2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Every month we will weave a lei for you, one that brings together plants and stories from our five botanic gardens. For December’s lei, Hauʻoli Wichman made this exquisite pāpale (hat) lei. She wove both the pāpale and lei with hala leaves, a practice deeply rooted in relationships with plants, people, and places.
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What do lei mean to you?
Lei is an expression of Aloha—it’s a Hawaiian icon of Aloha that you wear—on your shoulders, head, or on your pāpale (hat)! Like Aloha, lei mean so much. A lei is one’s expression of love, friendship, and appreciation, given with admiration and honor. You give a lei without expectations and receive one with grace, humility and thankfulness—it means someone is special.
What was your vision behind this particular lei?
My vision of this lauhala rose lei was to create a beautiful adornment that retains its beauty and usefulness for many years to come. I also want to expose the secret beauty that is hidden in the long thorny leaves of hala, an amazing native plant. I have been weaving lauhala for 30 years and am always amazed at the incredible things that are made from it.
What guidance might you offer to others seeking to deepen their connection with the plants and landscapes that define their home?
Plants and flowers have always been a part of my life, as was lei making. My grandmother’s family grew pakalana, pikake, plumeria, and crown flower for the professional lei makers in the 1950s and 60s, so we grew up making lei for any and all occasions. Climbing in the trees to pick the flowers was a highlight of my childhood growing up in Nānākuli. My love for plants has stuck with me, and as a Hawaiian I feel that the plants around me give a sense of place – the plants and flowers that I love, are in fact a part of me and they define who I am. I can’t imagine being without these essential elements in my life.
Deepening one’s relationship with plants and place can be as simple as getting outdoors, smelling the flowers, watering plants, walking on the lawn, in a garden or a park, observing a leaf, a tree or listening to the wind blowing through the leaves. The greatest gift someone can give a child is to help nurture them to develop a deep and meaningful relationship with plants, the environment, and place. Awakening their awareness and appreciation of their natural surroundings will give them a lifetime of joy and happiness.
Discover all of our lei legacy stories and check out upcoming events in celebration of NTBG’s 60th anniversary.
