Leis in Oahu
 

Hello,

I need some advice from the locals/frequent travelers to Oahu. My wife and I are taking our first trip to the islands as our 5th anniversary. Part of me wanted to setup the Lei greeting off the flight as a nice touch, but I have heard from some people that this marks you automatically as a tourist. So my backup plan right now is to buy a couple of leis from the stands in the baggage claim area. Where are they in that area and is it normal to just walk up and buy two leis from them.

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!

Josejsoe50

There is a whole suite of lei stands outside the terminal near the inter-island side (you probably want to avoid any leis being sold within the baggage claim area--very much overpriced).

http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/airports/m...inal%20map.pdf

The above link shows you a map of HNL along with where the Lei Stands are located. IIRC, you can walk over and grab a few leis.

Also, FWIW, even if having a lei greeting marks you as a tourist, I don't think it's too much of a big deal. Over 60% of the people traveling through the domestic terminal are tourists any way. They greet you right at the gate (so much for TSA security) and give you the leis right there.... The only problem I see with it is the amount of money they end up charging for a greeting, it's probably not worth it. Though, I can imagine for a first time visitor, it might actually be quite nice. :)

Many of the nicer hotels will give a lei greeting upon check-in, although it's usually a plain orchid (or ti leaf for the men) - but it's free :)

As A frequent visitor to Hawaii I am getting so tired of the purple orchid lei's. I guess it's the aloha behind being lei'd when arriving at the hotel, but it just seems so obligatory. There are thirty people checking in and like a conveyor line they plant a purple orchid lei on each person and walk away. The Kahala gives the most beautiful green lei's and someone is there to greet you and ask about the flight, etc. It's a really nice touch.