Wili Lei Making Workshop with Myrtle Wong

Join HTMC member Myrtle Wong and friends for a Wili Lei Making Workshop just in time for Lei Day! Although people often refer to the head lei as a “haku,” the style where flowers are wound for a head lei is called Wili.

Space is limited, and reservations will be required to attend. Mahalo for your interest—stay tuned! The reservation link will be posted on Monday April 13th. Mahalo! 

Event timeframe 3:00 – 5:30 pm

Please note: this event is on a Thursday and will start at 3pm because we need daylight to make the lei’s. If you can’t arrive until 4pm that should be fine. There will be no potluck for this event, but snacks are welcome.

Please bring your own lei making materials which include; scissors or clippers and cardboard boxes like soda bottle size or aluminum pans to hold your flowers, a water sprayer bottle to keep flowers fresh and old newspaper to wrap completed lei in – plus flowers, greenery and raffia. If needed, raffia will be provided, although a $5 fee will apply.

There are so many kinds of flowers that you can incorporate into head lei’s, the main criteria is that they are able to last, select a good size flower that has a good stem to attach it firmly when making the lei.

Suggestions for flowers; anthurium, akulikuli, anthurium, a’ali’i, hinahina, ‘ohi’a lehus, agertum, alyssum, dianthus, agapanthus, aster, baby’ breath, bozu, bleeding heart, blue jade, bougainvillea, bozo, carnation, celosia, crown flower, cup and saucer, daisy, green rose, roses,  hydrangea, ixora, joy weed, kalanchoe, marigold, mums, ‘ohai ali’i, orchids, pansy, protea, pohutukawa, pua kenikeni, roses and shrimp plant, statice, stephanitis, tuber rose, violets and zinnia.

Suggestions for greens kupukupu, moa, liko ohia, pala’a, palapalai, pohinahina, ti leaves, dracena, dusty miller, laua’e, panax, shinobu fern and Spanish moss.

If you are unable to find flowers along the trails, in your neighborhood or in your yard, you may purchase flowers from the supermarket, Whole Foods, Sam’s Club or Costco.

Before coming to the workshop you might want to consider what color palette you would like to use, then you can keep that in mind when you collect or purchase your flowers. When stored properly most of the flowers will hold until May Day.

HTMC events are open to non-members and guests, once you have received your email confirmation to attend this event non-members will receive a link to PayPal for the $5 clubhouse usage fee (if cash is preferred please bring exact change to the event). Mahalo!

The HTMC clubhouse is located in a residential area, a block from Waimanalo beach at 41-023 Puuone Street, Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795.