Hawaii Lei Greeting at Honolulu Airport: Cost + How to Book

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The best lei greeting at Honolulu Airport is LeiGreeting.com. A greeter meets you at baggage claim with a sign with your name, puts a fresh lei on each person, and takes a photo of your group.

Prices start at $35 per person for a classic orchid lei, and greetings run every day from 8 AM to 11 PM. I booked one to surprise our family on Oahu in 2024 and on the Big Island in 2026. They were thrilled after such a long flight!

My wife, Erica, was disappointed when she visited Hawaii as a young girl. She expected a lei greeting on arrival. It never happened. She deserved the best lei greeting at Honolulu Airport.

Make your trip to Hawaii special with a lei greeting. We share the best lei greetings in Honolulu and on all the Hawaiian Islands. Plus, we share the history of the Hawaii lei, the traditional lei greeting, where to buy your Hawaii lei, and whether you can leave Hawaii with your lei.

Lei Greeting Prices by Hawaii Airport

Click the links in the lei greeting table below to check availability for booking a lei greeting. Unfortunately, Hilo International Airport does not offer lei greetings.

I must say, with lei prices at Costco in Hawaii, this is a cheap lei greeting at Honolulu Airport!

Traveling solo, with a group, or want to surprise someone on their trip to Hawaii with a lei greeting on arrival? Your greeter will greet you with a warm Aloha and a fresh Hawaiian lei. They should offer to take a group photo with your new lei. If they don’t offer, don’t be shy to ask for a photo.

Here are the best lei greeters in Honolulu and on each major Hawaiian Island.

Option	Honolulu (HNL)	Maui (OGG)	Kona (KOA)	Kauai (LIH)
Classic Orchid, per person	from $35	from $39	from $39	from $39
Solo Traveler	from $45	from $59	from $59	from $59
Custom, choose your lei (2 to 7 people)	from $39	from $49	from $49	from $49
Large Group (8+)	from $35	from $39	from $39	from $39
Honeymoon (set of 2)	from $75	from $95	from $95	from $95

Why we go with LeiGreeting.com

I have always booked with LeiGreeting.com because they offer different lei greeting options, communicate well leading up to the greeting, offer great prices, and their greeters welcome us with a warm smile and a memorable lei greeting!

They were also the first greeters to come back to major Hawaii airports after COVID, and they continue to service all the main airports. They have been our preferred vendor for the past four years at Honolulu Airport, Kauai’s Lihue Airport, Maui’s Kahului Airport, and Kona Airport.

In the past four years, we have received only one complaint from our readers about using LeiGreeting.com. The customer had questions before booking, but they received no response to their email.

Use the booking links above to find answers to the frequent Lei Greeting questions. You can also book a lei greeting for more details. They offer a good cancellation policy: a full refund 48 hours before your arrival.

How a Honolulu Airport Lei Greeting Works

1. Book online with your flight number and arrival time. Book 2 to 5 days in advance. The required lead time depends on the package you book. You can cancel up to 48 hours in advance.
2. Pick your lei for each person: classic orchid, kukui nut, ti leaf, candy, or a deluxe combination. A custom lei order gives you over a dozen lei options.
3. Head to baggage claim. Your greeter, dressed in blue-turquoise aloha attire, waits with a sign with your name. Ours was easy to spot.
4. Get lei’d and take a photo. They’ll adorn you with a fresh orchid lei, take photos using your personal device, and offer any assistance you need. Ask for a photo they don’t offer.
5. Ask your lei greeter questions. Ours pointed us to the rideshare pickup and texted us a to-do list for Oahu.

If your flight is delayed: Flights arriving after 11:00 PM may not be serviced due to staffing and airport regulations.

Service is non-refundable if you miss your greeting or fail to notify them of a flight change. Please update them promptly with any changes so your lei greeter is ready when you arrive.

Who Should Book a Lei Greeting (and who should skip it)

Book one if you’re surprising family, celebrating a honeymoon or milestone, arriving with a big group, or it’s someone’s first trip to Hawaii.

Skip it if you land after 11 PM, your resort already greets guests with a lei, or you’d rather spend less

You can purchase a lei at airport lei stands, coolers, or kiosks inside or just outside of the terminal. See below for details. Costco, Target, and Safeway sell fresh lei for less, about $10 to $30 per lei, depending on the style and the florist.

