HONOLULU (KHON2) — Not many people know the difference between a Haku lei and a Lei poʻo, but both are beautiful and deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture.
While a Haku lei and Lei poʻo may seem similar, they do have differences when it comes to crafting and the meaning behind them.
What is a Haku lei?
Haku in Hawaiian translates to “braid,” but it can also mean “to create”, all of which describe this lei-making technique. Not only is the haku style meant to be worn on one’s head, but it can also be made for the wrist, known as Kūpeʻe or the neck, known as Lei Āʻī.
A lei haku is made by braiding together at least two different kinds of flowers using a three-strand braid…