Hawaiian money leis are given as gifts at weddings, graduations, birthdays and other special occasions. Traditionally, Hawaiian leis are meant to symbolize gifts of love, appreciation and respect. Leis can also be used to invoke a greeting or farewell, which explains the popular use of leis in welcoming arriving travelers and during the more solemn customs of Hawaiian funerals. In modern times, the money lei has become a sentimental alternative to giving cash gifts.
Supplies
In order to construct a money lei you will need approximately 100 one dollar bills. For larger leis plan on using up to 500 one dollar bills. To incorporate less money simply use origami paper cut to the same shape and size of a dollar bill and use these paper shapes as substitutions for bills throughout the lei. Adding decorative flourishes into the design of the lei, like beading or flowers, is another option for decreasing the amount of money necessary for completion.
Ribbon is the easiest material to use for the base of the lei. Cut a ribbon to the length of the lei desired. This can be anywhere from 2 to 4 feet depending on how large you would like your final product to be. Allow an extra 12 inches for tying the ribbon together at the end. Cut pieces of thin ribbon, about 6 inches long, will also be needed for each folded bill. Any excess ribbon can be trimmed with scissors once the lei has been formed.
Folding the Money
Each bill will be folded into a pleated fan. To accomplish this lay one bill in front of you on a flat surface. Turn the bill sideways so that one short end of the rectangle is facing you. Fold one end of the bill over the top of itself about a half an inch thick. Turn the bill over. Repeat this half inch fold on the same end of the bill. You should now have two folds on top of one another. Repeat these steps until the entire bill is folded into a half inch strip. If you prefer smaller pleats fold into ¼ inch folds instead.
Completing the Lei
Use a 6 inch cut of ribbon for each folded bill. Tie the ribbon tightly to the center of each bill. Spread the bill into a fan by pulling the outer corners of each side towards one another. If your folds are not holding you can use double sided tape to secure the edges of the fan in place to make a complete circle.
Use the remaining ribbon on the pleated fan to attach it to the large ribbon for the base of the lei. Continue attaching folded fans until the lei is full. Tie a knot or ribbon as desired at the end of the lei to attach the open ends.
Tags: half inch, bill over, dollar bills, each folded, each folded bill, folded bill