Lei Greetings in Hawaii: Airport Leis, Etiquette, and Prices

A lei greeting is one of the few tourism rituals in Hawaii that also carries real cultural weight. A strand of flowers, leaves, nuts or shells placed over the shoulders signals welcome, affection, honor or farewell. Residents give each other leis at graduations, birthdays, retirements and funerals far more often than at airports.

For arriving visitors and relocating households, the airport version is usually a paid service. A greeter meets the traveler outside baggage claim, places a lei and sometimes handles a photo or a ride. Prices run from roughly $25 for a basic orchid greeting to well over $200 for private packages with transport.

This article covers how lei greetings work at the four main airports and what greeting services cost. It explains how fresh flower, kukui nut and ti-leaf leis differ, the etiquette for giving and receiving them, the agriculture rules for flying a lei home, and Lei Day on May 1.

How an airport lei greeting works

Before 2001, friends and greeters could meet passengers at the gate. Post-9/11 security rules moved every greeting outside the secure area, so today the handoff happens in or just outside baggage claim. Travelers leave the gate area, collect their bags and look for a greeter holding a name sign.

A greeting happens in one of two main ways. A friend or relative buys a lei and waits curbside or at the baggage carousel. Or the traveler, or someone on their behalf, books a commercial greeting company in advance.

What happens during a paid greeting

Commercial greeters track the flight number, so a delayed arrival usually does not cost extra within a set window. A typical greeting goes like this:

1. The greeter monitors the flight and arrives before the scheduled landing.
2. The greeter waits at a designated meeting point with a printed name sign.
3. Each traveler receives a lei draped over the shoulders, often with a spoken “aloha.”
4. Higher tiers add photos, luggage help, or an escort to a waiting vehicle.
5. The greeter leaves, or hands the party to a driver for hotel transfer.

The whole exchange usually takes 5 to 15 minutes. Most companies ask for bookings at least 48 to 72 hours before arrival, though some accept next-day orders for an added rush fee.

Who books these services

Honeymooners, milestone-birthday travelers, family reunions and corporate incentive groups are the core market. Relocating households sometimes book a greeting for their first arrival as residents. More often, family members already living in the islands do the greeting themselves, which is the more traditional approach.

Lei greetings at HNL, OGG, KOA and LIH

The four major airports have different layouts. That affects where greeters stand and how long the ride to lodging takes afterward. The state Department of Transportation’s airports division publishes terminal maps and ground transportation rules for each airport.

HNL on Oahu

Honolulu’s airport is the busiest in the state and has the most greeting companies to choose from. Interisland and mainland flights arrive at different terminal areas, so the booking needs the correct airline and flight number. Several lei stands operate near the airport, which makes it easier for friends meeting a flight to buy a lei the same day.

Rush-hour traffic on the H-1 can stretch the 9-mile drive to Waikiki to 45 minutes. For that reason, travelers following a 7-day Oahu itinerary often pair the greeting with a pre-booked transfer.

OGG on Maui

Kahului’s arrivals hall is compact, so finding a greeter is simple. The bigger planning question is the onward ride, because many visitors pick up rental cars at the consolidated facility a short tram ride away. The site’s guide to OGG ground transport, shuttle versus rideshare compares the options.

KOA on Hawaii Island

Kona’s terminal is largely open-air, with walkways between low buildings instead of an enclosed concourse. Greeters often wait near the covered baggage claim areas. The airport is on the Kona side, so travelers heading to Hilo face a drive of roughly 2 hours. A lei greeting there is usually followed by a rental car pickup.

LIH on Kauai

Lihue is the smallest of the four airports, and greeters are easy to spot. Fewer companies operate here than on Oahu, so it is safer to book 1 to 2 weeks ahead in peak months such as July and December. Staying on the North Shore adds a drive of roughly 50 to 75 minutes after the greeting.

Pre-booked greeting services: what they cost

Greeting companies sell tiered packages, and the price rises with the type of flower and the level of service. The figures below are typical published 2026 rates for one adult, before tax. Hawaii’s general excise tax, explained by the state Department of Taxation, adds roughly 4% to 4.7% to most invoices, depending on the county.

