MOTHER'S PLAYING FAVORITES

LEI MAKING WITH MELEANA

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As a child, Meleana watched her tutu (Hawaiian for grandmother) craft exceptionally beautiful flower leis and distribute them to the people of her community, spreading endless joy to friends, family and strangers. As an adult, Meleana remained deeply touched and fascinated by the traditional practice, and has devoted her life to the art of lei making. A lover of fashion, the ocean and ohana (family), Meleana gives MOTHER a look into her life as a professional lei maker, mother and lover of Earth.

Photo Courtesy of Meleana Estes

Three things we should know about you:

I am a native Hawaiian shaped by my fashion- and flower-loving Tūtū (grandmother), our Hawaiian culture and my wonderful time living in the cities of New York and Sydney! 

I jump in the ocean every day (the best days are with my son!) 

I mix up a pretty lovely cocktail, especially when made with citrus from our ‘ohana (family) property on Kaua’i! 

Describe your personal style:

I love love a vintage dress moment (those bright floral prints were especially great in the 70’), but mix that in with a chic and feminine vibe – who doesn’t love a beautiful ruffle?!  I keep trying to be a little more biker-cool, but wind up reverting to Jane Birkin on a Hawai’i vacation.  

Your first memory of lei making:

I  remember sitting next to  my Tūtū at her lei table with her big plastic fish watering tub filled with palapalai fern, watching her hands work fast selecting the just right flower combinations and feeling the warmth and love she put into her lei and to me!  I could not have been more than 4 years old but this was a spot I always loved to be.

When you realized you wanted to devote your career to lei making:

When I returned home from living in New York, I felt this pull and responsibility (or Kūleana, as we say in Hawaiian) to share my love of lei and the tradition I was raised in with my Tūtū as a lei maker. I couldn’t show up to a gathering without a lei for someone, just as my Tutu had done. Being something I grew up with,  I was surprised at how it was an unexpected expression of my own creative side (mixing colors and textures), and I found that they were very well received! This sort of started it all. I feel so lucky that I can share this very rich, vibrant part of our Hawaiian culture with the world.

The best advice your mother gave you:

My mother is such a brilliant, thoughtful person who’s filled with huge fun, spunk, and devotion to her ‘Ohana and causes. She is so present in everything she does. One thing she always says, in watching relationship ups and downs and growing pains is,  “Love like you want to be loved”…. It can be hard to be the bigger person and be the one to trying harder (in all relationships), but she is right, it always is the most rewarding way to be!

Photo credit: Meleana Estes

The best advice you’ve given as a mother:

Eek! I have a 9 year old boy! He is dreamy! But I don’t know if I ever give advice because I am constantly figuring it out! One thing I tell myself over and over... is all he really needs is my love, adoration, and acceptance of who his little spirit turns out to be, the rest will fall into place. 

Describe the impact motherhood has had on your art:

I think motherhood gave me the confidence to believe in my art, especially lei making. Growing up with it, I didn’t realize I had any unique talent with it. A combination of really needing a creative outlet when he was young and having a new-found confidence and voice helped me assert myself in this art form.

Where you feel most at peace:

I feel a huge sense of peace right after I dive in the ocean and come up for a breath. floating on my back looking up at our beautiful world. It’s a quick moment but its so rejuvenating and calming.  

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