Leaf leis are made by braiding boiled, softened ti leaves. (I wanted to know what a ti plant looked like, so the instructor pointed out one growing in the hotel lobby, above.)
Two softened leaves are tied in a knot.
Held taut (as between the toes above) each leaf is twisted twice, then crossed over and twisted again, and so on, to form a long braid. If the leaves are twisted left, they are crossed over to the right, or vice versa.
Leaves are added by twisting them into the braid when about 10 centimeters or 4 inches remain. As they get longer, the braided leis can be held taut by attaching them to a chair or door knob.
When the lei is long enough to go around the neck and reach to about the waist, the ends are tied off and trimmed with scissors to look like the tips of the leaves. A ti leaf lei is more like a shawl than a necklace. To preserve it for a few weeks, it needs to be placed in a plastic bag in the fridge, wrapped in a damp paper towel. A leaf lie can also be shaped into a circle and left out to dry as a wreath.
Our instructor said: Giving someone a lei on a special day, like graduation, is like giving them a hug,
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