The lei ʻ āʻ ī is the lei worn about the neck, either encircling the neck, or worn across the back of the neck and hanging down the chest.
Kahu Kahoʻokele Crabbe wearing a lei ʻāʻī crafted in the kui technique by Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd of hua kī and red ginger hearts Kahu Kahoʻ okele officiated the blessing for the re-dedication of Kalākaua Park after the stonework was refurbished in 2020.
Steering Committee member Marcia Timboy wears lei ʻ āʻ ī of puamelie (plumeria) in the kui technique, as well as lei pūpū (shell lei), also in the kui technique. E komo mai! Join us on 5/1 to celebrate “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai`i” at Kalakaua Park, and wear your finest Aloha attire 🤙🏾 (Pic from Hilo Lei Day Festival 2021 🌺)
These Hilo wāhine, leimakers and cultural practitioners, are members of our Hilo Lei Day Festival committee. Ola (left) wears a lei ʻ āʻ ī of satin cord in the “pua kalaunu” style, and another of eyelash yarn in the “baby rose among mosses” style.
Leilehua Yuen wears lei ʻāʻī of lāʻī kī (tī leaf lei) in the maile style. This style of lei was developed to reduce harvesting pressure on maile. it is crafted in the hilo (two ply twisted) style with the ends trimmed and exposed to resemble the leaves of the maile vine. Like maile, these often are worn open-ended.
Another style of lei ʻ āʻ ī is this simple lāʻ ī (ti leaf lei) worn here by Piʻ ikea and adjusted by hula sister Minoaka, is often worn as a pale [PAH-leh] during ceremonies.
