Necklace

Multiple fragments of a necklace (lei) made of abrus precatorius seeds.

Lei were among the most widespread types of adornment in Hawaiian society, worn by both men and women as necklaces or head wreaths. The term lei broadly referred to garlands encircling the neck or head, with distinctions sometimes made through descriptive terms such as lei ʻāʻī (neck lei) or by reference to the materials used. Lei functioned as markers of beauty, social identity, rank, and occasion. Common perishable lei were woven from flowers, leaves, vines, and fruits valued for their fragrance and visual appeal, while more permanent examples incorporated shells, seeds, nuts, teeth, ivory, and feathers.