I am always a bit saddened when people tell me they cannot make lei because they “do not have enough flowers.” Yes, we often make lei from flowers, but we make them from many more things, as well!
Lei can be made from leaves, fern fronds, shells, seeds, even words strung on a thread of melody can be a lei!
Hibiscus leaf. This makes a lovely lei haku.Moa is often used in lei haku and lei wili. When harvesting, be careful to leave the rhizomes (“roots”) so it can re-grow, and leave sufficient for it to propagate.Lauaʻe is an introduced cousin of the native Hawaiian peʻa (also known as lauaʻe on Kauai and Niʻihau). It is used in lei haku, lei wili, and lei hilo for its beauty and maile-like fragrance.Lauaʻe spores up close. When you see these dots, as interesting as they make the plant look, don’t put them in a lei.One of the many sword ferns which grows in Hawaiʻi. To use in lei, just be sure that there are no spore cases on the pinnae (leaflets). The spores can be extremely irritating to the eyes and mucous membranes. They lend themselves to lei hili and lei haku.Kupukupu is one of the many sword ferns found in Hawaiʻi. Be sure any fronds collected for lei have no spore cases. Spores can be extremely irritating to the eyes and mucus membranes. They lend themselves easily to lei hili and lei haku.Hāpuʻu is an often overlooked source of lei material. The pinnules on the larger pinnae are lovely in lei haku and lei wili, and the smaller pinnae are good for lei hili. Again – avoid spores!Maidenhair fern is a graceful addition to many styles of lei.Selaginella, spike mosses, are a nice addition to lei haku and lei wili. Again, be sure to avoid those with spore cases. Not only are they irritating to the eyes and mucus membranes, but the plant is somewhat invasive, so please do not spread it about. I think of it as an aggressively renewable resource.Kukui leaf is a popular choice for lei hīpuʻu and for lei haku.Kukui is a popular choice for lei hīpuʻu and for lei haku. In lei haku, the blossoms may also be included.Hau leaf is popular for lei hīpuʻu, also known as nīpuʻu.
