The way some of us like to usher our Christmas holidays in Hawai'i...is foraging for natural material and making our lovely Hawaiian style wreaths...
If you don't have some of the plants growing in your yard or a neighbor that will let you pick them you need to get a special permit to go up to the Hawaii National Volcanoes Park grounds or up on the slopes of Mauna Kea to pick some of the greens, flowers and berries.
The permit is free and good for two days, and you need to display it on your car dash if you park anywhere to pick along the roads or forests.
The proper protocol for picking is to first "ask permission" of the forest deities as you enter the forest. This is a must. Brenda in photo above asking permission and making an offering of a ti lei. Then you proceed to pick, but only what you will be using and not strip a bush or plant completely. A good rule of thumb to follow is to take only from 3 to 6, 3" tips from each plant, so as not to disturb the plant.
A group of friends likes to get together and forage for our natural material and have wreath making parties. We meet at the home of a friend, then drive to the best foraging areas and spend a couple of hours picking and gathering...we later get together at the home of a friend and start making our wreaths, with a fun stop for a potluck lunch and then continue on until we finish... Gail and Nancy picking in one of our favorite areas.
My wreath during one of our wreath making parties in the photo above.
In many of the photos below illustrating the how-to, you will notice the use of the buds, blooms and green tips of the ʻōhiʻa lehua which, since ancient time, has been considered a symbol of strength by the Hawaiians. The flower is the favorite of Madame Pele and represents the Big Island of Hawaii...but in the last few years, conscientious wreath makers are not using any parts of this plant to avoid spreading the ōhiʻa virus which sadly has affected a large portion of trees on the island. These wreaths were made in years past, before we were made aware of the fungus.
Ancient lore tells us that you must not pick or wear the lehua blossoms on your way up to visit Kilauea Volcano, but it does not forbid you from picking or wearing it when you arrive or on your way out of the forest or Madame Pele will make it rain. When we were able to pick from the trees, we always waited to pick them until we are almost ready to leave.
Liz making one of her wreaths at another wreath making party.
We might not have the 'traditional' greens, berries and pine cones associated with a mainland Christmas, but there are many beautiful greens, flowers and berries to choose from when you go foraging for your own wreath material in the forests of Hawaii
Uluhe and palapalai, laua'e and whisk ferns are often used in the making of the wreaths, as well as 'club moss' and Wawae'iole fern that resembles little clusters of chenille pipe cleaners.
The berries and the tiny, sort of prickly leaves of the pukiawe plant are also used. The berries can be red, pink or white even on the same bush and the use of bits of this plant give your wreath a light airy look.
Another berry and leaves that are interesting to use is that of the 'ohelo, although we rarely if ever pick them in areas where the Hawaiian Nene, our State birds, make their home, because they like to feed on them.
Other plants such as the Uki grass are also used, especially when the "flower heads" have dried. I also like to use the lance-like leaves of the koa tree
There are a few other bits of plant material and grasses I like to use in the wreaths but have not found the names of them yet...one grows in long piney shoots along the top of the ground and has plump and round black berries on them; another grows tall and straight and has leaves that are slightly fleshy.
Much of what we gather will age well as it dries and the wreaths sometimes can last years!
Supplies to take for harvesting:
....and please, no leaving opala (trash, refuse, litter, rubbish) behind when you leave!
Supplies for making wreaths:
Wire to make a hanging loop
One of the perks of making Hawaiian Wreaths with all native material is that they usually dry well and can last a long time..long past the holidays.
If you buy the wreaths already made, they can run from $50 - $75 for one made on a 10" to $125 for a 12" frame and up to $150 or more for a large one made using a 14" to 16" frame.
Wrap a straw wreath frame with ti leaves. - after removing the center stem. Secure the ends with fern pins (see the metal pins in the little plastic tub at the one o'clock position)
I like to cover the inside of the wreath with uluhe (Dicranopteris linearis) ferns, because it grows abundantly in certain locations and it dries beautifully. I also use some of the uluhe tips when making my "little bouquets' with the other fresh material.
Gather a few tips of different type materials and make small 'bouquets' with them...start placing and pinning them on the wreath form, all going the same direction
Continue making little 'bouquets' of fresh greenery, mosses, berry cluster and seed pods or spent flower heads - anything that looks good and will last while the wreath dries. Continue pinning them all going the same direction...as close to the previous little bouquet cluster as you can so as not to leave any gaps as the greenery dries.
Finished wreath, ready to hang or to use as a candle base... Mist with a water spray every day to keep it fresh as long as possible. I like my wreaths full and sort of 'free form" instead of following a pattern using the same type material to form designs. There are some lovely wreaths made following a pattern design, but I love the spontaneity of my 'free for all'
For more on Hawaiian Wreaths and wreath-making click on the following links:
Hawaiian Style Christmas Wreath Demo at Kino'ole Farmers Market
A Hawaiian Christmas Wreath Making Party
More Hawaiian Christmas Wreaths
