A single lei can take hours to make and use as many as 300 individual flowers. That’s not a detail you’d know from receiving one at an airport or a graduation ceremony, but it’s the kind of thing that changes how you think about the gesture. Lei making in Hawaiʻi is a practice with over 1,000 years of documented history, and it remains a living tradition — taught in workshops, passed down in families, and observed in annual celebrations that have run continuously since 1929.
This article covers the basics of how leis are made, what flowers are used and why, where you can take a workshop or buy from makers who work with locally grown flowers, and what to know if you want to try it yourself. The practical side matters: the tools are specific, the flower sourcing has real complications, and the busiest time to buy a lei in Hawaiʻi is genuinely difficult to navigate without planning ahead.
An estimated 90 percent of flowers used in Hawaiian leis are now imported — primarily from countries like Thailand — rather than grown locally.
Lei making is one of the most accessible Hawaiian cultural practices for visitors to learn hands-on. The basic stringing method — the kui — requires just a needle, biodegradable thread, and around 70 to 80 flowers for a full lei. If you want locally grown flowers and genuine instruction, Haku Maui in Makawao on Maui offers workshops. On Oʻahu, ISLAND-BOY in the boutique scene takes a different approach entirely, with permanent leis made from natural materials.
Lei making as a cultural practice in Hawaiʻi
Leis are given and worn to mark occasions — graduations, arrivals, farewells, weddings, ceremonies — and the type of lei chosen often carries its own meaning. Stephanotis is widely associated with Hawaiian weddings. Crown flower was the late Queen Liliʻuokalani’s favourite. Thicker, more substantial leis are typically chosen for graduations or farewells, while lighter strands suit everyday wear or children. Candy leis are considered a practical alternative for young children, since they can be eaten rather than wilted.
The Annual Lei Day Celebration, held every May 1, has run since 1929 — making it one of the longest-running cultural events in the state. May 1 falls within the busiest season for lei makers, which also includes Mother’s Day and graduation season. If you’re visiting Hawaiʻi during late April through June and want to attend a lei-making workshop or buy from a quality maker, booking ahead is not optional.
What I tend to notice about lei giving is that the weight of it — literally and culturally — is easy to miss if you haven’t seen it made. The labour involved in a single lei is substantial, and that’s before considering the sourcing of flowers. The 90 percent import figure for lei flowers reflects a genuine tension in the tradition: local flower farming in Hawaiʻi has faced ongoing pressure, and the gap between commercially sold leis and those made with locally grown material is considerable.
The year the Annual Lei Day Celebration on May 1 was first held in Hawaiʻi — a tradition that has continued every year since.
Where to learn lei making in Hawaiʻi
Two makers stand out in the research for different reasons — one for workshop access on Maui, one for a distinct approach to permanent leis on Oʻahu.
Haku Maui in Makawao
Haku Maui, opened by Britney Alejo-Fishell in the upcountry town of Makawao on Maui, offers both lei sales and lei-making workshops using flowers grown locally on Maui, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island. Alejo-Fishell credits her grandmother Mary Anne Soares with teaching her the foundations — what plants are, how they grow, and how they’re used in lei. The shop has been running for close to a decade, starting from her garage before she secured a Makawao location that was, by her account, three times her original budget.
Makawao sits in Maui’s upcountry region, roughly 20 to 25 minutes from Kahului by road. The drive up takes you through a distinct climate zone — cooler, less crowded than the coastal resort areas — and the town itself has a small concentration of independent shops and studios. For families, the workshop format at Haku Maui works well with older children who can manage the stringing process. Ethan at four would find the needle work tricky, but Lily at seven would manage it with some guidance.
During peak season — May Day, Mother’s Day, and graduation week — Alejo-Fishell and her team have described working from 4 a.m. through to midnight. If you’re planning to take a workshop during that window, book as far ahead as possible. Off-peak, the schedule is more flexible. What I’d do: contact Haku Maui directly a few weeks before your Maui trip to check workshop availability, especially if you’re travelling in May or June.
Kona lows — weather events that bring heavy rain and flooding to the islands — can significantly impact Maui flower farmers, which means locally sourced flowers can become scarce or more expensive at short notice. This is a real operational complication for makers like Alejo-Fishell who don’t use imported stock. If your heart is set on a locally grown lei, have a backup plan.
ISLAND-BOY on Oʻahu
Andrew Mau’s boutique ISLAND-BOY on Oʻahu takes a different approach. Rather than fresh flowers, Mau creates what he calls a “forever lei” using wood beads, seeds, shells, and nuts — materials that last indefinitely rather than wilting within a few days. For visitors who want something to take home beyond the trip itself, this is a practical alternative to a fresh lei. The Oʻahu boutique can be incorporated into a visit to the island without needing to make a dedicated journey; it sits within the broader Honolulu shopping and cultural circuit.
