July 5th is the date we celebrate National Hawaii Day! This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about the state of Hawaii, the culture, the foods, the traditions…so many options. Since learning is more fun with an activity, we’ll throw one of those in by teaching you to make a paper Hawaiian Lei.
A Little Bit About the State of Hawaii
Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States on August 21, 1959. It is located about 2,000 miles off the coast of the mainland. Hawaii is the world’s largest island chain, comprised of 132 islands. There are eight main islands: Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kaho’olawe. The island of Kaho’olawe is uninhabited. Honolulu, which is located on the island of Oahu, is the state capital. The state bird is the nene and the state flower is the yellow hibiscus.
Volcanic hot spots created the state of Hawaii. When tectonic plates come together, a volcano can form. A hot spot occurs when a volcano forms on a tectonic plate and magma rises until it erupts. As the magma cools above the Earth’s surface, it forms new land. Since the plates are always moving, but the hot spot remains in one spot, the string of islands were created. The Big Island is home to Hawaii’s most active volcano, Kilauea, which has been erupting for over 30 years. The island becomes a littler larger each time it erupts.
The People and Culture of Hawaii
We were lucky to visit Hawaii and it was such a beautiful experience. The beaches and mountains gorgeous and the people are wonderful. Our visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center ranks high on my list of favorites. We learned so much about their history and how their culture is rich in tradition.
The first people to arrive to Hawaii came from Polynesia, over 1,500 years ago. They came by canoe, using the stars to guide them. About 500 years later, people from now Tahiti made their journey to the islands. In 1810, Hawaii named its first king, Kamehameha. Iolani Palace is the only royal building on U.S. soil and it still stands today. You are able to enter the Palace and take a tour.
Malama aina is a coveted value in Hawaii and means, “to take care of the land.” They understand the land provides so much to the people and it is their duty to take care of it. This also helps ensure that future generations can continue to thrive on the same land. Hula is an artform that tells a story, many times of historical events, and takes much training to master. The lei has become a symbol of Hawaii. The leis we know today are made of fresh flowers, but traditionally a Hawaiian Lei is made of flowers, bird feathers, shells, seeds, hair, or ivory. Leis were used to signify rank among the chiefs.
How to Make Your Own Hawaiian Lei
We decided to make our own lei to celebrate National Hawaii Day. Use any materials you have on hand including felt, fabric, foam, or even real flowers. This is a fun and easy craft that kids will be able to enjoy over and over again.
Materials
- Flower printable (free below)
- Cardstock paper – white or multiple colors
- String, cord, floss, yarn – anything that you can fit through a straw and tie around your neck
- Straws cut into 1-inch pieces
- Scissors
- Markers (optional)
Directions
First, decide how long you want your necklace and cut your string accordingly. The lei should be able to comfortably fit over your child’s head. For my four-year old we used a 30-inch piece of string and 21 flowers, leaves, and straw pieces. Make sure to leave room at the ends to tie together.
Download and print the free flower printable below. It is one download that contains three options. You can print the colored flowers and leaves on white cardstock. The other options are to print the blank flowers and leaves on white cardstock and let your child color them in or print on colored cardstock of your choosing. Cut them out and add a small hole to the middle of the flowers and leaves that will fit the string of your choosing. Make sure the hole is not bigger than the width of your straw.
Next, cut your straws into 1-inch pieces, we used five straws. You will need one piece of straw for each flower/leaf combo. If you have 20 flowers you will need 20 pieces of 1-inch straw. When your materials are ready, begin stringing your lei. Alternate between flower/leaf and straw. Tie the ends of the strings together when finished. Put on your Hawaiian Lei and spread the word about National Hawaii Day!
Stringing the flower 
Stringing the leaf directly after the flower 
Stringing the straw directly after the leaf
Happy Learning!
