Fragrant flower lei, synonymous with Hawaii, face competition from cheaper imports

HONOLULU (AP) — Dear Tourist: The flowers in that bright-purple lei you received on your Hawaii vacation almost certainly weren't grown in the Aloha State.

The vast majority of those odorless orchids are imported from Thailand, where it is cheaper to grow and string them into the garlands synonymous with Hawaiian culture.

Some Hawaii lawmakers think the state should be doing more to help the producers of lei made with locally grown, fragrant flowers. Ideas include labeling requirements that would identify Hawaii-made garlands and a prohibition on state agencies buying imported lei, though some lei-sellers worry that such rules would make the garlands too expensive.

“You don't come to Hawaii and not at least have a flower or a lei," said Kuhio Lewis, CEO of the Hawaiian Council, a nonprofit that promotes Native Hawaiian culture and business. “For us to now be importing is not good. It's actually embarrassing."

The custom of giving and wearing lei made of flowers, leaves, seeds or shells has always been associated with Hawaiian people, for whom the garlands represent love or the spirit of “aloha.” They were used not just for ceremonies but worn in everyday life by everyone from chiefs to children, according to a 2002 paper published by the University of Hawaii.

Today, people in Hawaii give and receive lei for all kinds of celebrations, including birthdays and promotions. High school, college and even elementary school graduates receive lei piled to their tops of their heads, their faces slowly vanishing behind a rising wall of flowers. Each year on the opening day of the Legislature, lawmakers meet a similar fate. Pregnant women are given open-ended strands, rather than a closed necklace, because of a tradition that says the latter represents the umbilical cord wrapping around their baby's neck.

“We always are looking for ways that we can honor people through our Indigenous cultures, which is giving lei,” said state Rep. Darius Kila, who is Native Hawaiian.

Because lei-giving is so ingrained in Hawaii, lawmakers are constantly buying them and doling them out — at groundbreakings, to honor constituents or volunteers, or for staffers' birthdays, for example.

Kila this year sponsored a bill, requested by the Hawaiian Council, that would have required a certain percentage of lei purchased by state officials to include flowers grown in-state. It also sought lei labels telling customers where the flowers were grown.

That measure failed, but a related bill in the Senate remains alive. It would create a work group to study whether local flower-growers and lei-makers can meet the rising demand for the garlands, and make recommendations for protecting the local industry.

“The growing commercialization of lei and lei materials has led to increased use of imported plant materials and manufactured components that are marketed using Hawaiian language, imagery, and place names,” the Senate bill states. That “may mislead consumers and undermine local growers, lei makers, and cultural practitioners.”

As Hawaii's population and tourism boomed in the 20th century, lei-makers turned to nonnative ornamental plants such as carnations and jasmine to meet soaring demand, and those are still some of the most popular.

Kila, a Democrat from west Oahu, said he has a strict rule for himself and his staff: “I really try not for us to give out orchid lei, specifically the purple Thailand orchid lei.”

While shopping for lei recently in Honolulu's Chinatown, home to a concentration of lei stands and flower shops, Kila sought out puakenikeni — also known as the “10-cent flower,” supposedly dating to the days when lei cost a dime —as well as ginger and tuberose. The blooms, which are not native, emit various degrees of jasmine-like sweetness.

“People want pikake" — a type of jasmine, said Francis Wong, owner of longtime Chinatown fixture Jenny’s Lei and Flowers. "That's the top flower in Hawaii.”

Wong usually sources the aromatic white flowers from a farm in Nanakuli, near Kila's hometown. But there are seasonal shortages in winter, he said.

Wong and his wife, Pickoun Wong, who strings flowers together in the back of the store, have been renting the business for 18 years. They sell Thailand orchids to give customers a cheaper option, especially when local flowers are limited.

Locals always prefer local flowers, said Monty Pereira, general manager of Watanabe Floral. But imported flowers help stretch limited local supplies, he said. One popular lei blends Hawaii-grown tuberose with imported carnations.

The Thailand-grown orchids also meet a demand for lei outside of Hawaii, often from former residents who have moved to other states, he said.

Watanabe Floral is Hawaii's biggest florist. It sells some 250,000 lei per year, accounting for about a quarter of its business, Pereira said.

He submitted testimony opposing Kila's bill on purchasing parameters for state agencies, saying it could unintentionally reduce overall lei usage rather than strengthen the industry.

