My Yellow Ginger Lei

My Yellow Ginger Lei by kaulumaika

The Mele 🎶

My yellow ginger lei
Reveals her scent through the day
Enchanting moments with you
Makes me love you.

Kuʻu lei awapuhi melemele
I puia me ke ala onaona
Hoohihi ka manao ia oe
E kuu lei awapuhi.

You’re as lovely as can be
My yellow ginger lei
My heart is yearning for you
My awapuhi.”

Haina ia mai
Ana ka puana
Kuu lei awapuhi melemele
Hooheno i ka puuwai.

My grandfather used to sing this song to my grandmother. It’s one of her favorite mele because of that, which makes it special to me too.

I chose this song as inspiration for a new design and put my spin on a lei awapuhi melemele. I know I used a lot of akala but there are hints and accents of melemele in there that stand out as would the scent of one of these lei if you happened to pass by. 

This version of lei awapuhi, lei awapuhi ma kai, reminds me of that sweet fragrance of ginger as I look out onto the ocean. 

Did you know that the first awapuhi in Hawaii was Polynesian Introduced? Zingerber zerumbet, commonly known as shampoo ginger was used by our kupuna medicinally and as a sweet scent.

I’m not exactly sure which variety of ginger is used in lei, but I don’t think it’s the shampoo one. 

Either way, these plants are beautiful and I have loved creating my awapuhi prints and fabric! I recently made a pillow case with this quilted design and it was so much fun! Here's a blog post about how I did it if you want to make one, too!

I’m starting off the year slow, but strong with a heart full from the most wonderful break. You know time to reset is important, but until you get it you just don’t know how much you needed it!! 

I’ll forever treasure the moments in the past couple of weeks that I got to slow down and just be present with my keiki and kane.

I look forward to 2025! One of my goals is to put out a new design every month so here’s one for Ianuali!

Which version is your favorite?