Hi, I'm planning a trip to Hawaii (1st timer) and had some questions? How/who do you contact to receive a Lei greeting? How much should it cost? If you go to 3 or 4 islands do get one at each? What if you 1st fly into Honolulu but your actually just connecting to go to Kauai, where should you get it? I know that these are all individual choices but I was wondering what other people thought.

Thanks,

Scott

HNL has 1 or 2 stores in the secured area with refrigerated cases of leis - probably much cheaper than paying greeters to wait for flights and passengers arriving at unreliable times.

Actually the prices are about the same for a greeter and in the store. I recently used a greeter service which I found on www.google.com by merely searching on honolulu lei greeting. Actually there are a number of services and the pricing is quite competitive.

There was something in the ambiance of being greeted that was much more than just the lei itself.

I would recommend using a lei greeter.

That is not my experience Bob. I have seen greeters charge $50 for leis that some hotels give you for free.

I found great leis just inside the Kauai terminal this summer. I was surprised I think I paid $8 dollars for a single string pikaki lei (SOOOOO Fragrant) leaving Kauai. Same store sold leis out in front of airport for $15 dollars. I also saw elaborate leis that were $25 inside similar to internet leis I have seen for $50. I think I use to pay $10 for the pikaki in China town 5 years ago. Of course you can't always guarantee what any store would have.

What I will tell you is that a lot of people on this forum will tell you to go into Wal-Mart, Kmart and get lei's. I found this to be poor quality mostly carnations and other common flowers like plumeria. You can just do so much better eleswhere. The best Leis are in certain stores (you have to ask a merchant on the island), I have heard also in weekly markets held at different spots on the island. Some flowers are seasonal but these stores that I was referred to will have even in the off season or so I was told.

My experience on several trips to Kauai is a good lei takes some hunting. OH I KNOW I AM GOING TO GET SLAMMED ON THAT ONE. Unfortunately China town in Honolulu is best, incredible variety, affordable prices and just a fun trip with several stores making and selling leis in front of you.

My suggestion to you is call a merchant on Kauai and ask them where is the best place to buy leis. I know there is a place in Kapaa. I was looking for flowers to make leis this summer and I was referred here. Move on if someone tells you Wal-Mart or Kmart some will tell you that but I have never found anything great there, never ever anything fresh fragrant like a Micronesian ginger or pikaki lei. Have seen a white ginger upon occasion here but it is usually not as fresh and full of fragrance as in flower store. Strong suggestion, get one of these two leis they will fill any room you wear or lay them in with perfume.

Also you want to pick up a bunch of tropical flowers in the Princeville food land. It is only about $6.95 for flowers that would easily cost you $40 or more at home. No fragrance but beautiful.

Know you are not looking to shop in Honolulu but I did want to point out that there are many stores (grocery, flower shops, department stores, hospitals,lei shops throughout Oahu that sell leis in refridgerated cases. Sorry just had to point that out in the event that someone else might read your thread looking for Leis on Oahu. Leis will be more plentiful on Oahu than the outer islands I am guessing because of Chinatown but this is a guess. I know people on the east coast that order leis from chinatown for functions here.

If you want to be greeted by someone at the airport who welcomes you to Hawaii and places the lei around your neck you can try these companies :
http://www.alohafriends.com/leigreeting_services.html

http://www.leisofhawaii.com/lei.htm

I used leis of Hawaii and they were great. You should know that now with airport restrictions the greeters can not be right outside the jetway like they used to. When you order your lei greeting they will tell you where they do the greeting now. Typically near baggage claim. Granted it's not the romanticized version that you used to see but it's great to receive a beautiful and fragrant lei after your long flight!

If you forgo the lei greeting I think Sarah's ideas are great too.

Just want to remember that the dendropia leis are given for free at most better hotels. Plumeria are also sold everywhere, you could make in about 5 minutes also.

I would shy away from a service offering this unless you really want that airport lei greeting experience. We just found that getting them as we stepped out of our car at the Hyatt Regency also at the Princeville did the trick and it was free.

why the websites soo.... unorganized? It's so hard to navigate.

I'll be arriving in Maui in Feb. Anyone know of any really nice lei airport greeting services there?

TIA
Jaran

Recently observed a lei greeting in Maui. Greeter met passengers curbside at baggage claim, she never once smiled at the folks! Looked like a ripoff to me. Sarah's right - get them from your hotel, or purchase them yourself! They sure are beautiful!

Lei greetings are a total ripoff and waste of $$ IMO.
The majority of the people who do it are simply punching the clock.
Sorry, but that's the way it is.

A hint. Wherever or however you decide to purchase your Lei, hang it over your headboard when you go to sleep. In the morning, your whole room will smell beautiful!!

Probably a moot point since you want to be greeted with a lei at the airport, however, Maunakea St. in Honolulu offers a great selection of vendors and types of leis.

My husband and I have been going to Oahu for a month for the last 5 years. We have never been greeted with a lei nor bought one at the airport (he says it's a waste of money).

My advice: GET A LEI GREETING!!!!!

I always look wistfully and enviously at everyone else getting their leis by baggage claim. I wish it was me. You should get the greeting when you arrive at Honolulu, rather than the outer islands. You'll be so excited to finally be in Hawaii.