Lei are the very expression of traditional Hawaiian culture and were once an essential part of community and family life. Following in the footsteps of Samuel Kamakau, Abraham Fornander, and others, the authors have collected here a wealth of written and oral information to reveal the significance of making and wearing lei and their role in Hawaiian ritual and dance. This volume covers eighty-five flowers and plants (and another dozen color variations) used in traditional lei construction. They are arranged according to their Hawaiian names and accompanied by botanical information and descriptions gleaned from legends and chants that illustrate the cultural uses and special meanings of lei prior to Western contact. Many are introduced by poems written especially for this work by master kumu hula, linguist, and ethnologist Pualani Kanakaole Kanahele. The authors present the lei art form in not only words, but also pictures. Lavish color photographs by Jean Coté showcase each plant and lei (shown by itself or worn), as well as places throughout the Islands associated with specific flowers and plants. An appendix includes a complete list of lei plants, basic instructions for their propagation, and other sources for material.

A children's book about the tradition of making and sharing lei in Hawai'i.

Marty Langsmith is only five years old when a strange thunder rolls across the Hawaiian sky and life as she knows it explodes into flames. With her mother, April, and hundreds of other women and children, Marty is evacuated from the ruins of Pearl Harbor and sent into a brave new world overshadowed by uncertainty and grief. Feeling abandoned by her deployed Army officer father in the wake of the attack, Marty is haunted by nightmares of the lion in the lei shop, a creature that's said to devour happy children. But as the years pass, mother and daughter slowly begin to embrace their new life and make peace with the pain of the past. Spanning the tumultuous war years, The Lion in the Lei Shop deftly recaptures a dramatic chapter of American history. Originally published in 1970 and reissued for a new generation of readers as part of renowned librarian Nancy Pearl's Book Lust Rediscoveries series, this lyrical novel gives a rarely heard voice to the women and children of Pearl Harbor.

Discusses the history of the traditional Hawaiian necklaces made of seashells and explains how the necklaces are made.

Nahoa loves making leis with her grandmother and looks forward to helping her create a special one for Lei Day, until her grandmother becomes very ill.

Almost everyone loves a lei--the making, giving, receiving, and wearing of the lei is a cherished Hawai'i tradition recognized worldwide. With the renaissance in Hawaiian culture sweeping the islands, growing plants that provide lei materials can be a source of pride and pleasure for the home gardener, an economic opportunity for green-thumb entrepreneurs, and can reduce gathering pressure on the few precious remaining areas of native Hawaiian vegetation. This book contains information on growing 85 plants that can provide flowers or foliage for lei. Some are traditionally used native species; others are relatively new introductions with a potential place in the lei industry. In addition to the 170 pages detailing the plants, sections of the book provide useful basic plant production information and helpful tips for anyone wishing to get into the lei material business in a small or large way. In a special section written for this book, two experts on Hawaiian tradition and native Hawaiian plants explain the spiritual and cultural significance of the lei and lei making in ancient Hawai'i. These authors highlight the ancient Hawaiian conservation ethic and concept of sustainable agriculture, a revival of which could help preserve the islands' threatened native ecosystems. This book is a must-have for anyone wanting to help preserve Hawai'i's plant and cultural heritage!

Ka Lei Haʻaheo: Beginning Hawaiian is a culturally oriented Hawaiian language textbook.Its grammar lessons include the relationship between the language and the Hawaiian world view. The book's dialogs are drawn from contemporary Hawaiian family life. Extensive classroom testing was used in developing Ka Lei Haʻaheo. Although it was designed for college use, it is also a handy resource for high schools and individuals, particularly because its companion volume, Ka Lei Haʻaheo: Teacher Guide and Answer Key provides English translations and answers to the exercises. The text's lively appeal is further enhanced with line drawings.

The art of featherworking has a long, cultural history in Hawaii. Rooted in the tradition of their Polynesian ancestors, the early Hawaiian perfected and transformed the art as they created feathered cloaks, capes, helmets, images, and standards for the alii. Many of the items made were considered sacredfrom both the process of their creation to their uses. Despite the influx of Western ideas, and the introduction of Christianity which, for a time, halted the practice of many traditional customs, this artform has survived and flourishes todaythanks in part to those in the community who continue their ancestors' legacy. This new edition of Feather Lei as an Art is meant to perpetuate the art of featherworking and bring it to a wide audience. It provides step-by-step instructions o how to make both traditional (round) and contemporary (flat) feather lei. Vibrant, color photographs complement instructions and provide a visual testament to the beauty of featherworking. Designed and written with the beginner in mind, the aspiring featherworker is guided not only through the steps of how to make the lei, but through the soul-satisfying journey which leads to its completion. Included is an overall look at the history of this ancient art; an explanation of the difference between traditional and contemporary lei; interpretations of the traditional colors used and color combinations; a detailed supply list; how to identify, prepare and work with feathers; how to store feather lei; and examples of what types of featherwork is being explore today.