NA LEI

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Lei Kiele

The gardenia was introduced from China in the 1830's.  The fragrant white blossoms soon became a favorite with the lei maker.  The haku and humu-papa methods are sometimes used to make the lei kiele, but are not as popular as the kui or wili methods.  As with other fragrant leis, Hawaiians poetically associated the lei gardenia with love and love-making.

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