The permanent lei concept also sidesteps the flower sourcing problem entirely. With 90 percent of conventional lei flowers imported, buying a fresh lei often means buying something with limited local connection regardless of where you purchase it. Mau’s approach is a genuine alternative for travellers who care about that distinction. What I’d do: if Oʻahu is my base and I want to bring something meaningful home, ISLAND-BOY is worth seeking out specifically rather than buying from an airport stall.
A fresh lei typically lasts around two to three days. If you’re receiving or gifting one early in a trip and want it to survive, keep it refrigerated when not being worn — this extends its lifespan noticeably without additional cost.
For visitors interested in how lei making sits within the broader tradition of aloha, the cultural context runs deeper than the craft itself — the gesture of giving and receiving carries its own protocols worth understanding before your visit.
Timing, flowers, and what to plan around
The seasonal demand for leis in Hawaiʻi is concentrated and intense. Understanding when the pressure points are — and what that means for flower quality, price, and workshop availability — is more useful than a general “spring is busy” warning.
When to visit and what to expect
The three-week window from late April through mid-May is the hardest time to secure a workshop spot or buy a premium locally grown lei. May Day (May 1), Mother’s Day (mid-May), and the extended graduation season overlap in a way that means professional lei makers are operating at maximum capacity. Makers who prioritise local sourcing — like Haku Maui — face additional pressure when weather events affect the supply of fresh flowers from local farms.
Outside that window, the experience is more relaxed. August through March tends to be lighter on lei demand, which means workshops are more available, locally grown flowers are more consistently stocked, and makers have more time to work with visitors who want to learn rather than just purchase. If you have flexibility in your Hawaiʻi travel dates and lei making is a priority, this is the period to target.
| Flower / material | Key characteristics | Common uses |
|---|---|---|
| Crown flower | Late Queen Liliʻuokalani’s favourite; can use bud, stem, petal, or leaf | Graduations, formal occasions |
| Plumeria | Widely available; classic fragrance; strung in single or double strands | Arrivals, everyday wear |
| Puakenikeni | Daily picking maintains tree productivity; fragrant | Gifting, special occasions |
| Pua kou | Indigenous to Hawaiʻi; strung using the kui method; around 70–80 flowers per lei | Traditional stringing practice |
| Stephanotis | Associated with Hawaiian weddings | Wedding leis, formal ceremonies |
| Ti leaf (lāʻī) | Can be twisted into a lei; softened by boiling, freezing, or ironing | Lei lāʻī; foliage strand |
The flower sourcing reality
The imported flower figure — roughly 90 percent — reflects a structural shift in the Hawaiian flower industry over recent decades. For visitors, this means that most commercially available leis, including those sold at airports, roadside stalls, and many shops, are made with flowers grown in Thailand or other parts of Asia rather than locally. There’s nothing inherently wrong with those leis, but they represent a different product than one made by a local maker from Maui- or Hawaiʻi Island-grown flowers.
If local sourcing matters to you, ask directly before purchasing. Makers like Britney Alejo-Fishell are specific about their supply chain and will tell you where their flowers come from. That directness is also a reasonable quality signal — makers who are transparent about sourcing tend to be equally careful about the making itself.
How to make a lei yourself
The basic stringing method
The kui method — stringing flowers through their base onto a thread — is the most common technique for beginners. The tools are minimal: a lei needle with an open eye, biodegradable dental floss (preferred over plastic thread for environmental reasons), and a clothespin to secure the working end of the string while you build the lei. For a full-sized pua kou lei, plan on gathering around 70 to 80 flowers. That’s a specific number, not a rough estimate — it’s what Joylynn, who demonstrated the technique for KHON2, recommends for a complete strand.
The ti leaf lei uses a different approach — twisting rather than stringing. Fresh ti leaves are stiff, which is why Joylynn softens them first by boiling, freezing, or ironing before working with them. The method is practical and low-cost, particularly if you have access to a ti plant. One approach that speaks to the resourcefulness of experienced lei makers: Joylynn gathers ti leaves from the stadium floor after University of Hawaiʻi volleyball games, reusing material that would otherwise go to waste.
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If you want to try lei making at home before or after your trip, the main thing you’ll need is a proper lei needle — regular sewing needles don’t work well for stringing through flower bases. A lei-making supplies kit typically includes the open-eye needles and appropriate thread; they’re inexpensive and compact enough to pack.
For a full-sized pua kou lei, collect around 70–80 flowers. Pick puakenikeni daily if you have access to a tree — regular picking maintains the tree’s ability to keep producing blooms.
Thread a lei needle (open-eye style) with biodegradable dental floss. Clip a clothespin to the knotted end to stop flowers from sliding off as you work.