Restricting imported flowers could drive up the costs of lei, he said in an interview.

“If like 30 lei stands and florists are fighting for the same lei, that's when lei is going to start to be $100, $150, $200,” he said. Last Mother's Day, a three-strand pikake lei was going for $150.

And with Trump administration's tariffs, the Thailand orchid can now cost about as much as some local flowers, he said.

Pereira, who is Native Hawaiian, worries that people are increasingly turning to lei made with candy or ribbons rather than flowers, a style especially common at graduations.

“The bigger threat is making it so expensive that the people of Hawaii cannot afford to enjoy something that's culturally significant to us," he said.

Mei Mei Say, owner of M.P. Lei Shop, left, poses for a photo with State Rep. Darius Kila, D-Nanakuli, in Chinatown, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Purple Thai orchid leis sit inside a refrigerator at M.P. Lei Shop in Chinatown, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Sam Say, owner of M.P. Lei Shop, strings flowers to make a lei at his shop in Chinatown, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Lei hang inside a refrigerator at Cindy's Lei Shop in Chinatown, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

State Rep. Darius Kila, D-Nanakuli, is pictured during an interview at M.P. Lei Shop in Chinatown, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Cindy Lau, owner of Cindy's Lei Shoppe, poses for a portrait as she threads flowers onto string in Chinatown, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Sam Say, owner of M.P. Lei Shop, strings flowers to make a lei at his shop in Chinatown, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown's frustration with officials boiled over during the first half of Tuesday's game against the San Antonio Spurs when he was ejected after receiving back-to-back technical fouls.

Brown did not speak to reporters after the game unlike Boston's first matchup with San Antonio when he was fined for criticizing the officiating crew.

The Celtics stood up for Brown on Tuesday after a 125-116 loss in a physical battle between the No. 2 teams in each conference.

“He definitely earned the first one and then I thought the second one was (expletive), honestly,” Boston guard Derrick White said. “I mean, it’s a passionate game, high-level game. You can’t throw out a guy that’s done so much for us all year in a game like this, especially joining in, like I wouldn't throw him out. I think that was ridiculous.”

Brown was upset after no foul was called when he lost the ball out of bounds with 3:42 remaining in the first half.

White and Jayson Tatum both believe Brown was pushed on the play and were confounded it led to an ejection, especially in a nationally broadcast marquee matchup.

“He definitely got pushed,” Tatum said “The first tech probably warranted, emotions are high, but second tech ...? You've got to understand, national TV game, two of the best teams in the league and you make a big deal about stars playing and then you're trigger happy, throw somebody out the game. So I disagree with it.”

Brown has voiced his displeasure with the officiating previously, which added to his exasperation and first ejection of the season.

Brown’s official X account shortly after he reached the locker room Tuesday expressed his frustration.

“This the (expletive) I be talking about,” Brown posted.

Brown had eight points and seven assists in 15 minutes when he was ejected.

It marked the second time Brown was agitated with a lack of calls against San Antonio.

The NBA fined Brown $35,000 on Jan. 12, a day after he criticized officials following a 100-95 loss to San Antonio.

“I feel like, honestly, they just got away with a lot, and I’m tired of the inconsistency,” Brown told reporters in Boston after that game.

The Celtics took just four free throws in that home loss to the Spurs.

Boston had 17 free throws on Tuesday while San Antonio had 25.

Brown's frustration showed early in the rematch.

Official Tyler Ford assessed the first technical after Brown continued to voice his displeasure at the no-call after he lost the ball out of bounds.

The technical incensed Brown, who had to be restrained by teammates from approaching Ford. Official Suyash Mehta assessed a second technical seconds later, resulting in an automatic ejection.

NBA Rule No. 12 requires an ejected player or coach to leave the playing area and bench immediately upon notification, but Brown remained after the ejection as he continued yelling at Ford. Players and staff, including Boston coach Joe Mazzulla, had to restrain Brown from approaching Ford. Brown threw his hands up in disgust before walking off the court.

Mazzulla said Brown had his full support, but he also did not want to speak about the officiating.

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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) is restrained as he argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) is restrained as he argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) argues a call during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs in San Antonio, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Antonio Spurs guard De'aaron Fox (4) drives around Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Tuesday, March 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)