Culture
The Hawaiian Lei: Meaning, Types, and Etiquette
What a Hawaiian lei means, the common types you will see, and simple lei etiquette so you can give and receive one with genuine respect.
A lei is a Hawaiian garland - usually of flowers, leaves, shells, or seeds - given to express love, respect, celebration, or welcome. Giving and receiving a lei is a physical act of aloha, tied to the aloha spirit at its most tangible. You will see lei at arrivals, graduations, weddings, birthdays, and farewells. They mark moments that matter.
What a lei means
A lei is never just an accessory. It is a way of sharing aloha by hand - wrapping someone in care and welcome, quite literally. The act of stringing a lei yourself, flower by flower, and then placing it over someone's shoulders is where the meaning lives. That is why a lei given by hand carries weight that a lei handed over in a bag does not. The intention is woven into it.
Common types of lei
Lei are made from a remarkable range of materials, each carrying its own cultural significance and traditional uses. Flower lei often feature plumeria (sweet-scented and affordable), tuberose (night-blooming with an intoxicating fragrance), dendrobium orchids (long-lasting, often purple or white), pikake (jasmine, Queen Kapiʻolani's favorite flower and considered the queen of flowers), or the fragrant maile leaf. Maile, a native plant with glossy leaves and a subtle vanilla-like scent, is reserved for important occasions - graduations, weddings, business openings, and honoring dignitaries. It is traditionally given untied (an open lei) rather than in a closed circle.
Some islands are known for specific lei traditions. The Niʻihau shell lei from the small, privately owned island of Niʻihau is made of tiny, rare shells (pupu) gathered from the beaches and hand-strung into intricate patterns. A single strand can take months to complete and costs hundreds or thousands of dollars. These are family heirlooms passed across generations. Kukui nut lei (polished candlenut kernels), ti leaf lei (woven from the broad leaves of the kī plant), feather lei (reserved for Hawaiian royalty historically), and even candy lei (a modern invention popular for graduations) also have their place in Hawaii's lei culture.
Lei etiquette
Accept a lei graciously - refusing one can read as rejecting the giver's aloha, which is the last thing anyone wants. Wear it draped over both shoulders with roughly equal length in front and back. Do not remove it in front of the person who gave it to you. When it is time to retire a lei, the respectful tradition is to return it to nature: hang it on a tree, set flowers back on the earth, or let them go in the ocean. Throwing a lei in the trash is a small thing that says something. These instincts fit the broader etiquette of the islands.
Lei Day
May 1 is Lei Day in Hawaii - "May Day is Lei Day" - a celebration of lei-making, Hawaiian culture, and the artistry that goes into every strand. Schools and communities hold lei contests, hula, and live music. If you happen to be visiting around then, it is a warm, unpretentious window into living Hawaiian culture at its most joyful.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a lei symbolize?
Is it rude to refuse a lei?
Should a pregnant woman wear a closed lei?
We research each guide against primary sources: the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Mālama Hawaii, the National Park Service, the State of Hawaii and its Division of State Parks, the National Weather Service, and the U.S. Census. For culture, language, and history we lean on the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the Bishop Museum, and the scholarship of Mary Kawena Pukui. We send readers to those sources rather than speaking over them. When rules, prices, or conditions change, we update the page.