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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, August 22, 2003

HAWAI'I GARDENS
'Na lei Makamae' helps foster deeper understanding of lei

By Heidi Bornhorst

"Na lei Makamae" can be interpreted in several ways. It can mean the cherished lei or the lei that last forever.

The title has a surface meaning and a deeper one: Just as lei are beautiful, artistic and fragrant, they have deeper, more symbolic and ancient meanings for Hawaiians. Each old, newly made and rediscovered lei, each word and its various explanations, led the authors and those who gave them kokua to deeper understandings of lei, of people and of Hawai'i.

This long-awaited book by two living Hawaiian treasures, Marie McDonald and Paul Weissich, with help from their many friends and relatives, has taken more than 10 years to write, research, recheck and photograph.

It is worth the wait.

The book is gorgeous, inspiring and there is so much to learn about and be inspired by. The pictures, most by Jean Cote, are stunning. The models are all at least part Hawaiian and come from various islands.

There is also an (almost authentic) old Hawaiian poi dog, representing the legendary mischievous yet faithful dog, the puapua lenalena, wearing a lei Hinano.

The photos were taken on the island where the mo'olelo, or story, about each lei plant took place. For example, manewanewa was photographed on Lana'i, with "Uncle" Solomon Kaopuiki as the model. (I almost didn't recognize him without his faithful cap and glasses).

Red 'ohi'a lehua was shot at Kilauea. Ma'o was taken at KoKo Crater on O'ahu. The lei, crafted by Marie, are creative, wonderful and historically accurate. The descriptive plant text is brief yet brimming with information and just a hint of poetry.

Na lei makamae is an ancient, pre-contact kind of Hawaiian lei. Nearly all of the lei are documented in the literature. Others were included in response to long-standing oral tradition.

The authors went back to old references, many of them in Hawaiian. They consulted with linguistic experts such as Kepa Maly and botanists like Michael McKenney to ensure the utmost accuracy.

There are mele in Hawaiian and English translations. A lei and artfully scattered blossoms of nuku 'o'i'wi, the native red jade vine, adorns the front cover of the book. (This flower, known in Latin as Strongylodon ruber, like many of the rare and endangered lei materials were gathered from gardens and cultivated sources).

The book itself is red, "a royal color" Weissich says.

Many of the poetic mele were composed by Pualani Kanaka'ole Kanahele. They are contemporary but in the old style. Native Hawaiian plants such as these are a gift and an inspiration to all of us.

Here is her poem about Ko'o loa ula, Abutilon menziesii or the red 'ilima:

"Aia I Lana'i Kaulahea
Ke kui'ia nei ka lei me ka pua laha'ole
'O ke Ko'oloa'ula ka nani Lana'i ...

There on Lana'i
The lei with the rare flower is being strung
The Ko'oloa'ula is the beauty of Lana'i"

There will be a kickoff program at Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden Sept. 13. It is in part a mahalo to all who gave our kokua for the book, and the book will be available for purchase for the first time.

There will also be a native Hawaiian plant sale and supportive contemporary arts and crafts in the old style on display in the garden gallery. Also shown will be 48 enlargements of images from the book. Docents will be on hand to talk story about the images and the book.

Some of the top growers of Hawaiian plants will be at Ho'omaluhia. The event is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call the Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens at 537-1708.

Native plants work in a water garden

Q. Are there some native Hawaiian plants that can be used in the new and old craze of water gardening?

— Chip Hartman, Pupukea

A. Yes. Makaloa, kalo for the nonpurist (and foodie), pu'u ka'a, ihi ihi lauakea, our native four-leaf clover looking endangered fern are some natives for your water garden. Ahu awa is another great native sedge for your water or bog garden. It also makes a handsome old-time lei.

Neke is a Polynesian-introduced water fern that is found in taro paddies and wetlands such as Ukoa out in Hale'iwa. This is a tough and handsome water fern. It makes nice lei, too.

It is one of the ancient na lei makamae kinds of lei. It keeps the wearer cool and smells fabulous.

Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable-landscape consultant.