Merrie Monarch festival organizers want hula participants to stop picking native Hawaiian plants for lei, a move meant to protect the islands' forests but one that will force dancers to change long-standing practice.

• Organizers are calling for a three-year halt on harvesting native plants used in lei-making.
• The ban would cover the 2027, 2028 and 2029 festivals.
• Maile and other forest plants are named among the species to leave alone.
• The goal is to give Hawaii's stressed native forests time to recover.

Outlook: Expect organizers to push participants toward substitute materials as the 2027 festival approaches.