lai see

In Hawaii, "lai see" is universally understood across different ethnic groups to mean the red envelopes of lucky money given during Chinese New Year, weddings, and birthdays. The term comes from Cantonese, reflecting the early Chinese immigrant population that arrived in the islands during the plantation era. Over generations, the tradition of giving lai see expanded beyond just Chinese families, becoming a beloved local custom where aunties, uncles, and grandparents of all backgrounds might hand out red envelopes to kids and younger relatives for good luck.

It is highly appropriate and expected to give lai see during Lunar New Year celebrations, especially to unmarried younger people or children. When receiving lai see, it is customary to accept it with both hands and never open it in front of the giver, as doing so is considered rude and bad luck. The amount inside should traditionally be an even number, avoiding the number four, which sounds like the word for death in Chinese.

The "Keaukaha Cousins" group chat was going off like firecrackers at 6:00 AM. Manuel started it by posting a picture of a crumpled red envelope next to his coffee cup with the caption: "Aunty gave me my lai see early, who else went her house?" Instantly, the notifications started rapid-firing.

"Brah, you lie!" Palani texted back, followed by five skull emojis. "She told me she wasn't giving out any this year cause she on fixed income! I even went weed-whack her whole yard in the rain yesterday!" Baby chimed in two seconds later: "That's cause you nevah take off your rubbah slippahs when you went inside, stupid. She told my mom you track Hilo mud all over her rug. I got my lai see on Sunday."

Manuel sent a photo of a crisp twenty-dollar bill pulled halfway out of the red sleeve. "Sucks to be you guys. I going use my lai see for buy poke at Suisan right now." Palani immediately called the group chat, yelling over the speakerphone that he was driving his Tacoma straight to Aunty's house to demand his lucky money, while Baby just spammed laughing emojis until Manuel's phone froze.