Expert: Malia - 5/28/2006

Question
What is the traditional name for the hair flower that women wear?

Answer
Aloha Jennifer,
Women wear different flowers in their hair.
It can be a gardenia, a plumeria or a hibiscus.
They come in different colors and it always depends on the season when they bloom.
On the left ear, it means you are married, engaged or with someone, on the right ear you are free.
The Hawaiian name for flower is "pua" ( pronounced "poo-ah" ).
Hibiscus is our state flower and its Hawaiian name is
"aloalo" pronounced "ah-low-ah-low".
For the plumeria it is "melia" pron."may-lee-ah", but melia also means quiet ocean.
As for Gardenia it is "kiele" pron. "key-eh-lay".
Women also wear puakinikini flowers and others.
I would say the most common is the Plumeria, but there is no specific flower only that women wear, also no specific name for the art of wearing flowers in hair or behind ear.
Aloha no!
Malia