For any occasion, weddings, Mother's Day, graduations, birthdays, luaus...there is something special about receiving or giving an authentic handmade Hawaiian orchid lei. In Hawai'i, the lei is symbolic of admiration for loved ones and esteem for oneself. Extremely diverse and beautiful, leis are made and given for any occasion or special ceremony in Hawaii or just to express warmth and friendship.

Enjoy this little bit of information about the flowers themselves. Each one is a bit of Paradise!!

For more information on shipping these little sweethearts, click HERE.

Anthurium

This flower is known as the “heart of Hawaii” for its distinctive heart-shaped profile and red brilliance.  The Anthurium also comes in shades of pink, green and orange (known as Obake Anthurium).  The Anthurium family is of the longest lasting tropical flowers in arrangements and can last up to 2 1/2 weeks.

Bird-of-Paradise

The flower head resembles a birds head, and is one of the most popular tropical flowers used in arrangements. The scientific name means queenly strelitzia and is said to have originated in South Africa and evolved in Madagascar, an island off the east coast of Africa.

Ginger

This flower is shaped like large, velvety butterflies with a delicate fragrance. Many gingers, primarily from Indo-Malaysia, have been introduced to Hawaii during the past century. There are approximately 1,400 species including the edible species.

Heliconia

Splendid splashes of color, dramatic form, long lasting, and a variety of sizes. The name Heliconia (pronounced “hell-ee-cone-ee-uh”) honors Mt. Heliconia, home of the ancient Greek gods. There are between 250-400 species or more, with 98 percent native to tropical America.

Protea

The genus Protea comes from the Greek god Proteus, who could assume many shapes. When people comment on this native of South Africa and Australia, words such as “amazing", “out of this world", and “magnificent" are used.

Mink

There are several varieties of proteas ranging from “fuzzy” or “feathery", like the pink mink, to the colorful and spiny        pincushions which resemble sea urchins. The blooms are very long lasting in arrangements and are used either fresh or dried.

Hibiscus

Historically used for medicinal purposes, in 1923 Territorial Legislature declared the Hibiscus the flower of the Territory of Hawaii.  There are about 5,000 hibiscus hybrids that make up this classic five-petaled, bell-shaped flower. 

Orchid

Hawaii boasts hundreds of varieties and hybrids of the Orchid.  Colors include lavender, purple, yellow, orange, pink, rose, red and blue.  The orchid is popular for lei making.

Pikake (Jasmine)

This cherished flower has a sensuous romantic fragrance.  For weddings, brides adorn their neck and hair with Pikake and grooms wear it entwined with a maile lei.  Pikake lahilahi, the single flower, is a white tubular blossom about an inch in diameter.  Pikaki pupupu the double flower, resembles a small white rose.

Plumeria

The fragrant plumeria is native to tropical America.  The blossom is two inches in diameter, with five round petals.  Plumeria trees are prevalent in Hawaii where plumeria leis are popular and reasonable.