Surely you’ve seen a scene in a movie or television show, where the characters are arriving to Hawaii and are greeted with a beautiful flower lei upon arrival. Typically, they get off the plane and are greeted with hula dancers and a musician playing the ukulele, serenading visitors as they step off the plane in paradise. It creates a beautiful welcome to Hawaii, and sets the tone for the remainder of the movie or episode, taking place on one of the beautiful Hawaiian Islands.
Now, we’re not saying that this scene hasn't taken place in the past, but it's a bit of a stretch. Your welcome to the islands may not be as dramatic, but you can absolutely have that traditional Hawaiian lei greeting once you arrive. Not only does this give you a beautiful souvenir from your trip, but it also gives you a greeting that dates back to ancient Hawaii, and also something that will make your hotel room smell absolutely amazing.
Where does the lei originate?
The lei dates all the way back to the earliest arrival of Polynesian voyagers, arriving to Hawaii by navigating the Pacific Ocean, using only the stars to navigate. Leis were made from flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts, and feathers, just as they are today, and were worn by ancient Hawaiians to beautify and distinguish themselves from others.
Through the years, the tradition of lei giving has carried through, remaining as a symbol of the islands. A lei is given for a variety of reasons, including arrival to the islands, birthdays, weddings, and graduation, whether from high school or college. It is quite a comical site to see a graduate with a large number of leis around their neck and head, preventing them from seeing!
When receiving a lei, it is important to remember that it is considered rude to remove the lei in front of the person that gifted the lei. Tradition is very important in Hawaii, so please remember to be aware of this.
Your Hawaiian vacation is quickly approaching, and you can have the authentic greeting with a beautiful lei, getting your trip off to a great start and giving you a fantastic keepsake once you return home. Hawaii Discount has lei greetings available at each of the airports in Hawaii, so no matter which island you are visiting, a lei is available to you.
Due to the high volume of visitors traveling to Hawaii year round, our Oahu tours and Oahu activities sell out quickly. In many cases, tours sell out weeks or months in advance, especially our top seller Sea Life Park Luau. To ensure your spots on tour, we recommend reserving your tours today. Call our office or book online to take advantage of our low price guarantee today.
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