I’m concerned about an ancient Hawaiian tradition. The lei. This simple string of colorful, aromatic flowers is a symbol of Hawaii. The lei is also a symbol of days gone by, perhaps never to return.

Graduates get a layer of lei so high it covers the chin. People are honored for an accomplishment or prestige with a flower lei. Friends leaving Hawaii or returning to Hawaii? No lei. Times have changed.

Just a couple of decades ago, when a friend or family member left Hawaii for the US mainland, Japan, Australia, or almost anywhere, other friends and family members would see them off at the airport.

How? Lei in hand. It was not uncommon to see local folks with half a dozen or more lei departing through the jetway to a departing airplane. Often, a greeting by family and friends and more lei would take place upon returning to Hawaii.

Those days are gone.

It wasn’t just the events of 9/11 and terrorism and security requirements at the airport that put the pinch on the casual hello and goodbye lei.

The lei greeting and goodbye, the very tenets of the aloha spirit, began ebbing away from departing and returning friends and family many years before the World Trade Center collapse and heightened security at airports.

Why? We’re too busy these days to think about something so simple and elegant as a gift; the beautiful and fragrant lei. Except, of course, for very special occasions. Graduation. Marriage. A promotion. Secretary’s Day. Boss’s Day.

A few tourists may receive a lei greeting at the airport, though the act is more a bullet point or checklist in the vacation package, than a sincere form of aloha.

The more expensive resorts in Hawaii provide a lei greeting to new guests. The kiss on the cheek from a lovely local maiden is always a nice touch.

Giving someone a lei because you care is becoming less frequent. I don’t think it’s because the lei has become expensive. Even a florist has many different lei starting at about $3.00.

I miss the lei. From time to time I’ll pick one up for my wife. She’ll wear it to dinner, perhaps to a congregation meeting, then she’ll give it away to someone who looks as if a lei might make them feel better.

It works.

A lei is like a flowered puppy or a fragrant kitten. Without all the slobber and poop.