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Lei 'Ilima
There are a number of 'ilima
plants found growing along the rock and sandy beach coast to altitudes
of more than 2,000 feet; Flowers have five petals, measure about
one inch across and are the thickness of tissue paper. Most lei
makers gather the flowers in the early morning before the sun comes
up. The flowers reach full bloom as the morning wears on. The blossoms
last through the day, then they wither and die. Many hundreds of
blossoms are needed to make a single strand. Because the gathering of
the flowers and the making of this lei was a painstaking labor of
love, and because the blossoms were of fragile and very temporary
beauty and rich brilliant color, the lei 'ilima became a highly prized
possession of the royal and educated classes of Hawaiian society.
It was not restricted for their use only. It was for all people. It is
sacred to Laka and worn by her dancers and offered at her altar in the
halau hula.
Reference: Ka Lei, The
Leis of Hawaii by Marie A. McDonald
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