What drives the price up

• Flower type: pikake and tuberose cost several times more than dendrobium orchids.
• Strand count: double and triple strands roughly double or triple the flower cost.
• Late-night arrivals: some companies add $10–$25 for flights landing after 10 p.m.
• Group size: many offer per-person discounts above 10 travelers.
• Island: Kauai and Hawaii Island rates often run slightly above Oahu’s.

Booking details that prevent problems

The most common failure is a mismatched flight. Bookings should list the airline, flight number, arrival date in Hawaii time, and a mobile number that works on landing. Travelers connecting through Honolulu to another island should book the greeting at their final airport, not at the connection.

Cancellation windows vary, but a full refund with 24 to 48 hours’ notice is common, since the flowers are strung to order. After that point, some companies refund only the service portion.

Tipping a greeter

A basic greeting does not require a tip. Still, $5 to $10 per household is common for a warm, on-time handoff. $10 to $20 is common for a greeter who also handled luggage or photos. The site’s guide to tipping in Hawaii compares these amounts with tipping norms for drivers, tours and luaus.

Fresh flower vs kukui nut vs ti-leaf leis

Lei materials are not interchangeable. Each has its own meaning, lifespan and price. The choice matters more when the lei is for a resident, an elder or a formal occasion than when it is for a vacation photo.

Fresh flower leis

Fresh leis are the classic airport choice. Dendrobium orchids, usually purple and white, dominate greeting packages. They are durable, inexpensive and nearly scentless, which suits travelers who are sensitive to fragrance. Plumeria is softer and strongly scented but bruises within a day.

Tuberose, pikake (Arabian jasmine) and pua kenikeni are heavily scented and cost more. Pikake is associated with romance and is a frequent bridal choice. Pollen and strong scents can bother people with allergies, so greeters often ask about allergies in advance.

Kukui nut leis

The kukui (candlenut) is Hawaii’s state tree. Polished kukui nut leis were historically associated with chiefly rank. Today they are a durable option often given to men, and they survive flights and suitcases without wilting.

A quality kukui lei has evenly polished nuts of uniform size. The dyed or lacquered versions sold for $5 to $10 on souvenir racks are a different product from hand-finished strands.

Ti-leaf leis

In Hawaiian tradition, ti (ki) leaves are associated with protection, and the plant is commonly grown near homes. Ti-leaf leis are twisted or braided into a rope, sometimes with flowers worked in. They hold up for a week or more and are popular with men, graduates and anyone who prefers a simpler look.

Shoppers looking for leis to take home as presents can find that topic in the site’s Hawaii gift guide. This article sticks to greetings and etiquette.

Lei etiquette: giving and receiving

Lei customs are less formal than many cultural protocols, but a few expectations are widely held across the islands. They apply whether the lei comes from a paid greeter, a coworker or a new neighbor.

How to give a lei

• Hold the lei with both hands and drape it over both shoulders, half in front, half behind.
• Avoid tossing it over the head from behind or handing it over in a bag.
• A light hug or kiss on the cheek is customary between friends and family.
• A handshake or simple “aloha” is fine with acquaintances or colleagues.
• Do not wear a lei intended for someone else before giving it.

The last rule reflects a longstanding belief that wearing a lei before giving it transfers the giver’s intention or luck. Florists and lei makers commonly pass this on to buyers.

How to receive a lei

The expected response is simple: accept it graciously, say “mahalo” (thank you) and wear it. A lei rests on the shoulders and hangs evenly in front and back, rather than sitting tight like a necklace.

Why not to refuse or remove a lei in front of the giver

Turning down a lei, or taking it off while the giver is present, is widely seen as rejecting the affection behind it. The polite approach is to wear it for the rest of the meeting, event or ceremony.

There are accepted exceptions. Someone with a flower allergy can explain quietly and drape the lei over a forearm or carry it. Once the giver has left, the lei can come off and go into a refrigerator or a vase.

Closed leis and pregnancy

Many families in Hawaii avoid giving a closed lei, one tied in a full circle, to a pregnant woman. The belief is that a closed loop around the neck symbolizes the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby.

