The Hawaiian Lei Tradition
The tradition of making and wearing leis dates back to the early Polynesian voyagers who settled the Hawaiian Islands centuries ago. These skilled navigators crossed vast stretches of the Pacific in voyaging canoes, bringing with them customs and traditions that would become part of Hawaiian culture.
Over the generations, Hawaiians created leis from many different natural materials, including flowers, leaves, shells, seeds, nuts and feathers. Leis were worn for beauty and adornment and were also given to mark important occasions, honor others and express affection.
Lei giving remains an important part of life in Hawaii today. Leis are commonly presented for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations and other celebrations. At a Hawaiian graduation, it is not unusual to see a graduate wearing so many leis that they nearly reach their eyes.
Welcoming Visitors to Hawaii
The tradition of greeting travelers with leis became especially well known during Hawaii's famous "Boat Days" in the early 1900s. Long before commercial air travel brought visitors to the islands, passenger ships arrived at Honolulu Harbor, where lei vendors gathered near Aloha Tower to welcome arriving visitors and returning residents.
One well-known tradition says that departing visitors would toss their leis into the ocean as their ship sailed past Diamond Head, hoping that someday, like the lei carried back toward shore, they too would return to the Hawaiian Islands.
As air travel and tourism grew, the airport lei greeting became one of the most recognizable symbols of a Hawaiian vacation.
Kona Airport Lei Greetings Today
Today, you can experience that same warm tradition when you arrive on the Big Island. With a Kona airport lei greeting, a friendly greeter will meet you at Kona International Airport and welcome you with a beautiful fresh lei.
A lei greeting can be reserved for yourself, your family or friends, or as a surprise for someone special. It is especially popular for honeymooners, first-time visitors, anniversaries and milestone celebrations, but you never need a special occasion to enjoy one.
There are very few rules when it comes to wearing a lei. A lei may be worn by anyone, and receiving one upon arrival is simply a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of your time in Hawaii.
At KonaLeiGreeting.com, we make it easy to arrange a Big Island airport lei greeting before your trip. Choose your lei, make your reservation and look forward to a warm welcome when you arrive in Kona.
Start your Hawaii vacation with a beautiful Big Island lei greeting and one of the islands' most beloved traditions.
Aloha from KonaLeiGreeting.com