Today I read the following quote:
Kuana Torres Kahele: 'ALOHA HAWAII. MAKE LEI
One of our greatest gifts is our time.
In a world where everyone seems short on time and patience, stopping for 3 or 4 hours to make someone a lei happens less and less frequently. The notion of putting so much effort into something perishable escapes many people. Long after the scent has departed and the petals have faded, your lei of love stays in the heart of the wearer.
Making lei for someone says, I care enough about you to create--to give you a little of my spark. It says Aloha and I love you. It is our opportunity to temporarily harness nature's beauty and magically gift it to someone.
Go make lei.'

I've done sewing, knitting, embroidery etc in my time but the fingers are not as nimble as they once were; but I can still make leis! So I do - on a regular basis. The new technique described by this person prompted me to make one today!

One needs flowers first.

So very preeeeety! Good job! How fortunate for you to have enough flowers to make a gorgeous piece of art! This is not your first beauty, I know. What do you do with the leis you make? Have you ever made heis, the head peices?

Kuana Torres Kahele says not having blooms is no excuse just use any bouquet from your grocery store, or any flowers, or other materials at all that are available to you.
I am of course very partial to Plumeria but made a Bougainvillea lei in January when there were no Plumeria blooms available. I have made several different styles of leis. I recently bought several books on lei making and am practicing new techniques (as I did today) when I have time.

Here is an example of a beautiful lei made entirely with leaves.

I've always wanted to make Lei but I felt the same way, I don't have enough plumeria flowers. But Now that you mentioned it, I do have plenty of different flowers (re: gladiolus, Daisies and hibiscus and if course tons of leaves).

I need to research what tools I need to make a lei and just the basic step by step process. Maybe there is a simple lei making video Hetty that you can recommend we watch. I saw a you tube video at one time but I still am lost.

Orchids are used a lot for leis nowadays because the blooms are long-lasting. This is what is being used in this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

The only observation on this video I have is the whole purpose of having a long needle is so you can make the 'arrangement' of the flowers on the needle before pushing it down to the string.
Any good sized needle will do. One year when my order for lei needles from Hawaii didn't arrive I found 'doll needles' from the craft store, they are about 5 " long and worked just as well.
My favorite 'twine' to use is waxed dental floss, by the way.

Hetty, your Leis are beautiful works of art!

I wish I had such patience but alas, the older I get the more ditsy and patience-less I seem to get.

This is a picture of the Bougainvillea Lei I made in January - I did have a FEW Plumeria blooms to add to it.

your leis are gorgeous. I have plenty of dental floss :), I buy them in bulk!

You are talking my game there, guys. I have lots of floss, J & J mint, waxed.

Ken that is too funny! So , you still have the dental supply and you have those beautiful orchid bloom. Maybe you can surprise your wife with a lei.

Hetty this video is very helpful. I have enough plumeria blooms to make a lei. Maybe I should try.

I hope you will, Gigi; I look forward to see your pictures!

My first try of a Ti leaf lei (more traditionally worn by men than the full flower leis) turned out pretty good! I had looked at a few tutorials on youtube and took the plunge. The hard part is sourcing the leaves. I could only find the dark red ones and boy they emit some pretty colored sap. I hope when it dries up there is no risk of this staining someone's clothes....

I like that. It is great looking lei, perfect for me because I have more Ti plant and less plummie blooms.

(This auto correct is annoying.)

@GigiPlumeria do you have the green Ti plants? Everyone here seems to have the 'Red Sister' or other colored ones. For this style of lei it's really nicest to have the plain green ones.

I don't have the green but I have the draceana, which has similar leaf (thicker) with the Ti plant.
Maybe that will work.

The gladiolus leaves by the way is tough and no sap.

I guess I'll have to experiment. I am also looking for a source of leather fern leaves. As you can tell I have bitten by the lei-making bug!

I know will be too. I just have to make that first Lei. My co worker is going to Hawaii next month and I will ask her to bring me a Lei needle (if allowed in the plane. I will just reimburse her for it.