One of Hawaii's most colorful, and certainly most fragrant, traditions is the giving of lei. It is customary to give lei to guests of honor, speakers, and special guests like VIP. Some popular local customs are to give lei to someone celebrating a birthday or to decorate new graduates until they are up to their noses in garlands. In June of each year, the statue of King Kamehameha (located in Honolulu's Capital District) is draped with hundreds of feet of fresh floral lei. Lei etiquette suggests that an expression of aloha, such as a hug, accompany the giving of the lei.
