Kohala flower grower Marie Leilehua McDonald presents various lei-making techniques, including hili, haku and wili. She introduces and gathers native plants such as ‘ākia, lehua and ‘a‘ali‘i to make into a wildflower lei and shows how to braid the lei palapalai (fern).
Marie visits well-known Kohala lei-makers Mary Bell, Helen Low and Bernice Berdon as they make pansy lei, lei ‘ilima, pua mali and ‘ākulikuli. The exquisite feather lei of Tsugi Kaiama are also seen.
Attwood Makanani shows how to wili (twist together) the beloved lei maile mokihana of Kaua‘i. And Dora Ganeau gathers beach hinahina to make a special lei for her son.
Originally produced for the school children of Hawai‘i.
1986
20 minutes
Broadcast/cablecast
Hawai‘i Public Television (PBS Hawai‘i)
Māori Television • Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Community Channel • Sydney, Australia
Hawai‘i public access channels
Screening
Museum Für Völkerkunde • Berlin