The common workaround is an open-ended lei, such as maile, a ti-leaf strand, or a flower lei left untied at the ends. Some greeting companies supply open leis on request at no extra cost, so a pregnancy is worth mentioning when booking.

Leis for men, children and elders

Men in Hawaii routinely wear leis at graduations, weddings and work events. Many prefer maile, ti-leaf or kukui nut to heavily scented flowers. Small children often receive shell or candy leis. Elders and honored guests may receive more elaborate or fragrant strands as a mark of respect.

How to care for and dispose of a lei respectfully

A fresh lei is made of living material and does not last long. There are expectations for both caring for it and disposing of it.

Keeping a fresh lei alive

• Store it in a plastic bag or the box it came in, lightly misted with water.
• Refrigerate it at around 40–50°F; never freeze it.
• Keep it away from fruit, which releases ethylene and speeds wilting.
• Orchids can be briefly rinsed; plumeria and tuberose should not be soaked.

Returning a lei to the earth

Throwing a lei in the trash is generally considered disrespectful, because it carries the giver’s aloha. The traditional practice is to return it to nature. Untie or cut the string, then lay the flowers or leaves under a tree or in a garden, or bury them.

Some families return leis to the ocean, but the string and any plastic or ribbon should be removed first. Nylon string harms marine life, and marine debris affects the coastal water quality that the state’s Department of Health monitors. Burning is another accepted method where fire rules allow it.

Keepsake leis

Maile, kukui nut and shell leis are often kept for years. Dried maile is commonly hung in the home, and a wedding maile is often saved. A dried flower lei can also hang on a wall or a car mirror. Local custom, however, favors returning it to the earth eventually rather than displaying it forever.

USDA and agriculture rules for carrying leis

Hawaii has agriculture inspections in both directions. When travelers leave for the mainland, federal inspectors check bags for plant pests. When travelers arrive in Hawaii, the state screens plant material to protect island agriculture and native ecosystems.

Flying from Hawaii to the mainland

All checked and carry-on bags bound for the U.S. mainland go through a USDA pre-departure agricultural inspection. It usually happens near airline check-in, before the TSA checkpoint. Most leis are allowed, including orchid, plumeria, tuberose, ti-leaf and kukui nut leis.

The notable exceptions are leis containing jade vine or mauna loa (a canavalia vine flower), which are prohibited. Leis with fresh fruit, berries or seeds attached may be held for closer inspection. The site’s guide to taking fruit, flowers and plants home from Hawaii has the full list.

Flying into Hawaii with a lei

Travelers sometimes bring a lei from the mainland, such as a graduation lei made by family. Any plant material must be listed on the state agricultural declaration completed on arrival. The Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s Plant Quarantine Branch inspects declared items, and undeclared plant material can bring fines.

International destinations and interisland flights

Countries such as Japan, Australia and New Zealand restrict fresh plant material, and fresh leis are usually confiscated on arrival. Kukui nut and shell leis have a better chance of getting through. Leis are generally allowed on interisland flights, though some islands restrict certain plants and soil.

Lei Day on May 1

May 1 is Lei Day across Hawaii. Poet Don Blanding proposed the idea in 1927, and writer Grace Tower Warren coined the phrase “May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii.” The territorial government recognized the day in 1929. A song with the same title is still sung at school programs.

The City and County of Honolulu holds its long-running celebration at Kapiolani Park near Diamond Head. It features a lei-making contest, a Lei Queen and court, hula and crafts. Schools on every island hold May Day programs where students dance in costume.

Each island has an official lei color and material. May Day pageants often feature a princess for each island wearing that island’s lei.

Lei prices typically rise in late April as demand peaks, and some popular flowers sell out by the afternoon of April 30. Visitors planning a trip around the holiday can compare costs in Hawaii in May, from Lei Day to Memorial Day and in the site’s look at May shoulder-season pricing and weather.

Lei Day events on Hawaii Island and Kauai are smaller and run by local communities. The County of Hawaii, local schools and parks post schedules in April.

Lei culture beyond the airport

Residents come across leis far more often than visitors do. The airport greeting is only a small part of the practice.

