A new notice from Hawaii’s Department of Transportation/Airports (DOT) confirms that airport lei stand concessions continue to operate on month-to-month, revocable permits. The latest case on record is Ah Lan’s Lei Stand at Hilo International Airport, a family-run business with roots going back more than 80 years.
With all airport lei stands operating under DOT oversight, the move raises questions that reach beyond Hilo and could affect the very future of this tradition across the state.
From tradition to bureaucracy.
For generations, airport lei stands have been the first cultural experience of Hawaii that visitors encounter. Families crowd arrivals to drape flowers over loved ones, while visitors stopped at the stands to buy extras for their own greetings. That ritual has always carried more than just fragrance; it has been a living symbol of aloha that in some ways continues to this day.
Keeping it alive, however, has never been simple. The price of flowers has climbed, the pandemic cut business to a thread, and airport rents have all weighed heavily on owners. At Hilo, Ah Lan’s has survived by relying on family labor and a devotion to craft, with owner Lana Haasenritter still handmaking most of the leis herself.
Now, with the state continuing to keep these airport leases on month-to-month revocable permits, the ground feels even less steady. What appears to be flexibility for the DOT can mean constant uncertainty for families who need to plan months or even years in advance.
Hawaii airport lei stands are more than just shops.
They are the first sensory impression of the islands. Tourists who splurge on a lei greeting at the airport expect something handmade, authentic, and heartfelt. Yet if the DOT’s month-to-month approach destabilizes operators, all of us could encounter fewer stands, shorter hours, or even closures.
That brings us to another related story, that of Gladys’ Lei Stand at Honolulu Airport, which tells a similar story of fragility. Open since the early 1940s and still run by the founder’s family, it also operates under a revocable permit. It now faces steep rent hikes reportedly nearing $9,000 a month, along with talk of removal as part of airport “beautification.”
A GoFundMe launched by friends of Gladys’ Lei Stand highlights the enduring community support that still surrounds these businesses, even as state policies and financial pressures put them at risk.
That shift risks chipping away at the Aloha welcome that many already feel has grown less accessible. One reader told us that when she first arrived in Hawaii in 1966, she was immediately overcome by the scent of plumeria in the air as soon as she stepped off the plane. With each return visit, however, she found fewer flowers and less of that unforgettable scent.
Others said that the real meaning of Aloha in a lei lies in the time and care it takes to create one, and that turning the tradition into a commodity has stripped away much of that spirit.
Even with those changes, the pull of the lei is strong. A reader wrote in May that she plans to buy a lei when she returns for her 85th birthday, no matter the cost, because the ritual still feels essential to her experience of Hawaii. That loyalty stands in sharp contrast to readers who were disappointed to find stands closed or prices higher than expected.
All of this shows that Hawaii’s welcome mat, still seen as part of its identity by visitors and residents alike, is fast changing.
Legacy meets change.
Ah Lan’s is not just another counter at Hilo Airport. The stand began in 1943 when Rebecca Tim Sing started selling lei near the old terminal, later naming the shop for her daughter. Now run by fifth-generation family members, it continues to craft leis by hand from flowers grown in home gardens, neighborhood yards, and local farms. For visitors, Ah Lan’s represents memory and ritual. For the family who runs it, it is decades of work, sacrifice, and resilience.
That is why the DOT’s month-to-month permit model feels consequential. A business that has weathered shortages, airport remodels, and even the pandemic-induced collapse of tourism now faces an added layer of uncertainty.
The question is whether Ah Lan’s will still be stringing lei for another generation of travelers, or whether regulations and economics will finally unravel one of the last living pieces of Hawaii’s golden-era welcome.
What this means for all Hawaii airports.
The months ahead will show whether Hawaii can keep its balance between cultural continuity and administrative change. If lei stands like Ah Lan’s and Gladys’ are to endure, it will not be because of nostalgia alone. It will be because families adapt yet again, communities rally behind them, and visitors continue to insist that a fresh lei on arrival still matters.
One question for you. Do lei still matter to your Hawaii experience?
Lead Photo Credit: Gladys’ Lei Stand.
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What is more beautiful than fragrant, gorgeous flowers, at our airports?
Nothing.
And the plumeria trees “out smart” jet fuel, with their intoxicating fragrance.
