As the sun set in the late afternoon of October 24, Moanalua’s Lei club members gathered, cut, and strung mums, crown flowers, bougainvillea blossoms and ti leaves for their first meeting of the year. Founded in the school year of (2024-2025) by President Janaia Ford and Advisor Ms. Shiroma, Lei Club was founded with a vision of promoting learning the knowledge of lei making and creating a welcoming environment for everyone to join no matter their background knowledge. The club also strives to emphasize the importance of respect and taking care of the land around us, where they forage lei material from.
Lei-making has been a part of Hawaiian culture and its history since the early Polynesians arrived in the Hawaiian Islands around 500–800 A.D. In the ancient times, a lei represented ranks, and wealth, as well as to signify royalty, or ali’i, to the Hawaiians adorning the lei. Hawaiians also used leis to signify peace among competing tribes. (Hawai‘i History and Culture, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority)
After the discovery of the many islands in the Pacific Ocean, Polynesians decided to settle in these islands themselves, carrying out their new home. With them they carried seeds from their native homes, planting the land that would in time become the Hawaiian islands. The lei has long been cherished as a symbol of love, honor, friendship, and connection through every string. Traditionally made from flowers, leaves, feathers, and shells, leis were given to celebrate monuments in peoples’ lives. From welcoming visitors, to celebrating milestones like graduations or weddings, it’s also a way to give aloha as you say farewell. Gradually, this cultural practice has made a lasting impression as a labor of love and connection that stays rooted across generations in Hawai’i.
“Leis symbolize love and unity, whenever you give a lei you always hug and kiss that person. That’s a form of love but also the patience behind making the lei, it’s a labor of love,” Lei Club President Janaia Ford explained. Students from all different grade levels come together to teach and showcase different lei-making techniques, such as maile lei, Song of Indian, mixed media lei, and many more while gaining appreciation for the culture.
Through lei-making sessions, Moanalua’s Lei Club helps keep this tradition alive. This reveals that regardless of if you’re a beginner or just a curious high schooler trying the club out for the first time, the essence of aloha and the
Hawaiian culture shine throughout this club and everyone connected to it.
