NA LEI

 

Lei Hinahina

Soon after the Spanish Moss was introduced in about 1920, the Hawaiians fashioned a lei from it.  Because the plant reminded them of kauna'oa in texture, they used the same techniques to make the lei hinahina as was used for the lei kauna'oa.

Hinahina means gray or grayish.  The Hawaiian gave this same name to other plants that were gray or grayish in appearance.  Another name given to Spanish moss, 'umi'umi o Dole, means Dole's beard and received its name from the famous gray beard of Sanford B. Dole, first and only president of the Hawaiian Republic.  In pageantry the Spanish moss is almost always substituted for the native hinahina to represent the island of Kaho'olawe, since it was easier to get Spanish moss than it is to get the native heliotrope.

Reference:  Ka Lei, The Leis of Hawaii by Marie A. McDonald
 

NA LEI

 

Lei Hinahina

Soon after the Spanish Moss was introduced in about 1920, the Hawaiians fashioned a lei from it.  Because the plant reminded them of kauna'oa in texture, they used the same techniques to make the lei hinahina as was used for the lei kauna'oa.

Hinahina means gray or grayish.  The Hawaiian gave this same name to other plants that were gray or grayish in appearance.  Another name given to Spanish moss, 'umi'umi o Dole, means Dole's beard and received its name from the famous gray beard of Sanford B. Dole, first and only president of the Hawaiian Republic.  In pageantry the Spanish moss is almost always substituted for the native hinahina to represent the island of Kaho'olawe, since it was easier to get Spanish moss than it is to get the native heliotrope.

Reference:  Ka Lei, The Leis of Hawaii by Marie A. McDonald