Sunday, September 29, 2013

Maui has a hundred or so active feather lei artists, another 100 are retired and at least another 100 that have been taught but do not currently make feather lei whether traditional as the lei kamoe or lei poe poe , contemporary as in lei humu papa, lokelani and others.

The art of feather lei requires hours of free time to prep feathers - measure then cut each feather, separate the first cut, second cut, lei are more consistent when the feathers are all the same size, 2 ounces of goose about 3 hours prep time
  prepare base - felt for lei humu papa, yarn and satin ribbon for traditional styles of lei kamoe, lei poepoe, lei lokelani, lei maui gold (and other style of lei wiliwili)
  attachment method
                        a)in traditional lei feathers are tied on wili wili style one feather at a time, progressing down the length of the lei  in a slow steady spiral
                        b)in lei humu papa also known as hawaiian feather hatband
sewing an experienced artist may sew 2 or more inches and hour, a beginner much less                                lei length is so varied
                                     average lei kamoe lei humu papa 27 to 30 inches
                                     lei kolohala po o 16 or so inches
                                     lei humu papa for cowboy hat 22 to 29 inches

stitches =  length and tension of stitches will play as much a part in the final price as the feathers and execution of the lei
Again varies by artist, an average lei poepoe at 30 inches long goes for $300 plus supplies - about $10 an hour, an experienced artist lei will start at $12 per inch

ISSUE   --   at what point does the lei become too expensive (?)