He Lei Poʻina ʻole ke Aloha - Love is a lei never forgotten
Our story
Ho‘omanaʻo Lei was born from a deep calling—to uplift the sacredness of lei and restore the reverence that this tradition holds in our culture. Our name, Hoʻomanaʻo Lei, speaks to the spiritual honoring of lei, recognizing each one as more than adornment. It is ceremony. It is remembrance. It is healing.
Pono was born and raised on the island of Molokaʻi and now resides on Hawaiʻi Island, where he carries the teachings of his kūpuna in every lei he creates. He began making lei at just seven years old—his first was a Hilo-style tī leaf lei for his school’s May Day celebration. In high school, he continued to grow in this practice alongside his good friend Tory Taboniar of Anahola, Kauaʻi, while both attended Kamehameha Schools Kapālama. Since then, Pono has had the honor of showcasing his ʻaʻaliʻi lei on the exclusive lei shirt at the 2024 Merrie Monarch Festival and was featured at the Four Seasons Hualālai May Day Celebration.
Kaikea, born and raised in Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i, learned the art of lei making from his late mother, Shana, who lovingly crafted lei for family gatherings and graduations. Surrounded by ʻōlapa—his mom, sisters, and even himself—Kaikea often helped prepare lei for performances, continuing a tradition deeply rooted in expression and aloha. His mother once danced in the Merrie Monarch Festival and performed on cruise ships, sharing Hawaiian culture far beyond our shores. Today, Kaikea honors her memory by continuing the practice of lei making, keeping her legacy—and the heartbeat of Hawaiian culture—alive in every strand.
Ho‘omanaʻo Lei exists not to commercialize a practice, but to keep it sacred. Through every lei, we honor our land, our language, our ancestors, and our people. At Hoʻomanaʻo Lei, our mission is to share Hawaiian culture, history, and language with both kānaka and non-kānaka across the pae ʻāina and the continent through the art and cultural practices of lei making. So wherever you are, near or far, you can always have a piece of Hawaiʻi with you.
Picked with care
Each flower is gathered with deep intention, rooted in the Native Hawaiian values of mālama ʻāina (care for the land) and aloha ʻāina (love for the land). We harvest mindfully — never taking more than we need, and always offering gratitude to the ʻāina and the plants that nourish our craft. We oli, ask permission, and honor the ʻano of each plant before it is woven into lei, bouquets, or adornments. Every pua and lau is selected for its freshness and beauty — so what you receive is not only handmade, but heart-led. This process is a reflection of our kuleana (responsibility) to our kūpuna, to the land, and to you.
