Does Everyone Get a Lei Greeting in Hawaii?
Does everyone get a lei greeting in Hawaii?
I know I always feel special and pretty wearing a flower lei made of plumerias!
You see it in the movies. Your hero or heroine make a majestic flight from the mainland to Hawaii, either on a vacation or an espionage. As soon as they land, they walk down the steps from jet, into the tropical air, and are greeted by girls in grass skirts who can’t wait to lasso you with a floral lei.
But is this real life? Or is it just fantasy? Let’s find out!
Planning Your Trip? Use My Favorite Resources!
🚗Car Rental – I recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental
🛏️ Accommodations – I recommend Booking.com
✈️ Flights – I recommend Expedia
🪂 Tours – I recommend Viator
What to Expect When You Get a Lei Greeting in Hawaii
Honolulu, Kona, Kahului, and Lihue airports do not give out leis themselves. You must book a company that will meet you at the airport when you deboard.
Depending on the company, lei materials, and services, a lei greeting will cost you between $35-$60 per person.
A lei greeting typically entails a meet and greet at baggage claim. Someone will be holding a board with your name on it and they will welcome you with a warm aloha and a lei placed over your head. If you have questions, they are your first point of contact from a local who can direct you to shuttles, nearby restaurants, or any general Hawaiian questions you may have.
Sometimes the greeter has secure area airport badges that allow them to meet you at your gate and either escort you over to baggage claim or intercept you as you transfer to your next flight.
A lei greeting will be brief, just a few minutes. This allows you to start your vacation off immediately immersed in Hawaiian tradition without taking much time away from catching your next flight, shuttle, or car rental.
Book a Lei Greeting in Hawaii
You can book yourself a lei greeting at the airport and have them meet you within the airport or book an airport shuttle that includes a lei greeting.
Airport Arrival Lei Greeting
Choose below which Hawaiian island you would like to receive a lei greeting upon landing at the airport. You will be able to browse through the list of material options to book like an orchid lei, hypoallergenic kukui nut lei, ti leaf lei, candy lei, and others.
- Book an OAHU Lei Greeting at Honolulu International Airport here!
- Book a MAUI Lei Greeting at Kahului Airport here!
- Book a BIG ISLAND Lei Greeting at Kona International Airport here!
Airport Shuttle Lei Greeting
If you are not renting a car and plan on reserving a shared shuttle from the airport to your hotel, here are options that include a fresh flower lei greeting:
- Book an OAHU shuttle w/Lei Greeting from Honolulu International Airport here!
- Book a MAUI shuttle w/Lei Greeting from Kahului Airport here!
- Book a BIG ISLAND shuttle w/Lei Greeting from Kona International Airport here!
- Book a KAUAI shuttle w/Lei Greeting from Lihue Airport here!
Other Places to Receive a Lei Greeting in Hawaii
If you choose to forgo booking a lei greeting at a Hawaiian airport, fret not! There are other options to receive one.
Hawaiian Hotel Lei Greeting
Some hotels, mostly high end ones, will greet you with a lei upon arrival on the property. Here are a few Hawaiian hotels that offer a complimentary lei greeting:
OAHU
· Royal Hawaiian
· Turtle Bay Resort
· Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko’Olina
MAUI
· Fairmont Kea Lani
· Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
· Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
· Andaz Maui At Wailea Resort
BIG ISLAND
· Fairmont Orchid
· Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
· Westin Hapuna Beach Hotel
· Mauna Lani, Auberge Resort Collection
KAUAI
· Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu, Autograph Collection
· Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa
Hawaiian Luau Lei Greeting
Most luaus, but not all, include a lei greeting as you enter the festivities. If this is something that is important to you, be sure to read what the luau includes before booking. Sometimes you might have to upgrade your ticket to include a lei greeting.
>>🌺 Find Luaus With Lei Greetings Here! <<
What is a Lei?
Now, maybe the first question you might have asked is: what even is a lei?
To put it simply, a lei is a wearable garland made of…things. Flowers, leaves, or seashells were traditionally worn by Hawaiian and Polynesian royalty to represent their wealth and royal rank. Now it can be worn by anyone as a symbol of love and friendship, to celebrate life achievements, or for honor. In today’s case, it is used as an aloha greeting.
You will see leis made from a variety of materials. Traditionally they are made from local foliage which could include fresh orchids, plumerias, carnations, ferns, maile leaves, and ti leaves. Other materials could be sea shells, shark teeth, or feathers. Modern leis can be found made of plastic or fabric flowers, candy, origami, or dollar bills.
If it can be strung, it can be lei’d.
History of the Lei Greeting
During the 1900s, tourism to Hawaii grew. Incoming cruise tourists were treated to a lei greeting by locals as they disembarked the ships.
While departing the island, some sentimental travelers would throw their leis into the sea as the vessel passed Diamond Head. These people hoped that someday, they would be able to one day return to the islands.
Airplanes became a more popular mode of transportation to the islands in the late 1940s, and over the years tourist numbers went up from the hundreds to the hundreds of thousands. In 2019 (pre-pandemic), Hawaii saw over 10 million visitors to the islands. As you can expect, trying to give a lei to every tourist is nigh-on impossible.
Thus, the nostalgic, expected lei greeting by a local died. BUT, it’s not completely gone! It has morphed from everyone getting a lei greeting in Hawaii to everyone who books one can get a lei greeting.
FAQs
How Long Does a Fresh Flower Lei Last?
A fresh flower lei looks so beautiful when you first receive it, but by the end of the day it will be semi-bruised and begin to wilt.
With a little care, a fresh flower lei can last for several days.
When you have finished wearing the lei for the day, spritz the flowers with water (with a bottle or sprinkled with your fingers) and seal in a Ziploc bag. Place it in the refrigerator or a cool place, ideally between 50-55 °F.
Keeping the fresh lei cool will slow down its dying rate.
Leafy leis won’t really benefit from being spritzed with water. And obviously kukui nut leis are already dry and will last forever.
If you wish to keep the lei as a keepsake, consider drying it so you can enjoy it for years to come.
Can You Take Flower Leis On a Plane From Hawaii?
Your Hawaiian vacation is over, it’s time to go home, but your flower lei is still fresh and wearable and you aren’t quite ready to part with it. Can you take your flower lei on a plane back home from Hawaii?
Most likely, yes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits certain foliage used in leis from leaving the islands to protect the mainland U.S. from harmful pests.
Orchid and plumeria leis are okay to bring back from Hawaii.
If you are unsure what plants are woven into your lei, simply ask the seller. Plants that are prohibited to bring back include:
- Fresh botanical fruits (like berries or pandanus fruit)
- Citrus (flowers, leaves, fruit)
- Jade vine
- Mauna Loa
USDA inspectors at the airport will also check your lei for prohibited plants and let you know whether or not it is permitted to fly home.
If you are flying internationally, you will have to check your country’s importing regulations.
Epilogue: Does Everyone Get a Lei Greeting in Hawaii?
So, does everyone get a lei greeting in Hawaii? Put simply…no.
The right question to ask is CAN everyone get a lei greeting in Hawaii. And the answer is indubitably yes!
Whether you book a lei greeting at the airport, reserve a hotel that offers a welcome lei, or go to a luau that gives leis to attendees, it is possible to experience the aloha spirit through a garland of flowers, leaves, or other objects.
If you aren’t going yourself, consider booking a lei greeting as a gift for someone going to Hawaii!