Now that you have your lei greeting at Honolulu Airport secured, check things to do by area on Oahu:
Best 40 Things to Do on Oahu, Hawaii (the list + map you need)
34 Great Things to Do in Honolulu (that are actually IN Honolulu)
21 Amazing Things to Do on Oahu’s North Shore
The Ultimate Ko Olina Guide: What to Do, Where to Eat, Where to Stay

Best Hawaii Lei Greetings by Airport

Click the links below to book. They offer greetings seven days a week, from 8 AM to 11 PM. 

Choose from a large selection of leis, and each person can select the lei they like! They offer classic orchid, kukui nut, ti leaf, candy, and deluxe combinations. Pictures of the lei arrangements are shown via the links.

Best Lei Greetings at Honolulu Airport

We love this lei greeting at Honolulu Airport for its warm aloha greeters and willingness to answer your questions when you arrive. They will meet you at baggage claim with a sign and a memorable Hawaii lei greeting. That is why they are the best lei greeting at Honolulu Airport.

Click to schedule a lei greeting at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) on Oahu.

• Solo Traveler (starting at $45)
• Classic Orchid Lei: 2 – 7 people (starting at $35)
• Large Group: 8+ (starting at $35)
• Custom Lei Greeting (starting at $39)
• Honeymoon Lei Greeting (starting at $75)

Maui’s Kahului Airport Lei Greetings

Click the links below to schedule a lei greeting at Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui.

• Solo Traveler (starting at $59)
• Classic Orchid Lei: 2 – 7 people (starting at $49)
• Large Group: 8+ (starting at $39)
• Custom Lei Greeting (starting at $49)
• Honeymoon Lei Greeting (starting at $95 for a set of two)

Island of Hawaii (Kona) Airport Lei Greetings

Click the links below to schedule a lei greeting at Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) on the Big Island, near Kona.

• Solo Traveler (starting at $59)
• Classic Lei Greeting: 2 – 7 people (starting at $49)
• Large Group: 8+ (starting at $39)
• Custom Lei Greeting (starting at $49)
• Honeymoon Lei Greeting (starting at $95 for a set of two)

Kauai Airport Lei Greetings

Begin your stay on The Garden Isle with a lei greeting at Lihue Airport. A local will greet your party with a lei and answer any questions about places to go.

Click below to learn more and book a lei greeting at Lihue Airport in Kauai.

• Solo Traveler (starting at $59)
• Classic lei greeting (starting at $49)
• Custom lei greeting (starting at $49)
• 8 or more people lei greeting (starting at $39 per person)
• Honeymoon lei greeting (starting at $95 per person)

You can get a lei greeting if you’re staying at a luxury hotel or by buying a fresh lei from a local Kauai florist. Sure, Target sells lei, but a local florist is a better experience!

If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii during the best time to visit, over Christmas, or over the summer, then here is a little background on the history of Hawaii lei greetings and these garlands.

A History of Hawaii Lei

While the lei tradition was brought over by Polynesian settlers, the Hawaii lei greeting has become a symbol of Hawaii and aloha across the world. 

In Olelo Hawaii (the Hawaiian language) there is no plural so “lei” is correct but “leis” is acceptable speech.

Lei can be made from shells, flowers, leaves, nuts, feathers, bone, and animal teeth. Don’t worry, you won’t be given a bone-and-teeth lei at check-in. The most symbolic lei is made from Maile vine, which chiefs used to establish peace.

While the ancient Hawaiian social system of kapu had many rules, lei-wearing was not heavily regulated. Anyone could wear any type of lei they wish. Men can wear flowered lei, and women can wear kukui nut lei. Today, that is still true.

There is some Hawaii lei greeting etiquette to follow. Here are some informal rules and Hawaii lei greeting protocol.

Hawaii Lei Greeting Traditions

Two unspoken rules govern Hawaii lei greetings. First, always accept a lei. The second is never to remove a lei in front of the person who gave it to you. A lei welcomes and celebrates one person’s affection for another; hence these informal rules.

Giving a lei is a ceremony in itself when done the traditional way. Traditionalists give a lei by bowing slightly and raising it above the heart, allowing the recipient to take it. Raising the hands above another’s head, or touching the face or head, is considered disrespectful.

Another custom requires exchanging Ha, the breath of life. People exchange this breath by pressing the bridge of their noses together while inhaling at the same time. Ha is more than a show at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Related article: Polynesian Cultural Center Ali’i Luau vs Gateway Buffet

This exchange can occur at a Hawaiian lei greeting, as it welcomes the other person into their space by sharing the breath of life, sacred to the Hawaiian culture. Ancient Hawaiians recognized breath as key to good health and believed it held mana (spiritual power). 

