25 September 2014 - As part of its Gender and Development (GAD) activities for 2014, the Philippine Consulate General in Honolulu held a cultural and financial awareness seminar through a lei (or flower garland) making session for around 30 participants, including female personnel and dependents of the Philippine Consulate General on September 19 at the Philippine Consulate General grounds.

The resource speaker for the session, who was strongly recommended by the Honolulu Mayor’s Office for Culture and the Arts, was Ms. Louise Alina, hailed as the 2014 Lei Queen of the City and County of Honolulu during the May Day Parade last May 2014.

Lei Queen Louise demonstrated basic lei making which involved the stringing of loose orchid and plumeria heads into a basic single strand flower lei. She also shared the history of the lei, the Hawaiian custom of aloha through the giving and receiving of the lei, and lei etiquette.

Given its popularity, Ms. Louise mentioned that many small and medium scale businesses in the state rely heavily on the lei making industry, a profitable source of income capitalizing on this livelihood skill. Lei making courses conducted across the state can provide entrepreneurs with a head start on how to turn their newly acquired skill into a lucrative business. 

Towards the end of the activity, Philippine Consul General Gina A. Jamoralin presented Ms. Louise with a Certificate of Appreciation to thank her sharing her time and knowledge on lei making and entrepreneurship with the participants. END