A Fresh Take: LEGO Lei
Natasha McKenna strings lei with hundreds of tiny LEGOs that resemble native flowers.
For a fun, fresh take on Hawaiian lei, look no further than Natasha McKenna’s colorful creations, built from hundreds of tiny LEGOs. The longtime local crafter has been making fresh flower and ribbon lei for decades, and, in 2025, found new inspiration in the playful plastic bricks.
Perfect for grad season or even cheery home décor, several of the lei resemble traditional favorites, such as maile, ‘ilima, crown flower, pakalana and tuberose. But McKenna also enjoys delving into offbeat color combos, whipping up entirely original strands.
“I don’t see it as a business; it’s a hobby,” she says. “It’s a destresser, something I do just for the joy of it.”
Available at HouseMart Ben Franklin Crafts Market City, 2919 Kapi‘olani Blvd., Kapahulu, (808) 735-4211, benfranklinhawaii.com, @bfcrafts
Brie Thalmann is the home and style editor of HONOLULU Magazine.
