Merrie Monarch Festival: What the Flowers and Lei in Hula Really Mean

One of the wonderful aspects of watching the Merrie Monarch Festival hula competition every year in Hilo, Hawaii, is seeing the beautiful Hawaiian flowers the hula dancers wear. Adorned with intricate Hawaiian lei in vibrant hues of red, orange, green, and yellow, dancers wear leis around their wrists, ankles, necks, and head.

In traditional Hawaiian hula—especially during the Merrie Monarch Festival—every flower, lei, and plant carries deep cultural symbolism and meaning.

Types of Lei Worn by Hula Dancers

What do the flowers mean and why do different dancers wear different colored flowers? Hula dancers wear three different types of lei:

• lei po‘o (head lei)
• lei ‘a‘i (neck lei)
• kupe‘e (lei for wrist and ankles)

Every hula dance tells a story. That story, whether it be about a person or event, dictates the flowers that will be used in the lei worn by the dancers. The kumu hula (hula teacher) takes many factors into consideration when deciding which flowers to use in a hula.

Sacred Hawaiian Plants Used in Hula

Some plants are considered sacred to particular Hawaiian gods and goddesses and are used to represent those deities. For example, ‘ie‘ie and maile are considered sacred to Laka, the goddess of hula, while lehua flowers from the ‘ōhi‘a tree are sacred to Pele, the volcano goddess. If you see hula dancers wearing red lehua flowers, then you know their dance is in reference to Pele. However, red and yellow lehua (mamo) are also significant to ali‘i (Hawaiian royalty), and mamo often indicates lineage or offspring.

Flowers That Represent Each Hawaiian Island

Flowers and the type of lei can also represent different Hawaiian islands. For a hula about Queen Emma, a kumu hula might choose ‘ilima, because Queen Emma was from Oahu, and ‘ilima is the official flower of Oahu. If the hālau (hula school) performing the dance about Queen Emma is from Hawai‘i Island, the dancers might wear neck leis made of ‘ilima with lei po‘o made of liko lehua to symbolize the hālau’s connection to the Big Island.

Plants that Represent a Sacred Symbol

Plants such as a‘ali‘i and ti leaf don’t belong exclusively to any particular god, goddess, or island, but they are still essential in Hawaiian culture. One of the most common plants seen at the Merrie Monarch Festival is the ti plant. Considered a sacred symbol of the gods and an emblem of divine power, ti leaves are seen as a sign of protection against negative energy. Ti leaves are also used in the skirts worn by dancers performing kahiko, the ancient style of hula.

Lei Chosen for Durability and Tradition

Laua’e and palapalai ferns are usually worn by dancers around their wrists and ankles. These plants are hearty enough to withstand the movements of active dancers, and since the leis are made days before the competition, they need to be long-lasting. Palapalai also represents the goddesses Hi‘iaka (Pele’s sister) and Laka, making it especially meaningful in traditional hula performances.

The Cultural Importance of the Merrie Monarch Festival

Hilo town on the Big Island of Hawaii has had the honor to host the Merrie Monarch Festival since it began in 1963. Hilo town comes more alive than ever during the annual presentation of this event. The festival is considered the world’s premier forum for people of all ages to display their skills and knowledge of the art of ancient and modern hula. Throughout the celebration, thousands of people in Hawaii and all over the world are learning about the art of hula, as well as the history and culture of Hawaii. If you’re interested in diving deeper into Hawaiian culture and hula, be sure to explore our related posts. You can learn about:

• Traditional hula instruments
• History of hula in Hawai’i
• History of Lei Day in Hawai`i

These additional insights help bring even more meaning to the artistry you see at the Merrie Monarch Festival.