Does anyone know where I can buy leis for cheap on Maui? My wedding coordinator charges $20 for each, and I know that they can't possible cost that much if I get them myself. Thanks in advance!

-pk

The Maui & Lanai'i Family Guide book recommends the Ooka's grocery in Wailuku or the Safeway in Lahaina & Kihei for leis.

Longs Drug and even the Airport gift shops have beautiful leis and flower bouquets that you can take home with you.

basically, I arrive on Saturday, and my wedding is on Monday. I would like to have the leis for each guest at the wedding. Do you think that they will last if I buy them on Saturday for my Monday wedding?

I think a lot of this depends on exactly what kind of lei your coordinator is getting for you.

If you're getting something like an orchid, carnation, carnation/tuber rose, pikake/rosebud lei, then certainly you can get those cheaper at a grocery store - or a local (not resort based) florist.

If your coordinator is getting something like maile, multi strand pikake, those flat ginger lei - those are more expensive. You might find them cheaper at a florist yourself, but I'm not sure how much cheaper.

So I would say it depends on the kind of lei you're being charged $20 for, and whether you have someone willing to run out and pick them up for you. On your wedding day you don't want to be doing this yourself.

Just a word of caution. I found that some of those leis, depending on the flower made me itch and gave me red blotches when they touched my bare skin. Also, my husband was highly allergic. A blotchy, itchy bridal party could be funny---after the fact.

>Do you think that they will last if I buy them on Saturday for my Monday wedding?<

Again, it partially depends on what kind of lei you're getting. Some flowers have longer "staying power" than others.

How do you plan on storing them? How many leis will you be buying? You will need to keep them refrigerated if there is to be any hope of them surviving 2 days.

If you're staying in a condo with a full size refrigerator, then maybe they'll all fit. If you're in a hotel with a mini refrigerator, those will hold maybe 3 of those plastic lei boxes.

Optimally I'd buy them Sunday afternoon, but if you keep them refrigerated and they haven't been sitting in the florist's refrigerator for days prior to purchase, they should be ok.

No, i would not buy them on Saturday for a Monday wedding. Different flowers last differently, but they are really only prettiest that first day fresh.

$20 does not seem that out of line to me. Isn't that why you use a wedding coordinator? To take care of these kind of things for you.

I was in Maui in December and I bought my leis at the Star Market in Honokowai. The day I bought mine (tuberose/carnation for $7.95 I think) they must have just had a delivery as it was very, very fresh (i.e. the fragrance was fantastic and there was no petal damage or browning). I took it to the condo and put it in the fridge in the container it came in and took it out each evening and wore it for approx. 2 hours (I did this for probably 3 days).

I think the straight plumeria (which I love) are more fragile and get damaged easily.

Go to Costco (right outside of the Kahului airport). Selection is limited to orchid leis but they are much cheaper than most places and are stocked fresh daily. If you need a large quantity, say 20 or more, I would notify the manager a day or two in advance so he can notify their supplier. Keep them wrapped in damp paper towels in a plastic bag in a fridge and should stay fresh a couple days. The leis in grocery markets and other stores may not be fresh, especially towards the end of the week.

Thank you so much for all the help! I think I'm going to pick some up on Sunday afternoon from Costco. I only need 11 leis. I'm not too picky about the type, so whatever they have will do. It's mainly for the novelty of giving guests a lei before the ceremony begins. Aloha!!

I know you are wanting fresh flower leis, but if your interested in silk, we got real nice leis at one of the tourist stores on front street in Lahaina for .99 cents a piece. We were able to bring back several for friends and family. We were given fresh leis at the luau we went to, but we were not able to bring them home due to restrictions. It would be nice for your guests to have something they could keep to remember your big day.

Good choice, Costco, or you may find a little lei shop with even better selection. Costco carries lei that are more durable, so they will still be fresh a day later!

BTW, the plural of lei is...... lei. One lei or eleven lei, same.

Congratulations on your wedding. I hope you'll post a detailed report, as this is a topic that is asked about often!

I purchased leis for arriving guests at K-mart, also very near to the airport. K-mart has a refrigerated case in the front of the store. I bought them and then greeted my guests arriving on later flights. The leis were cheap and lasted several days.

I've never had good luck getting plain old flower lei at the Kahului Costco. They always seem to have had a big selection of nut and shell lei, and a fair selection of more expensive lei: cigar, folded petal, etc, but most of these are putting you back in the $20, or more, range. I've tried stopping there on my way to the airport a few times and each time I ended up having to go over to Kmart to get them. The single strand dendrobium lei at the Kmart are $6 each, but you can find the same lei at Safeway, Longs, Foodland. Don't worry about it being the "end of the week," since they get flowers nearly every day, especially Safeway. You can even call teh floral department at Safeway and order up what you need.

There is a lei stand at the Maui Tropical Plantation. Single strand--fresh!-- runs about $7. Where is the wedding?

The wedding is on Makena Beach in the back of a private beach house we rented out. It will be on Valentine's Day (Monday) at noon, so I'll have to get them on Sunday afternoon. Unless I get them delivered to my hotel as someone suggested, but then that might cost close to the $20 wedding coordinator ones! I'm staying at the Kea Lani, is Safeway or Kmart closer?

I'll definitely post after I return from my wedding/honeymoon. It's our first time to Maui or any Hawaiian island for that matter, so this is a big trip for us!

I've been doing a lot of research for this, so hopefully I'll be able to come back and give you guys detailed trip report.

which type of lei last the longest? should i opt of a nut and shell one so they can have it as a keepsake and bring it back home with them?

Hey Sis - I vote for orchid ones. I'm so psyched for the wedding!!

Here 2day - in case you read this - FYI my boyfriend made a reservation for dinner at Capische based on your recommendation. I'll be posting my full report!

Pumakat, I'd go with flowers. Shell and nut lei look nice hanging someplace, but there is nothing like a lovely fresh flower lei. And unless you buy gardenia, jade vine or mauna loa, your guests can take them home. They can hang them to dry--dendrobium will hold their purple color very well when dry. I have several in my house, from special ocassions, including my husband's ti and pikake lei and my daughter's haku from our wedding.

Unfortunately, I can't recommend a lei maker in Wailea--all of the ones I can think of are in Kahului or Lahaina. But I'll think on it and if I have any ideas I'll come back and pass it on. Safeway is probably your best bet in Kihei. Kmart is in Kahului, and if you want to go back there on Sunday, then you might as well go to Ali'i Lei, which is just around the corner from Kmart. They have single strand orchid lei for $5.99. They will have the best selection and the freshest lei because they make the lei you buy eleswhere and the lei you'll get at an airport greeting. Their phone is 808-877-7088.

TravelDiva--I'm jealous! I could go for some scallops puttanesca, and their portobello mushroom and goat cheese with wine reduction (a house specialty) right now! They have live jazz on Fri-Sat-Sun. Oh, oh and I can never decide between the chocolate brulee or the goat cheese cheescake, so order both! You are in for a treat! Tell Chef Brian I'm still waiting for those picrures!

Gone 2 maui--we've chatted before, but can you give me the number for Capische? I'm the one with the picky eating husband who loves pasta...when all else fails, there's always plain mostacioli or spaghtetti...Can I make a reservation only a few days in advance or should I do it now? We're arriving on the 24th, and I'd like to go on the 28th, friday, to catch the jazz..Any special table to request?? pam

P. S. Pumakat - Hope you have a great wedding--how cool..great info for the rest of us about the leis.. I plan to buy several just to wear--I love flowers. Pam