Title: Lei

General Information about the item:

• Genre and sub genre: Customary and material folklore: custom, arts, clothing
• Language: Hawaiian/English
• Country: USA

Informant data:

• Zoe Leonard ’19 from Honolulu, O’ahu. Born in Hawaii and grew up their until coming to Dartmouth.

Contextual data:

• Social context: fiving is a way that people adorn others for congratulations or aloha (love). Often times when someone accomplishes something great or are celebrating something important.
• Cultural context: The lei is a symbol of festivity, accomplishment, and happiness and marks someone who is loved or important. It is a custom because leis are carefully crafted and beautiful adornments and because they are time consuming to make, are only for special occasions.

Item:

• The act of lei (flower necklace) giving. The act of lei (flower necklace) fiving is a way that people adorn others for congratulations or aloha (love). Often times when someone accomplishes something great or are celebrating something important.

Collector: Aaryndeep Rai