How to Wear Hawaiian Flowers

Hawaiian flowers are a beautiful way to add more color and elegance to an outfit. There are a number of ways to wear Hawaiian flowers, including on your neck, head, wrist or ankle. There are even ways for men to wear Hawaiian flowers and maintain a masculine look.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Using a Hawaiian Hair Pick

Things You’ll Need:

Hawaiian flowers Lei Hawaiian hair pick
Hawaiian flowers
Lei
Hawaiian hair pick

Step 1

Purchase a Hawaiian hair pick. These picks can be made of real Hawaiian flowers - usually hibiscus - or a fabric. The fabric flowers can be reused indefinitely. The real flowers look and smell better, but will last several days at the most before they start to wilt.

Step 2

Place the flower behind your right ear if you are single, according to Hawaiian tradition.

Step 3

Place the flower behind your left year if you are in a relationship.

Wearing a Hawaiian Lei

Step 1

Wear a lei around your neck. The proper/traditional way to wear a lei is to have it drape slightly down your front and your back while resting on your shoulders.

Step 2

Wear a lei on your head. Some leis are specifically sized for your head and are still a traditional way of wearing Hawaiian flowers. In fact, wearing a lei on your head can add some balance to your ensemble if you are wearing more than one lei around your neck.

Step 3

Wear a lei on your wrist. Using a wrist lei can take the place of jewelry.

Step 4

Wear a lei on your ankle. Much like wearing a head lei, wearing an ankle lei can add balance to your outfit if you are wearing more than one lei on the upper part of your body.

Tips & Warnings

If you are traveling, it is important to note that Hawaiian flowers and leis are steeped in tradition and cultural significance. It is important to treat Hawaiian flowers with respect and sensitivity.

Article Written By David Montoya

David Montoya graduated from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and holds a Master of Arts in American Indian studies. His writings, covering a range of topics including law and travels, have appeared on various websites. Montoya passed the February 2011 California State Bar Examination.

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