One of the kino lau (body form) of Laka is Maile. Laka is the goddess of hula and of the forest which she makes thrive. When entering the forest, we ask Laka for permission.
Maile, indigenous to Hawaiʻi, can be found in Hawaiian forests. Early Hawaiians differentiated various forms of Maile by their leaf shape, size, and fragrance. For example, Maile Lau Liʻi has small leaves whereas Maile Lau Nui has large leaves.
Maile was used to catch birds, scent kapa, for medicine, and for leis. In addition, Maile, the traditional Hawaiian wedding lei, was used by the Kahuna (Hawaiian priest) in old Hawai`i to bind the hands of the bride and groom, symbolizing their commitment to each other.
