Lei po'o

IndaMerit-Amun

From a text by Lily Stone.
All photos by Dana Edmunds.

Lei po'0 are nature's halos, temporal crowns woven to adorn the head with some of life's loveliest flowers. They are masterworks of a culture that lived close to the earth, a culture that celebrated the gifts that grow throughout the Hawaiian islands.Hawaiians revered flowers close to godliness. Hawaiians saw flowers as spiritual, beautiful. The gods and the ali'i were seen to have light around their heads, and lei po'o honored that.

Today flowers remain a central part of life in Hawai'i, and lei po'os continue to connect people with the divine. They combine different plants from different areas like the shore and the volcano.

At their deepest, lei po'o are a reflection of the Hawaiian Islands, a tapestry of color and beauty and unique life forms woven together. Each lei is very distinctive and unique. We all are - why should the lei be any different.

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2/8/0812:16 PM

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IndaMerit-Amun

Just about anything can be woven into lei po'o.
A harmonious blend of striking colors and perfect craftmanship is the ultimate goal.

This lei po'o and the ones on the following replies were woven by Bill Chan.

This lei po'o brings together delicate paper-thin ilima blossoms with 'ohia ali'i", shrimp flower and roses.

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2/8/0812:20 PM

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IndaMerit-Amun

For this lei po'o Chan used Maui's loke-wai-kahuli, or rose with changing color, the kukui leaf of Moloka'i the hihahina of Kaho'olave, and the kaunaoa of Lana'i.

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2/8/0812:26 PM

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IndaMerit-Amun

This lei po'o featured the anise-scented green mokihana berry, found only on Kaua'i. It is accompanied by bougainvillea, bleeding heart, and cup and saucer.

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2/8/0812:30 PM

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IndaMerit-Amun

From the Big Island come scarlet ohia lehua blossoms, which grow near the volcanoes and are closely associated with the goddess Pele. Accompanying them is the a'ali'i, a tenacious plant symbolic of the island's Ka'u district.

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2/8/0812:35 PM

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yokoMember

Thank you for this beautiful post.
I was not aware of the different lei po'os being created to compliment specific personalities.
Hawaiians love all their beautiful plants and flowers and make many ornamental items with them.
Even the simplest greenery is used effectively.

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2/8/086:06 PM

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Vicky2Member

Thank you for the post. I did not know that the headdress was called lei po'o. I thought that was called lei as well.

These girls have leis and lei po'os and I think that the flower is plumeria.

2/11/087:17 AM

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Sue 1Member

Thank you for the post. Like Vicky, I did not know the difference between lei and lei po'o.

Here is a little lady i borrowed from your files, I hope you don't mind. She is wearing such a pretty lei po'o.

2/11/087:23 AM

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GiseleMember

Thank you Inda.

The flowers are all very beautiful.
I have never been to Hawaii, but I think that I would like it. These people seem to appreciaste their flowers and plants. They seem to live in harmony with nature.

Sincerely,
Gisele

2/11/087:30 AM

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IndaMerit-Amun

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I don't mind at all if you use my images, actually I am bringing one back myself. Most of those lovely photos are by Veronica Carmona.

This little baby certainly enjoys wearing the lei po'o.

2/12/088:07 AM

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Vicky2Member

Dear Inda, I borrowed one of your images.
I think this truly belongs in this thread.

2/13/087:45 AM

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IndaMerit-Amun

Thank you Vicky.

I am glad that you found this image
to add to this thread.

Love, Inda
**********

Love is worn like a wreath
through the summers and the winters.

Mary Kawena Pukui

Photo: Veronica Carmona