If you’re lucky enough to receive a lei while in Hawaii, you’ll soon be left with a strand of withering flowers. So, many visitors wonder what to do with old leis. We’re here to help! Before you don your strand of sweet flowers, read this and plan what to do with it once its life is past.
A Place of Meaning
“Who comes out to put lei on all the statues?” a Hawaii visitor asked. We were walking past the statue of Duke Kahanamoku on Waikiki beach, but we had passed others during her visit and most were adorned with lei. She imagined some park worker decorating the statues each morning.
I explained that visitors leave their lei in places with special meaning to them. Even if you know nothing about lei customs, it seems wrong to throw a lei into the trash. Not only are the flowers too beautiful to discard carelessly, but a lei is a sign of welcome and love.
Now we know that the flowers on lei can damage statues, so adorning the likeness of Duke Kahanamoku may not be best. Still, it’s a reminder of how treasured lei are in Hawaii, and why knowing what to do with old leis is important.
Fun Fact: Plural Hawaiian words don’t include an s at the end. So the plural of lei is lei.
Reasons to Receive a Lei
Many people come to Waikiki each day for a Hawaii vacation, and many receive a lei greeting when they arrive. Just as many leave each day, and the lei stays here.
It is also common to see locals wearing lei in Hawaii, not just visitors. For locals, it often means they have given a speech or presentation, received an award or honor, or were guests of some sort. At conferences on campus, speakers often receive lei as they are introduced.
So lei carry a sense of joy and it seems only right to pass it on, even when it’s time to decide what to do with old leis.
What to Do With Old Leis: Returning Them to Earth
One tradition is to return lei to the earth. Many people will leave their lei hanging in a tree or floating on water. In an old movie, people tossed their lei into the sea from the deck of a cruise ship, saying the direction the flowers floated indicated whether they would return to the islands.
I’m pretty sure that last part is a Hollywood invention, but the practice of floating lei is real. One recent visitor tossed her lei from the Pali Overlook in honor of those who died there in the conquest of Oahu. Another put the lei on a religious statue with particular significance to her.
Of course, if you release lei into the ocean, you’ll want to remove them from the strand. The string is litter, and it can harm marine life. You’ll be scattering the flowers of your lei instead.
Saying Aloha to Your Old Lei
When it’s time to decide what to do with your old leis, there is a lot to consider. Perhaps more important than the location is the attitude toward disposing of a lei.
A lei is a gift of love and should be treated with respect. Lei creates a connection between the giver and the recipient. I like to think of the many lei adorning Hawaii statues as a way for visitors to return the aloha they find here on the islands.