The Art of Lei Making

May Day may be lei day in Hawaii.

But really, any day in the Islands is a good day to celebrate the art and culture of Hawaiian lei making. And if you’re on Oahu this weekend and love lei, you’re in luck.

The Honolulu Academy of Arts is once again dedicating an entire spring weekend to the craft with A Celebration of Hawaiian Lei Making. The two-day lei festival, happening March 26 and 27 at the Academy Art Center at Linekona, will gather experts in traditional and contemporary lei making for talk-story sessions, demonstrations and lessons in creating and giving lei. 

Experts on hand will demonstrate basic methods of lei construction from kui(stringing) and haku (mounted or braided), to wili  (winding) and kipuu(knotting). Both days will also feature liva hula performances, and video presentations on Hawaiian lei masters. 

All events are free, and open to the public.


Here’s the Celebration of Hawaiian Lei Making weekend schedule:

Sat., March 26

• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., lei demonstrations
• 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., lei making videos, in art center community room
• 1 p.m., hula performance from May Day lei court
• 2:15 p.m., “Planting and Maintaining a Lei Garden,” panel discussion, in art center community room

Sun. March 27

• 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., lei demonstrations
• 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m., lei making videos, in art center community room
• 1 p.m., hula performance from May Day lei court
• 2:15 p.m., Talk Story session on the craft of lei making, in art center community room