Lei Greeting on Maui, Kona and Kauai
Kahului, Kona, Hilo and Līhuʻe: how to be met with a lei on the neighbor islands.
Get Free Hawaii Trip QuotesLei Greeting at Maui and the Neighbor Islands
A lei greeting is not only a Honolulu tradition. On Maui, Hawaii Island and Kauaʻi, friends and greeting services meet visitors with lei every day. The process is the same as at Honolulu: the greeting happens after you leave the secure area, usually near baggage claim, and you arrange it through family, your travel package or a service. What changes is the airport, and sometimes the flowers.
| Island | Main airport | Notes for a lei greeting |
|---|---|---|
| Maui | Kahului Airport (OGG) | The main gateway for Maui. A lei greeting on Maui is often paired with a transfer to Kāʻanapali, Wailea or Kapalua. Maui’s island flower is the lokelani rose. |
| Hawaii Island (Kona side) | Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) | Open-air walkways; most Kona-side resorts are north or south along the coast. The island flower is ʻōhiʻa lehua. |
| Hawaii Island (Hilo side) | Hilo International Airport (ITO) | Gateway for Hilo and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. |
| Kauaʻi | Līhuʻe Airport (LIH) | Kauaʻi’s official lei material is the fragrant mokihana berry, often woven with maile. |
| Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi | Small commuter airports | Greetings are usually arranged by your host or hotel. |
Planning a Lei Greeting on Maui
Maui is a favorite for honeymoons and anniversaries, and a lei greeting on Maui is a natural start. Ask your greeter or advisor which flowers are in season; orchid and plumeria are widely available, while fragrant pīkake, tuberose and maile cost more and may need ordering ahead. If you are flying in from Honolulu, keep your first lei and add a second one on Maui: two lei layered together are not unusual for celebrations.
Once you are on the ground, Maui Planner covers beaches, the Road to Hāna and Haleakalā. On Hawaii Island, Best of Hawaii Island is the guide; on Kauaʻi, Best of Kauai.
Island Lei: A Different Flower for Each Island
State law gives each island its own flower or lei material, and choosing it for a lei greeting is a thoughtful touch: lokelani rose for Maui, ʻōhiʻa lehua for Hawaii Island, ʻilima for Oʻahu, mokihana for Kauaʻi, kukui blossom for Molokaʻi, kaunaʻoa for Lānaʻi, pūpū shells for Niʻihau and hinahina for Kahoʻolawe. Some are rare or seasonal, so ask early. The full list of island colors and flowers is on Hawaiian Information’s state symbols page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a lei greeting at Maui airport?
Yes, lei greetings are common at Kahului Airport (OGG). They are arranged the same way as in Honolulu: by friends, a package, or a greeting service that meets you after the secure area, usually near baggage claim.
Are Hawaii neighbor-island airports open-air?
Parts of several neighbor-island terminals, including Kona and Līhuʻe, are open-air, so your first breath of island air comes as you walk to baggage claim. It is a fine place for a lei greeting.
Island-Hopping With a Lei on Arrival
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