He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei seeks to preserve and perpetuate traditional Hawaiian ways of knowing through the moʻolelo of the lei by identifying Kūpuna who hold this knowledge, and documenting it in text and video by recording the knowledge as expressed through their lei, their stories, and hua ʻōlelo lei.
It creates space where Lei Makers and other Cultural Practitioners can gather, exchange knowledge, and teach these important traditions to local residents and visitors.
Local people are so excited when they learn a new lei style, and its terminology. Often, it brings back memories of lei making with their kūpuna, and their stories allow even more of this precious heritage to be documented. Visitors appreciate this deeply authentic and personal approach to learning more about the Hawaii environment.
Organizations and businesses that are directly involved with “He Moʻolelo Kō ka Lei” are:
Carousel of Aloha
Friends of Liliʻuokalani Gardens
Hālau LeiManu
Ke Ola Magazine