May 1 is Lei Day in Hawaii
May 1 in the Hawaiian Islands has been known for over four generations as Lei Day. It’s a beautiful celebration of Native Hawaiian culture.
Lei Day doesn’t have to be the only reason to give or receive a lei. They’re frequently worn at special celebrations and are given as congratulatory gifts. If you someone with their necks piled high with over a dozen lei, you’ll know that it’s a special day for them.
Nothing beats picking up a friend at the airport and seeing a giant smile on their face as you greet them with a lei.
Hawaiian Lei Etiquette
One of Hawaii’s most iconic symbols is the lei – a wreath or garland typically made of fragrant tropical flowers. Lei can also be made of leaves, seeds, shells, nuts, and more. Whatever a lei is made of, in Hawaii they are honored as a special gift. To give a lei to someone is to express your affection for them; for that reason, you should always receive a lei with gratitude and never refuse the gift of a lei.
Colorful array of lei. Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Shingo Matsushima
A few more interesting Hawaiian Lei etiquette rules:
Wear your lei so that it drapes both in front and back. Alternatively, you can wear it around your head, wrist, or hat.
It is considered rude to remove your lei in the presence of the person who gave it to you. If you must remove it for practical reasons, it is polite to discreetly take it off and then hang it in a place of honor for all to see.
It is bad luck to give pregnant women a circular lei because it symbolizes tangling of the umbilical cord. Instead, pregnant women should only be offered open-ended lei.
Never throw away your lei in the trash – that is like throwing the gift-giver’s affection away. Instead, discard your lei by throwing it in the ocean, or hanging it in a tree. Another option is to burn it. The idea is to return the lei to the area from which it came, which is a sign of respect.
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Funding for Gay Bowl XXII has been provided via a grant by Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) through the Community Enrichment Program (CEP). For more info about HTA and CEP, click here.
