now to Make a Traditional Hawaiian Lei by Alexander Gehring L ei making is a very rich and time-honored tradition of 1 at the stems using a square knot

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now to Make a Traditional Hawaiian Lei by Alexander Gehring L ei making is a very rich and time-honored tradition of 1 at the stems using a square knot. Finally, fringe the leaves Hawaii. Leis were first introduced to the islands from by making small strips in them. You now have an authentic early Polynesian settlers traveling across the Pacific from Hawaiian lei that you can wear or give to a friend. Tahiti. Traditional leis can be made from just about any- There are, however, a few unspoken rules to keep in thing you can find in nature. Flowers, leaves, shells, feath- mind when receiving a lei from someone. The giving of a ers, and even bone and teeth of various animals can be lei is a friendly celebration and should never be refused used. Early Hawaiians constructed and wore leis as a way Also, it is considered disrespectful to remove a lei when in to beautify and to distinguish themselves from others. the presence of the person who gave it to you. To wear a The most significant of all leis is the Maile lei The Maile 2 lei, gently drape it over your shoulders, allowing it to hang lei is known as the "lei of royalty" and is given as a sign of down in both the front and back. respect and honor. In the past they were used as an offer- Hawaiian leis are a fun part of any celebration. Most ing during times of war. The two opposing chiefs would people appreciate them and greet them with a smile. Leis intertwine the Maile vine, officially establishing peace are universal and can be given at almost any event. The between the tribes. Today, they are reserved for special next time you want to make someone feel special, make and memorable occasions such as weddings, birthdays, him or her an authentic Hawaiian lei. graduations, and elections. In a traditional Hawaiian wed- ding the Kahuna (Hawaiian priest) will use the Maile lei QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION ] and tie the hands of the bride and groom together signify- ing their commitment to one another. When students in 1. Look back through the essay and identify some of Hawaii graduate from school, they receive so many leis the different writing strategies that Gehring uses to that sometimes it is hard to see their faces. explain how to make a Hawaiian lei. Why does this The fringed ti leaf lei is one of the oldest and simplest leis a combination approach work well for this topic? to make. To make one, all you need are two large ti leaves. If 2. Does the author use any words that are new to you? you are lucky enough to live in an area where ti plants are Do you think he defines them sufficiently? Why or native, then all you need to do is pick your leaves and wash why not? them. If not, you can order them on the Internet. Ti leaves come in two colors: green and red. Traditionally, green 3. Do you have enough information to actually make a leaves are used when making leis, but the choice is yours. lei? Explain Before making the lei, you need to remove the stiff center 4 4. Could any parts of the essay be illustrated with a vein of the leaf. To do this, make a shallow cut on the back- graphic? Which parts would benefit most? What side of the leaf along the vein, being careful not to cut all the would you include? way through the leaf. After you have made your cut, strip off 5. Which part of the essay is most interesting or memo the vein with your fingers. Next, tie the two leaves together rable? Why?