In Hawaiʻi, lei are more than flowers strung together. They are expressions of aloha, connection, and identity. On this episode of Aloha Authentic, we take a closer look at the business behind lei and how families continue to keep this tradition alive.
Our journey begins in Haleʻiwa at the Little Plumeria Farm, where Kamaka meets with renowned photographer Clark Little and his son, Dane. Beyond capturing Hawaiʻi’s powerful shore breaks, Clark and his family cultivate plumeria blossoms that are supplied to local vendors. The father and son duo share the story of how their farm began, the different varieties of plumeria they grow, and the importance of providing consistent, quality flowers to sustain a practice that is at the heart of Hawaiian culture.
From the North Shore, we head to the Kahala Hotel and Resort to talk story with Karen Lee of Cindy’s Lei Shoppe in Chinatown. Karen recounts how her mother, one of the pioneers of Chinatown’s lei shops, turned a lifelong fascination for lei into a family business that has endured for decades. Karen sheds light on the challenges lei shops face today, especially when it comes to sourcing flowers. While Hawaiʻi grown blossoms are always preferred, the demand often outweighs supply, forcing many shops to look beyond the islands. Importing flowers can keep the business going, but it also presents new challenges such as rising costs and shipping delays…