HONOLULU (KHON2) — Have you ever wanted a Hawaiʻi lei that was made just for you? Instead of choosing one already hanging in a cooler, you can often ask a skilled lei maker to create a custom design.
Whether you want your favorite flowers; special colors; or a lei for a birthday, graduation, wedding or another celebration, several shops in and near Waikīkī offer personalized options.
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Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand at the Waikīkī Grand Hotel. Hula’s has been around since 1974, and much of its history has centered on lei. When the bar/restaurant/dance club first opened on Kuhio Avenue underneath the banyan tree, there was an actual lei stand where you could buy freshly made and custom lei.
Then, when they moved into to the Waikīkī Grand Hotel in 1998, a lady by the name of Mizuni would come by every day to sell freshly made to lei.
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But last year, Hula’s moved back to its roots and now offers freshly made lei and custom options as you sip on your favorite beverage and watch the VJ’s custom music videos while enjoying views of Diamond Head and Waikīkī Beach.
Another popular choice is Hale O Nā Lei (The Orchid Lei Company), located inside the Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort.
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It’s the only shop in Waikīkī that is dedicated only to lei. They offer fresh orchid lei, haku lei, traditional lei (lei āʻī) hair flower (known as lei poʻo), kukui nut lei and other custom floral designs…