There are no secrets to making beautiful fresh flower leis: Some flowers, a long and thin needle, and a stretch of sturdy thread. An isle author details all
"Hawai'i's Flower Leis: An Identification Guide"
you need to know about
how to make lei
By Laurie Shimizu Ide (Mutual Publishing)
Softcover; 120 pages; $8.95
By Suzanne Tswei
stswei@starbulletin.com"And a little imagination," says author and lei-maker Laurie Shimizu Ide, who shares lei making know-how in her fourth and newest book, "Hawai'i's Flower Leis: An Identification Guide."
The book, published by Mutual Publishing in Honolulu, is a quick and easy reference to basic lei-making techniques and 50 flowers, leaves, fruits, berries and vines used for fresh garlands.
The pocket-size book will be available in retail outlets about midweek next week, giving ample practice time for that special lei for Lei Day in May.
"Leis are easy to make; anyone can do it. There are no correct ways to do it. You can make it any style, you can use anything. What makes the difference is the way you do it. The more creative you are, the better it is," Ide says.
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CREATIVITY DOESN'T translate only to flashy techniques. Using a flower -- such as 'okika lepo, an unassuming little orchid that grows in the wild -- that hasn't been considered lei-making material can make a difference between an ordinary lei and one that stands out.Commonly called the ground orchid or Philippine wind orchid, 'okika lepo's miniature flowers -- pinkish purple with bright yellow in the centers -- make unique and eye-catching garlands.
Ide discovered the orchid's potential while she was experimenting with flowers for her first book, "Hawaiian Lei Making: Step-by-Step Guide." 'Okika lepo has a subtle sweet scent and is long lasting. With refrigeration, the lei can last up to four days and will not leave stains on clothing.
The only drawback to using the blossom is that it takes 275 blossoms to make a 40-inch double lei, and finding that many flowers takes patience. Ide had wanted to include it in her first book but couldn't find enough blossoms to make a whole lei. This time, she enlisted an orchid grower friend who owns a home on the Big Island where the ground orchid grows abundantly.
'Okika lepo is common along hiking trials and grassy fields on all islands. Unless there's a huge patch of the orchid, gathering enough for a lei may require repeat visits.
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Another overlooked flower also featured in her new book is popo lehua, or ixora, an old-time favorite that is impossible to find in lei shops."The popo lehua was a popular lei a long, long time ago. Not everybody remembers that any more, but it's so pretty that I think people should start to make it again," Ide says.
The tiny flowers seem fragile, but they are hardy and best suited for single lei, Ide says. Again, the drawback is that it take a lot of blossoms to complete a lei, about 240 for a 40-inch single lei.
IDE'S BOOK provides general information: Harvesting period, description, characteristics, locations, storage, quantity of flowers required for lei and other useful details. The text is complemented by color photographs of lei, flowers and methods of lei making.
It is a condensed version of her first book, which offers more detailed instructions and how-to photographs. Novice lei makers will find Ide's first book more useful (the nearly 3-year-old book is still a popular seller) but her new book is a handy and quick reference guide for experienced lei makers.
"I wanted to do something that makes (lei-making) as easy as possible. You can see the picture to see what the lei looks like, and you don't have to guess how many flowers you'll need," Ide says.
Knowing the required number of blossoms is a necessity. Ide learned that while she ran a florist shop in Pearlridge after graduating from college. When she wasn't swamped with work, she took photographs and organized information on each type of lei. It was partly to help her run her business more efficiently and partly to help her customers decide on lei orders.
"It was much easier for people to see the lei, if not a real lei, at least a picture. People don't always know what the flower is called, but if they can see a picture, it cleared up everything right away," Ide says.
Pretty soon she noticed that her lei photo album was becoming the biggest attraction in the shop. Customers clamored for the book and lingered in the shop waiting for their turn to look at it.
"Once I took it out to show to customers, it gets passed around, and it took a long time before I finally got it back. Everybody wanted to look at it, even if they didn't come in to buy leis," Ide says.
Ide (pronounced eye-d, her married name from her husband of German descent) realized there may be a market for a lei book. She already had the know-how; she's been helping her parents, Ethel and Toshi, make lei for their side business since she was in the 7th grade. (The lei business helped finance the family's trips to their favorite travel destination, Las Vegas.)
Ide began research for scientific names and other information. She took all her own photographs, learned computer programs to produce a draft and signed up with Mutual Publishing.
Her first book took off -- popular among local residents as well as tourists -- and led to more lei books. Mutual Publishing also published Ide's other books, "Hawaii Seeds and Seed Leis: An Identification Guide" and "Hawaiian Seed Lei Making: Step-by-Step Guide."
Ide, 38 and mother of a 3-year-old daughter and a 3-week-old son, is finishing yet another book. She won't say what it is, but promises that "if people like my flower lei book, they'll like my next book." It will be published in time for Christmas.
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