THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Learn traditional Hawaiian lei-kui and lei a‘i techniques from guest lei maker Gina Kananipua in a focused, two-hour class beside The Lei Garden Pond. Leave with a handmade lei, cultural context about native materials, and skills to repeat the craft at home.
Learn traditional Hawaiian lei-kui and lei a‘i techniques from guest lei maker Gina Kananipua in a focused, two-hour class beside The Lei Garden Pond. Leave with a handmade lei, cultural context about native materials, and skills to repeat the craft at home.
Book with Common Ground Kauai
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Common Ground Kauai · Kilauea, Hawaii
On the North Shore of Kauaʻi, in the small town of Kilauea, the Specialty Kui Lei Class with Gina Kananipua turns morning light into a lesson in place and practice. Held beside the Lei Garden Pond under an open lei tent, this two-hour workshop gathers up to twelve students for a slow, deliberate session of lei kui and lei a‘i making using local florals, shells, wood, and leaves. Gina Kananipua, a renowned lei maker from O'ahu, leads hands-on instruction that balances technique, the seasonal rhythms of plant materials, and the cultural context behind each knot and braid. The class is designed for learners age eight and up who want to make something by hand and understand why certain plants are prized for lei. Expect to begin check-in at 8:45AM and move through paced demonstrations, guided practice, and time for questions. The setting - the shaded tent, the nearby pond, and the unpaved paths that lead across the property - matters: students handle delicate tufts of flowers and fragile shells sourced for their scent, texture, and local significance. You leave with your finished lei, a clear technique for repeating the style, and stories about island materials and seasonality. What makes this offering stand out in Kauaʻi’s outdoor-recreation scene is its combination of craft, ecology, and cultural instruction. Rather than a quick craft table, this is a specialty class with a guest teacher; the syllabus is intimate and intentional. Flora are introduced in context - how coastal and native species behave through the seasons, which leaves hold scent best, and how shells and wood are used respectfully. In short, it’s a hands-on cultural exchange that connects visitors directly to a place they may only briefly visit. Practical notes: the workshop will be in open air and requires walking on unpaved ground; let organizers know about physical accommodations ahead of time. Drinks are available for purchase but not included. Bring comfortable clothing for sitting and light movement, sun protection, and a small bag for your finished lei. The one-time special class listed for Thursday, March 12th is an opportunity to learn a different lei style than more general sessions. Why book it? If your trip to Kauaʻi is about more than photo ops - if you want tactile learning, a quiet morning with a cultural teacher from O'ahu, and a keepsake made by your own hands - this Specialty Kui Lei Class with Gina Kananipua delivers a focused, respectful experience that deepens appreciation for native materials and the practices that shape Hawaiian place-making. Sessions meet at The Lei Garden Pond and cap at twelve students, allowing close guidance. Ages eight and up are welcome. The relaxed pace rewards curiosity, and instruction stresses seasonal sourcing, plant stewardship, and respect for Hawaiian cultural practice.
easy.
2 hours.
Light — able to sit, stand, and do fine handwork for two hours
Meet at The Lei Garden Pond. Check-in time is 8:45AM and the instructor will begin group instruction promptly.
The class is open to participants age eight and up; younger students should be comfortable sitting and following hands-on instruction.
Yes — each participant leaves with the finished lei they made during the workshop.
Drinks are available for purchase but are not included in the class price.
The workshop is in an open-air tent and requires walking through unpaved areas; please contact organizers ahead of time for physical accommodation requests.
Yes — photography is welcomed, but be mindful of instructors and other students; close-up shots of hands and materials make strong images.
Lei making is a long-standing Hawaiian cultural practice that uses seasonal, locally gathered materials to mark relationships and occasions.
The class emphasizes respectful sourcing and plant stewardship; avoid removing native material outside sanctioned programs and follow instructor guidance.
Common Ground Kauai is a regenerative farm and experiential venue located in Kilauea, Hawaii on the island's north shore. The property operates guided farm tours, farm-to-table dinners, lei-making workshops, and themed events that connect visitors to Kauai's agricultural and cultural traditions. Guests can choose from experiences such as multi-course Dinner Experiences, combined Farm Experience, Dinner & Lei Workshop, or hands-on Farm, Field & Forest activities that include planting and harvesting. The Farm & Food Experience highlights exotic local produce and sustainable growing methods, while Salt & Color showcases local art, music, and ocean-inspired food in a community-driven event. Meals served at Common Ground Kauai feature ingredients sourced from the on-site regenerative food forest and regional suppliers, presented family-style to encourage shared dining. Lei making tutorials use freshly gathered natural materials and include instruction on cultural significance and crafting techniques. Guided tours explain sustainable farming practices, crop diversity, and ecosystem connections observed across the fields and forest. Common Ground Kauai operates a small retail shop for locally made products and offers scenic walks to a historic stone dam located nearby. The venue emphasizes education, hands-on participation, and authentic local sourcing rather than large-scale tourism. Hosts and guides focus on safety and cultural respect while delivering interpretive information about plants, food systems, and Hawaiian traditions. Visitors seeking farm-to-table dining, cultural workshops, or regenerative agriculture experiences on Kauai will find Common Ground Kauai a focused option grounded in place-based practice. Advance reservations are recommended to secure space for small-group experiences and dinners especially.
Book with Common Ground Kauai