The most common and beloved of our lei-making traditions is lei kui. Kui is the term for needle, and refers to piercing or stringing things together. Lei kui are most often worn around the neck, lei ‘āʻī.

Oct 3, 2020 · The Kui style of weaving is the most widely used and most popular for typical Hawaiian leis. In this method, the flower or material is pierced with a needle and strung through with thread in a consecutive pattern.

Lei Kui Kui is to string pierced objects, such as flowers, shells, beads, or fish (as a fishing stringer). Marcia Timboy teaches lei kui at the 2019 Kamehameha Day Festival on Moku Ola.

Lei kui pololei, or straight pattern, is the classic lei style that most people learn first. Although this method is quite simple, it still takes practice to make a lei that will hold up well. The exact position of the needle through the flower is important for the structure and integrity of the lei.

Apr 28, 2022 · Like Lei wili, lei kui has different styles. Lei kui pololei: This type of lei style strings materials lengthwise from end to end through the center of the flower. Lei kui poepoe: This type of lei style, also referred to as double a lei, string materials crosswise through the stem.

The petite, white blossoms are tightly strung together in the Kui method, forming a lei that is simple in appearance but rich in tradition and symbolism. The Pikake Lei is not only a symbol of Hawaii’s natural beauty but also a testament to love and passion.

Aug 6, 2024 · The Kui method is the most common lei-making technique. It involves using a long needle to puncture individual flowers, which are then strung on a single strand. Many Hawaiian orchid lei are crafted with this method.

In this make-and-take Kui A Lei - String A Lei workshop, you'll learn how to create your own lei using the Kui Pololei and Kui Poepoe techniques with fresh tropical flowers, foliage, and traditional materials.

Above: The single strand sewn lei, called kui, may be the most recognizable–and easiest to make–style. Other methods of making leis include haku, in which leaves and flowers are braided into a broad flat long chain, and kipu’u, where leaf or …

Jul 4, 2024 · The kui lei, on the other hand, is a simple yet elegant lei made by stringing flowers together with a needle and thread. This method is commonly used for leis made from plumeria, orchids, and other single-petal flowers.