Graduations

High school and college graduations are the biggest lei occasions of the year. Graduates often wear so many strands that the leis stack up to their ears. Families commonly spend $50 to $200 on leis for one graduate, and lei stands near major campuses are busiest in May and June.

Workplaces and celebrations

Retirements, promotions, birthdays and farewells at work routinely include a lei. New employees sometimes receive one on their first day, and departing coworkers almost always do. Weddings, baby luau (first-birthday parties) and anniversaries follow similar patterns.

Funerals and memorials

Leis are placed on caskets, draped on photographs and cast into the sea at scattering ceremonies. Mourners may also wear them at memorials. The customs of giving open leis and returning leis to the earth matter especially in these settings.

Lei greetings for people moving to Hawaii

Relocating households arrive with more luggage and paperwork than visitors, and often with a pet in cargo. A lei greeting is a small expense in a move that costs thousands, and some families book one to mark the change. Others skip the commercial version and learn the custom from new coworkers and neighbors.

Household budgets in the islands are tight. The Honolulu consumer price index consistently runs above the national average. For residents, a $30 orchid lei for a coworker’s farewell becomes a regular expense rather than a novelty.

Practical first-week pairing

New arrivals usually need a car within days. A greeting that includes a transfer can cover the first ride while the household compares rental car prices by island or starts buying a car in Hawaii.

Learning the custom as a resident

• Expect to give leis at office farewells, graduations and weddings.
• Find a neighborhood lei stand or florist and learn its pricing.
• Many residents learn to make simple ti-leaf leis at home.
• Community classes on lei making typically cost $30–$75 per session.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority’s visitor site lists cultural events that often include lei-making demonstrations. They are most common around May 1 and during the Aloha Festivals in September.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a lei greeting cost at a Hawaii airport?

A basic greeting with a single orchid lei typically costs $25 to $45 per person. Upgraded flowers such as plumeria or tuberose run $50 to $90. Premium packages with photos cost $100 to $175, and VIP greetings that include a private transfer reach $175 to $350 per party.

Can a lei be taken home to the mainland?

Yes. Most leis are allowed after USDA pre-departure inspection, including orchid, plumeria, ti-leaf, maile and kukui nut leis. Leis containing jade vine or mauna loa flowers are prohibited and will be confiscated. Leis with fresh berries or seeds may be held, so travelers should declare every lei at inspection.

Is it rude to take off a lei?

Removing a lei in front of the person who gave it is generally considered rude, because it can look like a rejection of their affection. The expected courtesy is to wear it through the event. Once the giver has left, it is perfectly acceptable to take it off and refrigerate it.

Why shouldn’t a pregnant woman receive a closed lei?

Many families in Hawaii believe a closed lei symbolizes the umbilical cord wrapping around the baby’s neck, which could bring bad luck. To avoid this, givers choose an open-ended lei, such as maile, a ti-leaf strand, or a flower lei left untied at the ends.

What should be done with a lei after it wilts?

The traditional approach is to return it to the earth rather than throw it away. Untie or cut the string, then lay the flowers under a tree or in a garden, or bury them. Anyone returning a lei to the ocean should remove all string and plastic first to protect marine life.

When is Lei Day in Hawaii?

Lei Day falls on May 1 every year. It dates to 1927 and was officially recognized in 1929. Honolulu’s main celebration takes place at Kapiolani Park with a lei contest, a Lei Queen and court, and hula. Schools statewide hold May Day programs featuring each island’s lei.

Do men wear leis in Hawaii?

Yes. Men routinely wear leis at graduations, weddings, retirements and work events. Many prefer maile, ti-leaf or kukui nut leis to heavily scented flower strands. Greeting companies commonly offer male travelers a kukui nut or ti-leaf option for an added $15 to $40.

How long does a fresh lei last?

It depends on the flower. Dendrobium orchid leis last 3 to 5 days if refrigerated at around 40 to 50°F, while plumeria often bruises within 1 to 2 days. Ti-leaf leis hold up for 5 to 10 days, and kukui nut or shell leis last indefinitely.