Hawaiian Flower Necklace Name: What a Lei Is
A Hawaiian flower necklace is called a lei, pronounced “lay” and spelled l-e-i. These garlands are closely associated with Hawaiʻi, but they aren’t always made of flowers. Here’s how to recognize a lei, understand its meaning, and find the right item, whether you want a fresh garland or flower-shaped jewelry.
What a Hawaiian Lei Is
A lei is the finished garland, not a flower species called a “lei flower.” Flowers, foliage, and other materials become a lei through stringing, braiding, or other construction techniques, as reflected in the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library’s lei-making resources.
The familiar flower necklace is one form of lei. Other materials include:
- Leaves and other plant material
- Seeds
- Shells
- Feathers
Modern lei can also incorporate ribbon, paper, or artificial flowers. The material affects the appearance and how long the adornment can be kept.
Lei are not limited to necklaces, either: garlands can also be worn on the head or around a hat. If you’re shopping for the flower necklace specifically, ask for a neck lei.
How to Choose and Buy a Hawaiian Flower Necklace
“Hawaiian flower necklace” can describe either a garland or a flower-shaped piece of jewelry, so the shopping phrase alone does not identify the item.
Use the necklace’s form to choose the right search term:
| What You Want | What to Search For | What Distinguishes It |
|---|---|---|
| A garland of real blossoms | Fresh flower lei | Flowers form the strand around the neck |
| A reusable floral garland | Artificial flower lei | Fabric or other manufactured flowers replace fresh blossoms |
| A strand made from shells or seeds | Shell lei or seed lei | The garland uses non-floral materials |
| A chain with a flower-shaped charm | Flower pendant or plumeria pendant necklace | A decorative flower hangs from a jewelry chain or cord |
Step 1: Decide How You Want to Wear It
- Choose whether you want an adornment for a particular occasion or something for repeated everyday wear.
- Consider how it will sit with your clothing. A full garland occupies more space around the shoulders and neckline than a pendant.
- If you’re buying a gift, consider whether the recipient would enjoy fresh flowers, fragrance, or a keepsake they can wear again.
A pendant may depict a flower associated with Hawaiʻi without being a lei. Look for an explicit statement of origin if that matters to your purchase.
Step 2: Choose the Flowers or Other Materials
- For a fresh lei, choose the flowers by appearance, fragrance, and availability. Common options include plumeria, orchids, ginger, and tuberose.
- For a traditional-style lei, consider foliage as well as blossoms. Traditional lei materials include 85 documented flowers and plants, plus another dozen color variations, according to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library’s lei resources. That breadth is why there is no single required Hawaiian necklace flower.
- For jewelry, read the metal and decorative-material descriptions separately. A flower motif tells you the design, not whether the piece is made from metal, shell, resin, or another material.
If you have a particular flower in mind, ask for it by name. For example, “plumeria lei” identifies both the blossom and the finished adornment.
Step 3: Buy From the Appropriate Seller
- For a fresh garland, look for a lei maker, florist, or specialty lei seller. Ask which flowers will be available for your occasion and whether the pictured design allows substitutions.
- For an artificial garland, try a craft or event-supply retailer. Check the material and product photographs rather than assuming every reusable lei has the same finish.
- For a pendant, shop with a jewelry retailer that clearly identifies the chain, pendant material, dimensions, and return terms.
- Complete the order with pickup or delivery arranged for your occasion. For fresh flowers, request care instructions for the actual blooms used rather than applying a generic refrigeration rule.
What a Lei Means and When Lei Day Happens
A lei can express affection, welcome, congratulations, respect, or remembrance. Its meaning comes partly from the occasion and the relationship between the giver and recipient, not simply from its color.
You may see lei at graduations, weddings, birthdays, performances, and ceremonies honoring someone’s achievements. They are more than visitor souvenirs: lei-making and lei-giving are living cultural practices connected with craftsmanship, community, and personal relationships.
Avoid treating every flower or color as having one universal meaning. A maker may select materials for their significance, their connection to the recipient, their fragrance, or what is available.
The necklace is not called a hoʻolauleʻa. That word refers to a celebration or festive gathering, such as a small lūʻau, rather than the garland worn there.
Planning for Lei Day
Lei Day is celebrated on May 1, according to the U.S. House of Representatives’ historical archives. If you’re ordering a lei for the celebration, tell the maker the event date when arranging pickup or delivery.
A handmade lei can be chosen for the person receiving it, rather than simply to match an outfit. Asking the maker about the flowers and construction is a useful way to understand the gift you’re giving.
Before You Wear or Give a Lei
Once you have the item, check its condition and fit before putting it on:
- Check the construction. Look for a secure strand or fastening and materials that remain in place when you lift it gently.
- Check the fit. A closed neck lei should pass comfortably over the head without stretching the strand or crushing the flowers.
- Handle the garland gently. Support its weight rather than pulling on individual blossoms.
- For a pendant, check the hardware. Make sure the clasp closes securely and the pendant hangs freely from its chain or cord.
When presenting a lei, offer it with care and ask whether the recipient would like help putting it on. There is no need to insist that someone wear a gift immediately.
For your next purchase, give the florist or jewelry seller a specific request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do You Make a Hawaiian Flower Necklace?
Make a simple flower lei with the kui method: string blossoms on thread using a needle. Gather flowers suitable for stringing, strong thread, a needle, and scissors, then cut the thread long enough for a loop that slips comfortably over your head, leaving extra length for tying. Leave a tying tail and pass the needle through each flower’s center or base, depending on its shape, sliding the blossoms together gently without crushing them. When the strand reaches your planned size, remove the needle, knot the ends securely, trim the excess without clipping the knot, and check the loop’s fit before wearing it.
What Is the Hawaiian Hook Necklace Called?
A Hawaiian fishhook-shaped pendant is called a makau. It is a different kind of adornment from a flower lei, so “makau necklace” is the more useful search term if you want the curved hook design.
What Do Flower Necklaces Mean at Hawaiian Police Awards?
At a police awards ceremony in Hawaiʻi, a lei generally expresses honor or congratulations to the wearer. The flowers alone do not identify a particular police award or rank; any specific departmental or ceremonial meaning should be confirmed with the organizing agency.
What do you call the flower necklace given in Hawaiʻi?
A flower garland given in Hawaiʻi is called a lei. Although flowers are a familiar choice, a lei can also be assembled from leaves, shells, feathers, or seeds. Giving one can convey welcome, affection, respect, or gratitude, depending on the occasion.
Is there one signature flower used for Hawaiian lei necklaces?
No single flower is required for a Hawaiian lei. Traditional lei construction encompasses 85 flowers and plants, along with additional color variations. Plumeria, orchids, tuberose, and crown flower are among the blossoms that may be used.