In Western culture, you won’t find the exchange of breath at an airport lei greeting or at hotel check-in. But you can toss out a Hawaiian Pidgin phrase to surprise the lei greeter.

Many resorts, especially the Kaanapali Beach Resort on Maui, will share the lei ceremony in their cultural activities program. I recommend attending if your resort offers it!

Anyone can wear a lei anytime; no ceremony or special event is required. Buy one for yourself and enjoy! 

Local residents of Hawaii wear lei for birthdays, graduations, weddings, funerals, etc. May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii. Many schools, like our son’s preschool on Maui, have a pageant on Lei Day.

Where to Buy Lei in Hawaii

If a Hawaii lei greeting isn’t your thing, you can purchase lei all over Hawaii. You can find the best-priced lei at Costco, Walmart, and Target. They have coolers full of lei to choose from near the entrance. But while these are well-priced, we recommend visiting a local florist or lei specialty shop.

If you stay at a luxury hotel in Hawaii, you can expect a lei greeting at check-in. See the articles below to get a free lei (kind of free). 

• How to Have a Luxury Vacation for Less
• The 6 Best Luxury Hotels on the Big Island
• Where to Stay on Maui: Luxury to Budget

A Hawaii luau will also include a lei greeting upon arrival. Sometimes this is a premium paid service but most luaus will provide a Hawaii lei greeting for all guests. The 14 Best Hawaii Luaus include a lei greeting!

On Oahu, a popular and well-respected place to purchase lei is at the Honolulu Airport. There is a row of lei shops located outside baggage claim along the loop road near the International Parking Garage. Click here for Google Map Directions.

Here, you will find family-owned lei makers like Harriet’s Lei Stand, Dorothy’s Lei Stand, and Rachel’s Lei Stand. 

Another popular place to purchase lei is in Honolulu’s Chinatown. Local florists make exquisite lei necklaces from many types of flowers.

On the neighbor islands of Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island look to local florists to find orchid lei and specialty lei.

Can You Leave Hawaii with a Lei?

All passengers are required to go through an agricultural inspection before leaving Hawaii in order to prevent the spread of fruit flies and hazardous plant insects and diseases to the mainland of the United States.

Flowered lei and non-flowered lei can leave Hawaii after inspection by the Department of Agriculture. Pineapples, lei, and coffee are listed as common items that are allowed to leave Hawaii for the USA mainland.

Watch the video below for more information on the agricultural inspection process upon leaving Hawaii.

Hawaii Lei Making Classes

Lei-making is one of our favorite things to do in Hawaii. The experience is an intimate way to learn the technique and a little of the Hawaiian culture from the teacher. 

The best place to start is with your resort. Your nightly resort fee may include free lei-making workshops. Check the resort’s event calendar for lei-making classes.

Erica and the kids made lei po’o at the Wailea Beach Resort on Maui. They enjoyed talking story with the instructor. Plus, we got some great family pictures with their lei po’o!

Another place to find lei-making in Hawaii is at shopping centers. Many shopping centers and malls have Hawaiian cultural events like hula shows and lei-making classes. Check their event calendars below.

Oahu Shopping Center Lei Classes:

• Royal Hawaiian Center
• Waikiki’s International Marketplace

Maui Shopping Center Lei Classes:

• Shops at Wailea
• Ka’anapali’s Whalers Village

Kauai Shopping Centers Lei Classes:

• Coconut Marketplace (Kapaa)

Big Island Shopping Centers Lei Classes:

• Queen’s Marketplace (Waikoloa)

On Maui, a unique experience is to visit Haku Maui in Makawao Town, Upcountry. Haku Maui has lei workshops. Try your hand at being a floral artist to create exquisite leis from tropical florals and other materials.

How to Dispose of Your Lei

Traditionally, never throw away a lei casually or toss it into the trash. Hawaiian custom is to return the lei to where the flowers, nuts, or lei material were gathered.

If that isn’t possible, return the lei to the earth by hanging it in a tree, burying it, or burning it. You will find leis draped over trees, statues, and other symbolic areas around Hawaii.

Most modern leis are held together with dental floss, so we do not recommend tossing your lei into the ocean or onto the land. Remove the string before disposing of your lei in Mother Nature.

A lei represents love, and throwing one away means throwing away the giver’s love.

Hawaii Lei Greeting FAQs

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