Yes!!! Leis are part of the arrival process! I’ve been coming to the islands for 35 years. My first stop is getting leis. It says welcome, slow down, embrace the culture and feel the aloha!! DOT even thinking about getting rid of them is crazy!!
We also used to buy leis on Front Street in the middle of our trip. Then we bring some back to family and friends, who love the scents and colors. It’s a Hawaii tradition that needs to stay alive, especially on the arrival process to the islands. DOT needs to understand people are passionate about leis.
I’ve dried and kept every lei I have ever gotten. I prefer ginger leis. I have had them sent to Washington from Hawaii for every special occasion in my life. I grew up in Hawaii and my neighbor had an acre of plumeria plants so we used to make them too. I bought all my son’s graduating class leis and then all my daughter’s class as well.
I’m afraid plastic leis are in the future. They won’t get brown and they represent the decline in Aloha in Hawaii. It’s very sad, but I guess that’s “progress”.
Leis are steeped in Hawaiian culture and tradition and interpretation of what a Hawaiian arrival is. These stands should be funded by the government of Hawaii. Hawaii is struggling with their identity for many reasons ($$$) and is neglecting many basic tourism experiences. Culture and history are being pushed aside as are the Hawaiian people. I can’t even find leis for sale when I go to Kona except at Walmart or Safeway. That is so wrong. 🌺
I was raised in Hawaii as a kid and I am going back soon…it’s very sad to read and hear what’s happening.. I hope things change back to the Aloha Spirit as it always was…some things that are Good should never have to change unless the change is better but it’s not…Things are going back to The Good Old Days…with lots and lots of Aloha to each and everyone who comes to the Islands which brings or inspires Love for everyone who is there and when they leave to it home and pass it around to friends and loved ones…
Lei’s wilt after one day unless refrigerated. How many people really want to pack a wilted brown flower necklace after visiting Hawaii for a week. The Lei is a greeting, symbol of your arrival and to see something only last a few days to some tourists might seem pointless. Maybe DOT wants guaranteed sale in airports and not questionable sales income generated.
Very sad. More aloha spirit is needed. Please do not get rid of the lei stand. It is Hawaiian history. Please keep it. I have been to hawaii 6 times my favorite place in the world.
IMO all merchants in airports are charged by a certain allocated zone or square footage. I noticed more corporate allocated such as Starbucks, Burger King, McDonalds, Wendy’s,Panda Express and name brand chain stores. These business can afford huge rent costs because of the amount of stores, restaurants, worldwide. If rents increase the local businesses will have a harder time in keeping up with what a chain could afford. IMO it’s not about culture to airport space leasing. It’s about selling space and square footage to the client who can satisfy huge rent increases. IMO Basically DOT want’s more profits regardless of the situation.
Lei are important! hell with DOT! this is The. Hawaiian Kingdom. illegally occupied by the usa! illegally Ä«posing US law over The Occupied islands! let the lei people stay as it has Always been!
Really, now the Hawaiian government is picking on mom and pop Lei stands!!?? It’s time that the Hawaiian citizens stand up for themselves and vote the out of all Hawaiian government positions from the Governor all the way down the ticket to the mayors, city councilman. You cannot tell me that all Hawaiians are ok with going on within the government and how they are taxing the Hawaiian citizens with draconian overbearing taxes? Where in all that’s mighty and holy is all the tax money going? Not the citizens. Look at the political fat cats and where the live and what they drive and how they live and vacation and tell me the citizens are ok with struggling and scrapping to get by, tell me you are happy with that. Enough is Enough!!
My mom, sister, and I visited Hawaii in 2002 and I’ll never forget the wonderful smell of plumeria when we walked out of the Honolulu airport. It’s why I bought a cutting of one in the HI airport and brought it home. That cutting is now a huge tree in our FL yard and the smell reminds me of that 1st trip with mom. Of course, we bought and wore leis all during our visit and I returned to HI in 2003 and ‘06 with my husband and bought leis each time and in ‘16 with our daughter and her family. The leis remind me of the Aloha and how wonderful the people of HI were to us. My heart goes out to the families who have kept that wonderful tradition alive. Please stand up for and support those business, before they disappear.
I would really miss the smell of the leis at the airports. Probably covers up the scent of sweaty travelers
Greeted with a lei? Not when you arrive at LIH. The only lei shop I remember is after security. Good luck getting there without a boarding pass.
