It’s May! Wow, the year started off with what seemed like the longest January in all of history, and now it’s May. The months of a quarantined lifestyle seem to fly by quicker than expected. With May comes the prospect of hope, growth, and new beginnings – or at least that’s how I see it. In Hawai’i specifically, our islands seem to light up with energy. The thought of summer lifts our spirits, and the air is filled with the glorious, sweet smell of fresh lei.
Lei, also known as flower garlands, are given as gifts, as a decorative addition to an everyday look, sometimes just made for fun, and more. Traditionally, lei are made of bird feathers, shells, leaves, seeds, nuts, bones/teeth, or with flowers (how we usually see them today). I love receiving and giving lei whenever I can. I’m not sure if it’s the color of the lei, the smell, or the thought behind it, but I’ve never seen nor met anyone who didn’t appreciate receiving a lei. A lei is perfect for many occasions. Need a birthday gift? Give a lei. Mother’s Day coming up? Give a lei (or make one!). Need to spruce up an outfit? Wear a lei. Forgot to put on deodorant for the day? Wear a lei. Okay, maybe the last one is just for jokes, but seriously.. you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes!
There is a saying, “May Day is Lei Day in Hawai’i”. Therefore, when May 1st comes around, everyone takes the time to appreciate lei even more. Even I took some time today to reminisce the moments when I’d be up to my ears in stacked lei! If you’ve never experienced it, I hope you do one day. I get excited when I walk up to someone with a lei to give them, or even when I see someone approaching with a lei to gift me. It brings so much joy to give someone a gift like that. Maybe it’s a “Hawai’i thing”, but it’s something that I know will always brighten my day.
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