Polynesians who voyaged to Hawaii from Tahiti introduced the lei. They were worn as a form of decoration, just as we wear jewelry today and were given in greeting or to honor the recipient.
The royalty of Hawaii, the ali'i, often wore permanent leis made of feathers, beads, ivory, or teeth. Shell leis from the island of Niihau, an island near Kauai, were treasured in ancient Hawaii. Today, they are very expensive.
Hawaiians believe that leis have special life-giving powers. Pregnant women are advised to wear open leis because the ancient belief is that leis represent umbilical cords. The lei must be open so as not to restrict the life flow between the mother and her unborn child.
Each island has its signature lei flower. In addition to the shells for Niihau and the red Lehua for the Big Island, Oahu favors the orange Ilima. Maui's choice is the Lokelani, a small rose. Kauai uses a green vine and berry called the Mokihana and Molokai has the Kukui, the white blossom of the Candlenut Tree. The yellow moss, Kuanaoa, is Lanai's choice.
The maile lei is worn by all classes of Hawaiians. The green leafy vine has a sweet, spicy perfume and is favored for dancing the hula. It is also used in weddings, where it is traditional for the groom and the best man to wear open ended maile leis.
During World War II, a soldier received a kiss from a Hawaiian entertainer before his lei was placed upon his neck. The practice quickly became a modern Hawaiian tradition. The gift of a lei in this fashion is an outward symbol of "aloha," which can mean "hello," "welcome," or "love."
