On Chinese (Lunar) New Year’s Day, one is not to do any work, but I didn’t mind creating something new for a gentleman who asked if I could make a lei for his boat being launched that day.
I enjoy making fresh lei, and my crew and I have made scores of the garlands for yachts that have finished trans Pacific crossings.
So I gathered the materials from my garden: green ti leaves, alaheʻe (native mock orange), kupukupu fern, and cherry.
They didn’t really need any cleaning. A quick rinse with water and trimming off the stems from the ti was enough.
I made the lei wili style—“wili” means to wind—using 924 (24 gauge) paddle wire from the floral crafts store.
We had agreed on a price for an eight-foot length, but I wanted to use all the material I picked, so the lei became ten feet long.
It was a gorgeous January day, and I was able to meet the customer at 2 pm at the Kaneohe Yacht Club bar. “I’ll be the one with the big lei,” I said.
As you can see, the lei fit perfectly, and the customer gave me a tip. That’s what I mean by “gentleman.”
Welina mai kāua e “Seas the Day”! I hope you catch lots of fish!
Love,
Rebekah
Rebekah’s Studio 
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