Bringing Lei back Home

Once you wear a beautiful floral Lei here in Hawaii, you’ll want to keep it as long as possible.  Maybe you've been to a special occasion like a wedding or cultural event such as a Lu’au and would love to take it home or bring Lei home for loved ones!  Can you bring Lei back home after leaving Hawaii?  Yes, you can!  But please follow existing rules and regulation and also a few suggestions to improve the chances your Lei makes it home looking fresh and beautiful.

Rules and Regulations

If you live in the continental United States, you will need to check if your floral Lei are made of products allowed to leave Hawaii and just as important, allowed in your Home state. Agricultural inspectors will check your Lei to make sure it isn't made from any prohibited materials. Here are some examples; you cannot take citrus plants out of Hawaii, and these are sometimes used in Lei. There is also a type of vine and fast-growing lily sometimes used in Lei that aren't allowed outside of Hawaii.

They will also check that you are not mistakenly carrying any bugs or plant diseases on the Lei. At the airport, always declare your Lei so they can be checked by professionals who know what to look for. We encourage you to ask when you are buying Lei if any fresh botanical fruits like berries and pandanus fruit are in the Lei. Also, check to make sure the Lei doesn't contain any citrus or flowers from citrus plants, or a plant called Mauna Loa. While your Lei will more than likely be fine, it is best to be sure and avoid any fines or issues at the other end when you land.

Here is a Checklist of items to avoid:

• Citrus
• Citrus plants or flowers
• Vines
• Lilys
• Bugs
• Diseased plant material
• Fruit including pandanus fruit.
• Berries
• Mauna Loa

To provide context, the reason citrus is banned is due to Asian citrus psyllid, which could damage the American farming and agriculture industry. This invasive insect can carry citrus disease that can be very damaging to crops. Once it infests a crop, area, or country, it is very difficult to irradiate. This pest loves citrus, fruit and ornamental plants. Some Lei are made using citrus or leaves from citrus plants (Like He’e and Seagrapes or Mock Orange Leaves),

 For More Information

Learn more about what you can bring to the

U.S. mainland from Hawaii on USDA’s “Agricultural Information for International Travelers” Web page at www.aphis.usda.gov/travel.

Best practices when traveling with Floral Lei

If you are buying Lei, especially to take home, buy them right before you leave, so they are fresh. You can store them in your resort fridge or if you don't have a fridge, keep them in an air-conditioned room the ideal temperature for Lei is about 45 degrees so do not ever put in a freezer.

 The best Lei for taking back home are Orchid based Lei as they can last for up to a week when handled with care. They make the best Lei to take back as a gift for a loved one back home.  Secondly, please make sure your Lei are packed properly with a gel ice pack and insulation placed carefully in your bag or box, wrapped in tissue paper or plastic and not smashed. Also, keep Lei on top so immigration can inspect them easily. Once you are home, remove Lei from your bag as soon as you can when you arrive. Remember, Lei are fragile items so if you can, you should hand carry your Lei so they are not mis-handled by baggage handlers.

How to properly dispose of Hawaiian Lei

 Lei is such a significant aspect of our Native Hawaiian culture. For Hawaiian’s, Lei symbolizes Love, Respect and Aloha. So, we encourage you to always treat them with respect. With that, there is a special way to dispose of used flower lei. To be respectful, you always return the Lei to its natural habitat by burying them or scattering the flowers in a natural environment like the ocean or nature.  Hawaiians believe that we get the flowers from the land so when we are done using it, we return it to the land. Never throw them in the trash. Some like to hang and dry their Lei to enjoy them for as long as possible.

Simple Lei Etiquette

 You should always accept a Lei when it is offered to you and not remove it if you are still with the person who gave it to you. The exception would be if your love gave it to you during your wedding ceremony because you will be with that person all day, all night and forever!