“Haku Lei” is the art or action of crafting a lei. Generally, we apply this term especially to lei which are woven, braided, or lashed in some fashion. Stringing threading a lei together is generally termed “kui lei.”
Over the years, the term “haku” has become more prevalent as catch-all term for all kinds of lei. For many people trying to preserve the rich native Hawaiian culture of the island, this simplification of the language does a grave injustice to Hawaiian culture, history, tradition, and thought.
“When the language loses the specific terms, we lose more than one word. We lose the ability to speak — and think — in the detail we once had,” writes Leilehua Yuen, organizer of the Hilo Lei Day celebration. “The Hawaiian culture and language are far more complex, diverse, and varied than would be indicated by most tourist publications, or even Western school texts.”
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