Easing back into island life with aloha and lei making

This summer has been a blur of planning, packing, and moving as we relocated to Hawaii from South Korea. After more than a decade abroad, it was time to return home and put down roots for our two boys.

When the dust settled (and there was a lot of it!), my friend Cindy invited me and another friend over to make lei po’o, something I had wanted to learn for years. Sitting in the shade, listening to the leaves rustle in the breeze and the pigeons cooing in the grass, we quietly created our lei using flowers and foliage. It was so lovely and meditative, and a beautiful way to ease back into island life.

It’s good to be home again.

Alison Lihalakha

Alison Hồng Nguyễn Lihalakha was born in Vietnam and grew up in Florida and Kansas years before pho and Tiger Balm were popularized. She is a seasoned expat, dog lover, and the author of Salted Plums.   Find her online on Instagram and Twitter.