Event Diaries: Coding In Bloom - Learn How To Make Lei Po’o
On a vibrant Saturday morning in Denver, Colorado, AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth in grades 6-8 participated in Asian Girls Ignite’s Coding in Bloom – Learn How to Make lei poʻo workshop, led by Zyola Moanaliʻa Mix. This inspiring and hands-on event seamlessly combined Hawaiian cultural traditions with the fundamentals of coding. Through powerful storytelling, engaging activities, and joyful connections, participants explored themes of self-determination, identity, and joy as tools for navigating systemic challenges.
Setting the Tone: Finding Joy in Connection
The event began with a fun icebreaker designed to spark connection. Each student received a question card with prompts like “What is a food that brings you joy?” or “What is a memory that brings you joy?” Their task? Find the person with the same question, introduce themselves, and share their answers. After pairing up, each student introduced their partner to the group, sharing whether they were the same or different, fostering a sense of belonging from the very start.
Zyola kicked off the event by sharing her powerful narrative, captivating the audience with stories of resilience, identity, and joy. As an Indigenous Hawaiian and Black aerospace scientist, storyteller, and single parent, Zyola recounted her journey of overcoming systemic barriers, from being a first-generation college graduate to achieving their dream of becoming a pilot—a stepping stone toward her ultimate goal of becoming an astronaut. Inspired by Star Trek and determined to "command that starship," Zyola fought to obtain her pilot's license despite barriers, becoming the only person in a company program to earn the certification. She emphasized the importance of sharing dreams, saying, "You never know when someone might step in to help you achieve them."
Born and raised in Kaneʻohe, Hawaiʻi, Zyola navigated the complexities of a colonial education system while maintaining a deep respect for her kupuna (ancestors), the lands, and the waters. She shared how her identity as a dark-skinned person of mixed ethnicity often left them feeling isolated, but she found solace in music, science fiction, and dreaming big. Despite facing challenges such as being a non-native English speaker and the child of a high school dropout, Zyola found strength in their mother’s determination to later earn her GED and start a business, which inspired her own perseverance.
Zyola design, build, and send satellites into space, describing their superpower as, "Things once imagined only in my mind are now in space."
Zyola’s career achievements reflect their unwavering resolve—designing components for spacecraft like the Parker Solar Probe and satellites orbiting the sun and beyond. Reflecting on this, they shared, "I touched the sun—I made something that touched the sun." These accomplishments are a testament to the power of resilience, intention, and joy in navigating systemic challenges and pursuing passions unapologetically.
Through her story, Zyola emphasized the importance of joy and self-determination as tools for navigating fields biased against marginalized identities, encouraging students to remain true to their passions and dreams.
Coding Meets Culture: The Art of Lei Poʻo Making
Zyola introduced students to the beautiful intersection of coding and cultural artistry through the Hawaiian tradition of lei-making. Students learned that coding, at its core, is about creating a set of instructions that convert language into binary commands. Using the RGB binary code, students crafted personalized patterns representing their initials or meaningful words, which served as the blueprint for their lei.
Before diving into the hands-on activity, Zyola explained the cultural significance of lei, highlighting how it symbolizes love, respect, and connection. Specifically, a lei poʻo is a floral crown worn on the head, often for special occasions, celebrations, or as a gesture of honor. Zyola also mentioned other types of lei, including the lei ʻāʻī (worn around the neck), the lei kūpeʻe (worn on wrists or ankles), and the lei hulu (crafted from feathers). Each type of lei holds its own meaning and significance in Hawaiian culture.
Transitioning from digital to tangible, students used their coded patterns to create their own lei poʻo. Under Zyola’s guidance, they learned the traditional techniques of weaving and stringing flowers from Mainstreet Flower Market, embracing the challenge with creativity and care. The activity allowed students to connect with Hawaiian traditions while exploring how coding can be a foundation for innovative and meaningful expressions.
No Asian Girls Ignite workshop is complete without authentic cuisine! Participants enjoyed delicious Hawaiian dishes from No Ke Aloha in Aurora, Colorado, including flavorful island classics that nourished both body and spirit. This meal not only provided sustenance but also deepened the group’s connection to Hawaiian culture, rounding out a day filled with learning, creating, and celebrating.
