Should I wear a lei to a luau?

Attend any Hawaiian luau and there is one constant you can count on: you'll be presented with a lei of some kind, and it's customary to keep it on while you're in the company of those that offered it to you. At least, that's what the tradition of the lei dictates.



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One last note about respect; and please, we cannot emphasize this enough: Unless you are Hawaiian or are very intimately familiar with the culture, do not throw or attend a party deemed a “luau.” Culture is an identity- not a party theme.

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  • Don't remove sand from the beach. A small container of sand sounds like a cool souvenir, especially if taken from a black- or red-sand beach, but doing so is considered bad luck. ...
  • Don't take any lava rocks from Volcanoes National Park. ...
  • Don't take any pork over the Pali. ...
  • Don't bring bananas on a boat.


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Anyone can wear an aloha shirt without risking offense to Hawaiians. Hawaiians didn't invent them; they didn't exist until well into the 1900s, and were originated (reputedly) by a Chinese merchant based on colorful Japanese prints, in a Honolulu dry goods store.

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There does not currently appear to be a strong sentiment among Native Hawaiians that the shirt should not be worn by non-Hawaiian people. This is likely because a Hawaiian shirt isn't a religious or historically ceremonial item of clothing. Therefore, it's usually okay to wear a Hawaiian shirt.

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