Category: Odd + Funny Author : Duncan Riley Posted: November 30, 2008
Tags : america, hawaii, lei
Hawaii is famous for many things, and one of those things is the traditional Lei, the traditional Hawaiian floral garland placed around the neck.
You’d think therefore that the Lei being a Hawaiian thing that Lei’s would be sustained by a ready supply of local flowers, but you’d be wrong.
Most Hawaiian Leis are made from imported flowers from Thailand, and presuming you haven’t been living in a cave, you know what’s going on there at the moment.
The flowers used for Lei’s are in short supply because of the shutdown of Bangkok’s international airport by anti-government protesters, according to reports. Lei shop owners say they are substituting other flowers when they can and not filling some orders.
The good news is that the shortage of Thai flowers isn’t affecting the price of Lei’s yet, but only due to a seasonal lull in tourist traffic. If the issues in Thailand continue, the cost of Lei’s may go through the roof in the new year, presuming Lei makes can find any.
Remember the next time you go to Hawaii: you may joke that most things you buy are Made in China, but apparently Hawaiian tradition is manufactured in Thailand.
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Dec 1, 2008
Duncan,
more posts with pics like this please?
kthxbai
Dec 1, 2008
lol. I'll try
Dec 1, 2008
There are leis and there are leis (no apostrophe for plural by the way). The real thing, made from local flowers and ferns don't look anything like the ones in the pic here (ahem) and a good thing. The real lei, a work of art, is made from flowers and fern including ginger, plumeria, orchids and the lovely, fragrant maile leaf … on Oahu at least they are strung together by specialty makers in downtown Honolulu. December is graduation month for UHawaii, so the traditional gift of leis given to graduates should bolster the local industry for a month or so, providing the local supply doesn't run out. Knowing the artistry of the lei makers however, finding something worthy of being called a lei shouldn't be a problem.
Dec 1, 2008
This pic is disrespectful to any proud Hawaiian or resident of the beautiful Aloha state.
Feb 8, 2009
Too bad it wasn't poi.
Aloha
Feb 16, 2009
Hard to believe that these beautiful things are imported from Thailand! I will definitely remember this when I get my lei from the Hawaii Hotel!
Aloha!!