Did you know that yesterday, May 1, is Lei Day? Most of us know what a lei (pronounced: “lay”) is…it is a necklace of flowers that you have received during a graduation or when you arrive on the islands. Celebrations continue into the next day and is meant to celebrate the aloha spirit.

Lei (singular and plural are the same) came as part of the early Polynesian voyagers when they arrived in Hawaii. Today, we use it to celebrate special occasions.

But there are some unspoken rules about lei. A lei represents one person’s affection to another. Thus, if you are offered a lei, you should never refuse it. It should be worn gently over your shoulders, hanging both on the front and the back. It is considered rude to remove the lei in the presence of the person who gave it to you.

Have you given a lei to show your aloha spirit? When? Comment below!

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