30 Things Tourists Should Never Do in Hawaii

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Refuse a Lei Flowers

Source: https://www.flowerleis.com/

One of the first places where people will see a lei being given is at the airports of Hawaii. A lei, in Hawaiian culture, is a wreath of flowers presented upon arriving or leaving as a symbol of affection and aloha. The proper way to wear a lei is gently draped over the shoulders, hanging down from both the front and back. Likely so, it is considered rude to refuse to wear a garland of flowers if someone offers it. It’s also inappropriate to remove it in front of the person who gave it to you. Keep it on for at least a while, to show that the positive gesture is accepted and appreciated. A Hawaiian lei, is traditionally  not be thrown away, but returned to the land; preferably where the flowers or seeds were initially gathered. Lei were returned to the earth either by hanging them from the tree, burying or burning the lei. In modern times, this ritual is no longer a common practice. These days Hawaii residents do typically keep lei, either allowing them to bring fragrance to a room at home, or a car.