Maile
Scientific Name: Alyxia oliviformis
Natural Setting / Location: endemic to Hawaiian Islands; found in vegetation zones on all main islands
Maile is a native twining shrub with dark green leaves. Its primary characteristic is its everlasting fragrance. The vines of the maile shrub are skillfully stripped into strands that are twisted together to make a lei. The lei maile is generally worn open-ended, but a closed maile lei can also be created.
Lei maile are not easy to make, and hold a high place of respect amongst other lei; therefore, it’s given for special occasions of high honor. Traditionally, maile is associated with Laka, the goddess of hula, and therefore is a primary lei found in hula practices.