How to Make a Lei Poʻo
As part of the workshop, students learned the traditional process of creating a lei poʻo (Hawaiian floral crown), a symbol of love, respect, and celebration in Hawaiian culture. Zyola guided participants through the following steps:
Braid the Raffia Base
Students began by braiding strands of raffia to create a sturdy yet flexible base for their lei. The braided raffia added a natural, traditional element to the lei-making process while providing a secure foundation for attaching the flowers.Prepare Flowers and Foliage
Participants selected vibrant flowers and greenery, cutting them into small sprigs about 2–4 inches long. Each piece was prepared to ensure it was lightweight and easy to work with.Bundle the Flowers
Before bundling the flowers, students applied the coding principles Zyola had taught them. Using RGB binary code, students assigned a color to represent each letter in their initials or a meaningful word of their choice. This personalized code determined the sequence of flowers in their bundles. For example, a student might choose pine, purple, and blue flowers to correspond to the initials of their name.Flowers and foliage were grouped into small bundles of 3–4 pieces, following their coded sequence. This process allowed students to merge creativity with logic, weaving their personal stories into the design of their lei.
Attach Flowers to the Braided Base
Each bundle was secured to the braided raffia with additional raffia or floral tape, wrapping tightly at the stems. Bundles were placed close together to form a seamless, lush lei.Continue Adding Bundles
Students repeated the process, layering each bundle slightly over the previous one, ensuring the coded patterns remained visible and meaningful as the lei took shape.Secure the Ends
Once complete, the ends of the braided raffia were tied together securely to create a perfect fit.
Throughout the activity, students were encouraged to practice aloha (love and care) as they created their lei. Zyola emphasized that the process is as much about intention and gratitude as it is about the final product. A lei poʻo is not just a floral accessory; it’s a symbol of respect, celebration, and connection to Hawaiian culture.
Closing Circle
We like to end every event with a closing circle. If you’re unfamiliar with closing circles, it’s our way of wrapping up in community by sharing a collective breath and voicing our head (something we learned), heart (something we felt), and hands (something we’ll take action on).
For this event, we centered our reflections around the theme of “Joy.” We encouraged students and staff alike to think about the moments of joy they experienced throughout the day and how those moments impacted their perception of themselves and their community. During this Joy-themed Closing Circle, we heard our students and team members share:
“I learned that joy isn’t just about happiness—it’s about finding strength and meaning even in challenging moments like learning how to braid for the first time in order to make my lei po’o.”
“I felt so much joy at my first Asian Girls Ignite event and seeing my my lei po’o and seeing it come together”
“I will look for joy in everyday moments and share it with others by being kind and intentional in my actions.”
This reflection brought the day full circle, emphasizing how joy can be a powerful tool for resilience, connection, and self-expression. It reminded us that even small acts, like creating a lei or sharing a meal, can nurture a sense of belonging and purpose.
Reflections from Team AGI
Our Marketing Manager, Abigail Regucera, shared her thoughts on the event:
"What stood out most was watching the students practice aloha (love and care). Every flower they placed and every raffia strand they braided was done with intention, thoughtfulness, and care. Even though the process could be technical and challenging at times, they approached it with so much joy and enthusiasm. You could feel the excitement in the room as they connected with the tradition of lei-making while learning new skills. It’s moments like these that show how small acts of creativity can hold so much meaning and connection. I walked away from this event feeling so inspired by the students and their openness to try something new."
Team AGI is grateful to Zyola Moanaliʻa Mix for sharing her story and knowledge, Mainstreet Flower Marketing for carefully crafting the perfect flowers, and to No Ke Aloha for providing the delicious Hawaiian food. We also want to thank the students and families for their interest in this event.
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About Asian Girls Ignite
Founded in October 2020, Asian Girls Ignite is a non-profit organization that provides educational programs for AANHPI girls and gender-expansive youth to celebrate their individual and collective power. We use storytelling to empower the next generation to write their futures in their own voice. Our programs and events nurture social-emotional learning to help our students grow in resilience, empathy, and self-awareness.
