Making A Lei Poo

Kamehameha Schools—Kealapono ‘Ohana Engagement
OHAna Resources to help the ‘ohana flourish
Making a Lei Poʻo

(Making A Lei Series)
O- ‘Ohana goal (Why do the activity?) Family goal
“He lei poina ‘ole ke keiki”

A beloved child is a lei never forgotten.
In this “Making a Lei” series, your ‘ohana will learn how to make various types
of lei. In Hawaiʻi, a lei or flower garland is gifted from one to another to show
love, appreciation, or congratulate someone. However, the lei is not only a
floral one but can consist of shells, feathers, seeds, nuts, vines, paper, beads,
etc. A lei, in a non-literal sense can also be referred to as a love relationship, a
song or even a child. Below is a figurative definition of lei.
“Fig., a beloved child, wife, husband, sweetheart, younger sibling or child, so

called because a beloved child was carried on the shoulders, with its legs
draped down on both sides of the bearer like a lei.” Hawaiian Dictionaries,
wehewehe.org.
Benefits:
• For younger keiki, learning to twist and braid will help develop fine motor skills.
• For older keiki, lei making will support in cultural practices and lessons.
• Making lei as an ‘ohana will strengthen family bonds, give opportunity to “talk story” and
listen to family moʻolelo (stories), as well as create long lasting traditions and memories.
H-Haʻawina (Let’s do the activity) Lesson, Assignment, Task
In this activity, we’ll learn how to make a Lei Poʻo (lei garland) using the hilo style, or twist &
braid style...
Materials needed:
• 6 medium to large Lāʻī or ti leaves • Optional: Moist towel (To wipe hands)
• 80 small kukui leaves • Optional: Clothespins (To secure the
• Scissors end of the lei as you twist the leaf.
Process:
Preparing the Lāʻī (ti leaves) & kukui leaves
1. Pick the leaves. - Check your yard or ask friends and family.
a. It may be more meaningful to gather from a place that is special to you or your
‘ohana.
b. Remember to ask permission, physically & spiritually.
c. Follow any gathering protocols that you and your ‘ohana may have (ex. an oli
komo, entering chant or an oli mahalo, appreciation chant)
2. Clean the leaves. - Use a moist towel to gently wipe the leaves on both sides.
3. De-bone the lāʻī. - Take a scissors and cut along the spine on both sides of each
lāʻī. You’ll end up with two halves of the ti leaf.
4. Soften the lāʻī.
a. Fold or roll the halves of the lāʻī together, wrap them with a damp paper towel,
and put them in a plastic bag in the freezer overnight. Thaw when ready to use.
b. You can also cover them with moist paper towels and microwave for 1-2 minutes
until softened.
Making the Lei poʻo

1. Knot the end. – Tightly twist and knot the ends of three halves of lāʻī (ti leaf) together to
fasten the end of the lei.
2. Braid. – Braid the 3 halves of lāʻī until you have about a 6-inch length of braided lei. Make
sure to leave excesses leaf unbraided as seen in the first picture below.
3. Fold one kukui leaf in half. – Fold both sides to the center of the leaf, then fold whole
leaf in half.
4. Place the folded kukui leaf on the braided lāʻī. As seen in the last picture, place the
kukui leaf midway on the top lāʻī of the braided lei. Make sure there are 3-strands of
unbraided lāʻī. These excess strands will be used to braid and fasten in the kukui leaves.
5. Place a second folded kukui leaf over the existing kukui leaf. You can choose to place
1-3 kukui leaves in one braid, depending how thick you want your lei poʻo.
6. Twist and braid. Continue the braid with the excess lāʻī, twist and braid over the outer
most lāʻī strand on the side that has two lāʻī strands.
7. Fold the kukui leaves up over the braid.
8. Repeat steps 4-7. You can alternate the amount of kukui leaves you put into each braid.
In the last picture there is one kukui leaf only.
9. Twist and braid. Continue the braid with the excess lāʻī, twist and braid over the outer
most lāʻī strand on the side that has two lāʻī strands.
10. Fold the kukui leaf up over the braid.
11. Continue the braid. Add kukui leaves into each braid.
12. Adding lāʻī. – When the excess ti leaf get to short to braid, add another ti leaf by simply
placing the end of a new ti leaf on top of the old one. Let the new leaf stick out a couple
of inches past where you will begin to twist. Twist tightly so that both the new and the
old leaf is fastened in the same twist.
13. Keep a firm grip. When twisting, braiding, and folding the leaves makes sure you keep a
firm and tight grip on the lei to keep it fastened during and after the lei is finished.
14. Check the back of the lei. Once in a while check the back side of the lei to make sure
your braids are tight and consistent. It should look like a “train track.” Immediately fix
any areas that are loose.
15. Finishing the end of the lei. When you get about 12 inches of braided kukui and lāʻī you
can begin to tie off the end of the lei. As seen in the third picture, continue to braid
tightly from the last kukui leaf and continue braiding just the lāʻī.
16. Braid about 6 inches of lāʻī. Just like how you started the lei, braid a rope of lāʻī and knot
the end.
17. Trim and cut. Clean up the lei by cutting the stems off the kukui leaves and trimming any
excess leaves.
18. Gift. Your lei poʻo is now ready to be gifted and worn. Remember, the lei you make is a
symbol of your aloha (love) that you put into making it. Always, make lei with a good
naʻau (feelings) and good intentions.
A-Alakaʻi (What did you learn? What can you teach?) To lead, Guide, Direct
Extension activities:
• Substitute the kukui leaves and make a lei poʻo (head garland) with other materials;
lauaʻe, ferns, flowers, leaves. *Use greens from your garden or neighborhood OR go to a
local farmers market to gather florals and greens.
Observe: WHAT PLANTS IN YOUR YARD CAN BE USED TO MAKE A LEI?

Start a “hula garden;” plant trees, vines, and bushes that will provide florals and greens
that could be used in lei making (ti leaf, ferns, plumeria, kaunaoa, pua kenikeni, lauaʻe, etc.)
Resources:
Checkout these great resources about the history and significance of the lei.
Video with Bill Char, “Hawaiʻi’s Long Legacy of Lei Making.” The history and importance of the lei
in Hawaiʻi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFcw1nG5djk
YouTube tutorial video of how to make a lāʻī lei poʻo by Aili Fields. “How to Make a Haku/ Lei
Poʻo” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NLbYokYnl8

Making A Lei Poo

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Kamehameha Schools—Kealapono ‘Ohana Engagement

OHAna Resources to help the ‘ohana flourish

Making a Lei Poʻo

O- ‘Ohana goal (Why do the activity?) Family goal

“He lei poina ‘ole ke keiki”

“Fig., a beloved child, wife, husband, sweetheart, younger sibling or child, so

H-Haʻawina (Let’s do the activity) Lesson, Assignment, Task

Making the Lei poʻo

Observe: WHAT PLANTS IN YOUR YARD CAN BE USED TO MAKE A LEI?

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