In Old Hawai'i feather work was a unique art. People of royal lineage would wear them as their daily attire. Feathers gathered from the Native Hawaiian birds were prized possessions. 
Today, we use them when dancing Hula to represent a place, mo'olelo (story), or bird.

We gift them to kupuna, or someone special in our lives. They are also used to congratulate a person of high achievement, or symbolic union (weddings, etc.). These beautiful fragile lei of Hawai'i are called Lei Hulu.