aloha.
The Time-Honored Practice of Kui
Kui, meaning "to string or pierce," involves carefully threading each individual blossom onto a needle and cord. This design celebrates these intimate moments: the careful selection of each flower, the gentle pierce of the needle, the mindful spacing and arrangement that creates rhythm and balance. It's in these quiet moments of creation that lei makers connect with generations of practitioners before them.
Flowers That Tell Our Story
Our design features four flowers that have become integral to Hawaiian lei making, each representing different moments in the kui process:
Pīkake (Arabian Jasmine) captures the delicate touch needed when stringing these small, precious blooms. Princess Kaʻiulani's beloved flower demands patience and precision, teaching lei makers the value of gentleness.
Loke (Rose) represents the thoughtful selection process—choosing blooms at just the right stage of opening, ensuring each will contribute its beauty to the whole. These European-introduced flowers remind us that the art of lei making continuously evolves while honoring traditional techniques.
Pakalana, with its clusters of small, fragrant flowers, symbolizes the rhythmic nature of lei making—the flowing motion of stringing multiple blooms, creating patterns that emerge slowly through repeated action.
Puakenikeni, named for its historical price of ten cents per flower ("pua" meaning flower, and "kenikeni" being a Hawaiianized version of "ten cents"), embodies the transformation inherent in lei making. As these flowers age from cream to apricot, they remind us that a lei is not static art but a living creation that continues to evolve.
A Living Legacy
This design invites viewers to consider the moments between—between flower and lei, between individual and tradition, between past and present. By highlighting the process rather than just the end product, we honor the hands that create, the traditions that guide, and the quiet moments of connection that make lei making a continuing source of cultural knowledge and pride.
When we celebrate the process of lei making, we acknowledge that every lei carries within it countless small acts of devotion: the selection of materials, the careful handling of delicate blooms, the whispered prayers and songs that sometimes accompany the work. These are the moments that transform simple flowers into treasured expressions of aloha.
