There are several areas of your body where Hawaiian flowers can be worn. Here are ways to wear them and what some of these flower placements mean.
Head Placement (Haku)
The small, shorter lei that many Hawaiians wear around their heads is the haku. This regal lei is often for special occasions. It can be crafted from flowers, or it may be made with flowers with greenery woven in around them. The process of sewing or braiding this lei together is where the word haku comes from. It is crafted so that each piece on the lei faces outward. The background material is often made from ti leaves, and various types of Hawaiian flowers may be woven in. For men, a haku is usually made from greenery with no flowers included. The haku is often worn on the head, but it can also be work around the wrists, ankles and neck and even tied around a hat. These leis are often worn for luaus, weddings and graduations.
Neck (Lei)
The traditional neck lei is worn across the shoulders with half draping down the front and half draping down the back. A lei is presented by putting it onto the recipient’s shoulders and giving them a kiss on the cheek. Special occasions like graduations may call for several neck leis to be worn at the same time. Neck leis are also worn for birthdays, weddings, luaus and any other special occasion. They are also worn simply for fun when there is no occasion at all.
Hip (Hei)
A lei of greenery worn on the hips is the Tahitian hip hei. To create these festive leis, raffia, ti leaves and other materials are generally used. Flowers and feathers may also be woven into these hip adornments. The chosen materials are braided into a belt that has leaves draping downward. This gives them a graceful motion every time the wearer moves. These Tahitian heis are known for being worn by Tahitian dancers engaging in their traditional dances.
Wrist (kupe’e)
This small garland is worn around the wrist. It is generally worn by dancers in Hawaii in order to draw attention to the graceful movements of the hands. The kupe’e is generally made from greenery, but they may also have white flowers woven in. These wrist leis can be worn as bracelets and worn to a special celebrations and occasions. The kupe’e have a long tradition in the Pacific islands, including Hawaii, and are still worn by dancers who love their traditional, graceful look.
Ankle (kupe’e)
Like the graceful placement on the wrist by the wrist kupe’e, the ankle kupe’e is a great way for a dancer to draw attention to the movements of the feet. The placement on the ankle is perfect for balancing an outfit, and it is sometimes worn with wrist kupe’es and a neck lei. The ankle kupe’e is usually made from the same materials as a wrist kupe’e. Both men and women can wear these ankle adornments.
How to Wear a Single Flower in Your Hair
Placing a single flower in your hair is an easy way to accessorize what you’re wearing. Placing a flower in different areas in your hair can say different things about you. According to tradition, single women place a flower behind the right ear. For women in a relationship, the flower is placed behind the left ear.
How to Wear a Hawaiian Hair Pick
An elegant adornment can be created for your hair with a Hawaiian hair pick and real or artificial flowers. The picks sometimes use hibiscus flowers while others use fabric flowers. Some people prefer to use picks with fabric flowers because they are long lasting and can be worn over and over again. Others prefer fresh flowers for their fragrant smells. Loose, flowing hair can be accentuated by a Hawaiian hair pick, or it can be used to hold an updo in place.
