Today, the most unforgettable and enjoyable tradition is the gift of lei. According to this tradition, lei are given with a kiss, and the lei can only be removed in the absence of the person who put it on you.
The variety of lei is limited only by the imagination of the maker: lei range from simple lei made of a single strand of orchid or tuberose flowers, which are used to greet new arrivals to the islands, to more complex lei made of rare flowers, depending on the importance of the event. Legends are a large part of Hawaiian culture. The ancient inhabitants of Hawaii were famous for their ability to tell stories.
Legends captured history, knowledge, facts and beliefs. Quite well-known legends include the story of the demigod Maui, who raised the island from the bottom of the sea; the story of the evil, deceitful and envious goddess of volcanoes and lava Pele and her sister Poliahu, the goddess of snow. There are legends about Kumulipo, which tell of the creation of the Hawaiian Islands, and fishing legends about shark gods.
Hawaiian culture is rich in superstitions and omens, which the islanders continue to believe in. Rain and rainbows are blessings from the gods. Rain during a wedding ceremony is a special blessing. Bananas bring bad luck if taken on board a ship, it is considered bad luck to step over a baby lying on the floor, or to wear a lei garland during pregnancy. A newer superstition is that you should not take pieces of lava from volcanoes, as this can bring bad luck to a person.