If you want a kukui nut lei in custom colors, it's not always possible to find someone who sells the right pre-made combination. Using the tips in this wikiHow, you can fairly easily create your own if you have the right tools and supplies.
1Start with 32 loose kukui nuts and ribbon (3/8" or 1/4" / 9.5mm or 6.35mm width) in the colors you want included in the lei; It helps to have a kukui nut threader which will help you get the ribbon through the holes in the kukui nuts.Ad
2Cut two pieces of ribbon to 82 inches (208cm) length.
3Tie a knot in the two pieces of ribbon approximately 10 inches (25cm) from the end.
4Place a kukui nut on the threader by pushing the metal through the pre-drilled hole in the kukui nut. If you have a variety of sizes, use the smallest kukui nut because this will be the part of the kukui nut lei that ties behind the neck. If you can place smaller kukui nuts toward the tied end and the biggest ones right in the middle, it will create a higher quality end product.
5Thread the ribbon through the threader tool wires above the kukui nut.
6Pull the kukui nut over the ribbon. This will result in the kukui nut being threaded by both strands of ribbon.
7Pull the kukui nut to the end of the ribbon where you created the knot earlier.
8Tie a knot after the kukui nut so that it is surrounded by two knots which will hold it in place. The closer you get the second knot to the kukui nut, the better the final quality of the kukui nut lei will be.
9Alternate colors if you want and continue to strand kukui nuts onto the ribbon. Remember to use larger kukui nuts near the center of the lei and place a tight knot in between each kukui nut.
10After all 32 kukui nuts have been added to the lei, tie a bow at the end using the 10 inches (25cm) of extra ribbon on each end.
11Share your Aloha with someone by giving them your creation!Ad
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|How to make a kukui nut lei from scratch|
Recent edits by: JKL1234, Zareen, Flickety
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