Push the needle through each flower’s base using the kui method. Work steadily — the clothespin anchor lets you pause and set the lei down without losing progress.
Once the lei reaches your desired length, tie the two ends together. A full lei — enough to drape properly around a neck — typically measures around 36 to 40 inches, though this varies by occasion and preference.
The gifting side of lei making
Lei giving carries its own etiquette. A lei is generally draped over the recipient’s shoulders, not placed on the head unless offered specifically as a head lei (a haku). Refusing a lei is considered disrespectful. When Uluamu Langi — a lei maker whose work has been documented by Honolulu Civil Beat — brought three leis to a cousin’s graduation in summer 2024, including a song of India lei and two crown flower leis, the gesture was specific and intentional: different leis for different relationships and occasions.
Langi has described hearing a mother tell her son at a preschool graduation that the many leis around his neck represented how loved he was. That framing — lei as visible measure of community — is part of what makes the practice worth understanding beyond the mechanics. The making and the giving are inseparable.
- The busiest time for lei makers is late April through mid-May — book workshops at Haku Maui or similar operations well in advance if your travel overlaps with May Day, Mother’s Day, or graduation season.
- Around 90 percent of commercially sold lei flowers in Hawaiʻi are imported. If local sourcing matters to you, ask directly — makers who use Hawaiʻi-grown flowers are usually specific about it.
- The basic kui stringing method requires only a lei needle, biodegradable thread, a clothespin, and 70–80 flowers for a full pua kou lei. It’s a genuinely learnable skill, and workshops are available on both Maui and Oʻahu.
Questions travellers ask about lei making in Hawaiʻi
How many flowers does it take to make a lei?
For a full-sized lei using pua kou flowers and the basic stringing (kui) method, plan on around 70 to 80 flowers. More elaborate or thicker leis — preferred for graduations or farewells — can use up to 300 individual flowers and take several hours to complete.
The number varies significantly by flower type, stringing method, and the desired weight and fullness of the finished lei.
Where can I take a lei-making workshop on Maui?
Haku Maui in Makawao, Maui, offers lei-making workshops alongside lei sales. The shop uses locally grown flowers from Maui, Oʻahu, and Hawaiʻi Island. Makawao is roughly 20 to 25 minutes from Kahului by road, in the upcountry region of the island.
Availability is tightest during late April through mid-June due to May Day, Mother’s Day, and graduation season demand. Book ahead, especially during that window.
What flowers are traditionally used in Hawaiian leis?
Common lei flowers include plumeria, crown flower, puakenikeni, pua kou, tiare, and stephanotis, among others. Pua kou is indigenous to Hawaiʻi. Stephanotis is associated with Hawaiian weddings. Crown flower was the late Queen Liliʻuokalani’s favourite. Ti leaves are also used to make twisted lei lāʻī.
Lei makers can work with the bud, stem, petal, or leaf of a flower, depending on the style and technique being used.
What tools do I need to make a lei at home?
The basic tools are a lei needle with an open eye, biodegradable dental floss or similar thread (preferred over plastic for environmental reasons), and a clothespin to anchor the working end while stringing. For ti leaf leis, you’ll also need a way to soften the leaves — boiling, freezing, or ironing all work.
Lei needles are not the same as standard sewing needles; the open eye is designed specifically for threading flowers by their base without tearing the bloom.
How long does a fresh lei last?
A fresh lei typically lasts around two to three days. Refrigerating it when not being worn can extend that somewhat. Lei made from non-floral materials — wood beads, seeds, shells, or nuts — last indefinitely. Andrew Mau’s ISLAND-BOY boutique on Oʻahu specifically makes permanent leis for visitors who want something durable to take home.
The short lifespan of fresh leis is part of what makes the gifting gesture significant — it’s a meaningful offering that’s also inherently temporary.
Closing thoughts
Lei making rewards the same thing that most Hawaiian cultural practices reward: paying attention before you participate. Whether you take a workshop at Haku Maui in Makawao, seek out a permanent lei from ISLAND-BOY on Oʻahu, or gather 70 flowers and try the kui method at home, the practice connects to something genuine about how Hawaiʻi marks occasions and relationships. Families with older children will find workshop formats accessible and memorable. Solo travellers or couples who want to engage with the cultural side of a Hawaiʻi trip rather than just the beaches will find lei making one of the most direct routes into that. If this was useful, you might also enjoy reading about how hula tells the story of Hawaiʻi through movement.
Sources and further reading
Lei making guidance from Kumu Brad Lum and Joylynn. KHON2, April 30, 2025.
Haku Maui feature, including interview with Britney Alejo-Fishell. Hawaiʻi Public Radio, May 15, 2026.
Lei making community profiles, including Uluamu Langi. Honolulu Civil Beat, 2024–2025.
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