Graduation Leis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because Hawaiians know it's lei (plural)

Yeah, lets start a thread titled 'graduation lay' and see how it goes.

[Anonymous]

We live on the West Coast now and leis are part of almost every graduation ceremony. Yes, it started with students who were from Hawai'i, but at this point it is part of the culture here and the floral cases at all of our local and chain grocery stores have been partially cleared out to make room for stacks of leis.

When I need to ship them back east, I use florists from Hawaii. You'll need to check right now because for many of the popular florists who regularly ship, their ship dates are probably all taken for June. You want to arrange for it to arrive the day before because it's a lot of travel time already and any earlier and it will wilt. An alternative is kukui nut, candy, ribbon or money leis. We make ribbon leis for things like sports competition or end of year banquets- they're quick and fun and might be a good option if you need a lot on short notice.

[Anonymous]

I made a graduation lei for my sister using cellophane, ribbon, and candy. You can be creative and personalize them.

[Anonymous]

If this is for high school, make sure they are permitted.

[Anonymous]

I'm in CA as well, lots of influence from Hawaii and surf culture in general, and they're part of graduations here, like it or not. Order from a florist ($40-80), get them from Costco ($19.99) or make your own ($7-10)

There are YouTube tutorials galore. Grab a long needle (doll needle or the like) and some dental floss. You can use almost any flower but carnations and spray roses are easiest/most cost effective. But from TJ's a few days before you need them (so they open to the max). It took me about 2 hours to make 8 for my kid and friends. Fun creative challenge to make in college colors for each kid.

[Anonymous]

Very common in CA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because Hawaiians know it's lei (plural)

Yeah, lets start a thread titled 'graduation lay' and see how it goes.

Please, please, please start that thread.

[Anonymous]

Just because they’re sold in grocery stores doesn’t make cultural appropriation right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live on the West Coast now and leis are part of almost every graduation ceremony. Yes, it started with students who were from Hawai'i, but at this point it is part of the culture here and the floral cases at all of our local and chain grocery stores have been partially cleared out to make room for stacks of leis.

When I need to ship them back east, I use florists from Hawaii. You'll need to check right now because for many of the popular florists who regularly ship, their ship dates are probably all taken for June. You want to arrange for it to arrive the day before because it's a lot of travel time already and any earlier and it will wilt. An alternative is kukui nut, candy, ribbon or money leis. We make ribbon leis for things like sports competition or end of year banquets- they're quick and fun and might be a good option if you need a lot on short notice.

Why would you ever need to ship them

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in CA as well, lots of influence from Hawaii and surf culture in general, and they're part of graduations here, like it or not. Order from a florist ($40-80), get them from Costco ($19.99) or make your own ($7-10)

There are YouTube tutorials galore. Grab a long needle (doll needle or the like) and some dental floss. You can use almost any flower but carnations and spray roses are easiest/most cost effective. But from TJ's a few days before you need them (so they open to the max). It took me about 2 hours to make 8 for my kid and friends. Fun creative challenge to make in college colors for each kid.

Is this popular anywhere else in the country?

[Anonymous]

I am in Los Angeles and people stand outside schools selling them in the street. They're not real of course, but fabric versions.

[Anonymous]

It is cultural appropriation. It looks silly for white people to wear lei. Sorry, it just does. I guess it is acceptable in California? How do you feel about white people with corn rows?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cringe.

+1000 Don’t do it unless you are actually Hawaiian.

[Anonymous]

My kid got a ribbon neck thing from sports banquet. Is it a lei? It would not have occurred to me to call it that. Do kids wear them at graduation?

I feel like it’s not cultural appropriation unless it’s kukui nut or Lily or plumeria or something traditional. Haven’t people all around the world been garlanded with roses and other flowers or leaves for celebratory purposes? And a candy necklace doesn’t seem particularly appropriatory.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is cultural appropriation. It looks silly for white people to wear lei. Sorry, it just does. I guess it is acceptable in California? How do you feel
about white people with corn rows?

The whole “cultural appropriation” concept is stupid. Get over it. People are allowed to wear what they want. Other cultures can wear western or Caucasian styles, but the reverse isn’t okay? Pffffft!