Kaluhea—its name meaning "fragrant" in Hawaiian—weaves together a story more personal than I initially realized. With its thoughtfully twisted kui style design, this lei is especially beloved during graduation season when we celebrate our loved ones with floral symbols of pride and achievement.
This creation brings together two of Hawaii's most cherished flowers: Pakalana and Pīkake. There's a beautiful irony in discovering that these flowers, like my sister and I, carry a heritage that spans across the Pacific. Pakalana (Telosma cordata), with its sweet, honeyed fragrance, originated in China and Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Pikake (Jasminum sambac) was brought to Hawaii from the Philippines and other parts of Asia. Learning this felt like discovering a hidden connection to our own Chinese and Filipino ancestry, which flows alongside our Hawaiian roots—a perfect reflection of Hawaii's beautifully blended cultural landscape.
While neither flower is native to our islands, they have become deeply rooted in our local culture, much like the many families who have made Hawaii their home across generations. The kui method, where each flower is carefully pierced and strung, allows these delicate blooms to dance together in a graceful twist that catches both light and admiring glances.
The delicate Pīkake, whose jasmine-like perfume has earned it countless admirers, creates something truly magical when paired with the sweet, intoxicating scent of Pakalana. It's no wonder this has become my youngest sister's favorite lei. When I illustrate this design, carefully capturing the way these flowers intertwine, I'm not just creating art—I'm celebrating our shared heritage, a story as beautifully layered as the blooms themselves.
To me, lei like Kaluhea represents everything beautiful about Hawaii's lei tradition: the blending of different elements to create something new yet timeless, and most importantly, the expression of aloha through the gift of flowers. Every time I craft this particular combination, I'm reminded that we don't just wear lei—we wear the intertwined stories of our ancestors, our rich cultural history, and practices.