My cousin sent me a lei from Hawaii last year after my twin sister passed away. It was sent from Hawaii to Pennsylvania.
Yes. The lei stands at Hawai’is airports should stay and be strongly encouraged versus charged such heavy rent that it is impossible to maintain.
The smells upon ariving at the airports and the aloha feeling is because of those lei stands.
Most people would run if someone demanded a one year lease of 108.000 dollars just to sell flower necklaces. What do you do if business isn’t so great. No matter what you still have to pay the whole years amount regardless or face legal actions.
Month to month also means the merchant isn’t obligated to carry a long lease if business is slow or sales are weak. It also gives the freedom of the business to relocate to wherever if the merchant chooses. High rent where tourist traffic is high with the gamble of the volume of sales. Is or are lei flowers seasonal in Hawaii? I know I’ve been told there is a shortage or hard to get flowers around school graduation month. All I remember when I was a kid in the 60’s is the hotel would put a fresh lei flower onf your pillow after cleaning your room to show appreciation and thanks for your hotel stay. Of course the lei flower was at no charge.
Most flowers are imported now. There aren’t many places to grow the flowers in Hawaii anymore. I don’t recall any flowers being seasonal in Hawaii.
The Lei shop at Lihue airport has been closed since Covid.
It was my tradition to buy my wife a Lei when leaving on every trip.
Then we would hang them to dry.
I just counted I have 22 of them. Would have had at least 10 more by now!
Does anyone know if you buy a lei outside the airport, can you still take them back to the Mainland? Or would it get confiscated by agriculture?
IMO move back to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel location where now is Hilton Hawaiian Village and see if they will let you sell out of the outdoor marketplace or in the hotel lobby. Ditch the $9000 a month rent obligation and find some area with lots of tourists with less rent. People are in a rush to leave the airport and just want to settle in to their hotel and relax. Advertise around Waikiki for fresh lei’s and your location and if the spirit is alive people will come. I just wish fresh lei’s were still $8 dollars like in the late 60’s. $9000 a month before you pay yourself any wages or flower costs seems pretty high. No wonder lei’s now cost around 200 dollars. IMO that’s way to steep for me. IMO cheaper rent equals more affordable lei’s.
I’m finding it difficult to understand/comprehend why the state is making life difficult for these lei stands with this ‘month-to-month’ rental permit business/and obnoxious rents. This is a part of the Hawaii experience for a lot of folks, a genuiness that helps make the experience real.
I remember when I made my first visit to the islands in 1974, landing at HNL. My buddy and I were doing a 3-day layover enroute to Tokyo. He suggested that we each send a lei to our mothers, and that the cost was only $10.00! Heck yes, and my Mom just loved it.
This whole locally made lei business seems to be one of the last real traditions visitors get to enjoy. Leave the lei makers Alone!
The airports should be paying the leis stand owners! They bring old Hawaii charm and aloha to all who pass them, putting people in a good mood. They are treasures!!!!!!!!!
I wish the article had included an explanation from the DOT as to why they feel it’s important to have these leases (actually I guess it’s not a lease) on a month-to-month basis. Particularly since the article states that some or many of these places have existed in place for many generations. Sounds to me like they would make great tenants for a long-term lease.
Maybe no one further up the government food chain is aware of what’s going on, so things continue as they are. Or, looking at eventually canceling the permits and getting their friends/family members in there to replace the existing folks who have been there since when. Remember, HI is a ‘banana republic’ gov’t. He/she who pays, gets, nepotism, that kind of thing.
As a former resident of Honolulu, my return visits to Hawaii was always greeted with the fragrance of the plumeria flower when entering the airport. At that point, knew I was truly home. This fragrance created an aura of the welcoming to Hawaii! Oh, I miss it!
I love Hawaii,it feels like home but I do have family ties. Everything that’s going on is hard on tourism but the locals need to be taken care of first, and the bureaucrats need to quit messing with there lively hood, culture and traditions.
So, now the state is threatening to take away something to that visitors are willing to pay for? Huh?
This is very sad to hear. My family has been coming to Hawaii since the late 1960s. I can remember the smell of plumeria when getting off the plane.
When I moved to Hawaii in the 2010s I always bought leis when friends would visit. The way their faces lit up at the unexpectedness and the knowing that they got a real Hawaiian welcome was special.