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SHORT SUPPLY
Lei supply vanishing as orchid imports halt
Hawaii lei vendors who depend on orchids imported from Thailand now face a shortage with Bangkok's airport shut down by protesters
STORY SUMMARY | READ THE FULL STORYOrchids and orchid leis used to greet visitors, decorate mai tais and go in floral arrangements for weddings are in short supply because of the shutdown of Bangkok's international airport by anti-government protesters.
Lei shop owners say they are substituting other flowers when they can and not filling some orders.
The shortage comes during a slow period for lei sales because of the holidays and because there aren't as many tourists here.
For now, the shortage isn't affecting lei prices.
But that may also depend on how long Bangkok's airport remains closed.
FULL STORY >>
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 30, 2008
It was 1 p.m., and Lisa Motuapuaku finally got enough leis for her friend's wedding starting in two hours.
Orchid ImportsImports of cut orchids from Thailand have more than doubled in the last five years. The figures include both leis and cut flowers.2007: $4.5 million 2006: $4.3 million 2005: $3.8 million 2004: $3.2 million 2003: $2.2 million Source: U.S. Customs
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"You just assume that we're in Hawaii and we're going to have plentiful leis," she said. "But I worked up a sweat today getting these leis."
Motuapuaku's difficulty stems from a lei shortage in Hawaii that is likely to worsen this week.
Political turmoil in Thailand has brought the shutdown of Bangkok's international airport since Tuesday by protesters seeking to unseat the current government. That has crippled shipments of orchids to Hawaii. The vast majority of cut orchids used in leis here come from Thailand.
"The bulk of our orders for everyday use is from Thailand. Recently, we have not been able to sell specific orders," said Tony Nguyen, manager of Lin's Lei Shop on Maunakea Street.
Fortunately for lei vendors, the airport shutdown didn't happen during graduation season.
"Most people now are out doing their Christmas shopping, so it's usually our slow time," Nguyen said.
Lei vendors said yesterday the current crisis shouldn't affect prices for now if the shipments can resume soon.
Pauahi Leis and Flowers, which has been in business in Chinatown for two decades, may see about 10,000 fewer orchids this week. It typically gets a shipment of about 15,000 orchids a week.
There aren't enough local flowers to make up for the loss of the Thai shipments.
"Right now it's the winter season, so not much here," said 64-year-old owner Lilia Bolosan. "If the sales are really, really down, maybe I'll close the business. Maybe I should retire already."
Sam Say, owner of M.P. Lei Shop, said he is willing to weather a few more days of no Thai shipments. He gets about 40 percent of his orchids from local growers, and they should be enough.
"This is a slow season anyway," Say said. "I think it will be over soon."
Workers at lei stands at Honolulu Airport say the lack of orchids isn't hurting them as much as the dwindling visitor arrivals.
Susan Maningding, a 12-year employee at Arthur's Lei Stand at the airport, said the stand does not have the larger orchids from Thailand.
"It's really not too bad though, because business too slow anyway, because the tourists are not coming in," Maningding said. "This is the worst holiday I've ever seen."
It was 1 p.m., and Lisa Motuapuaku finally got enough leis for her friend's wedding starting in two hours.
Orchid ImportsImports of cut orchids from Thailand have more than doubled in the last five years. The figures include both leis and cut flowers.2007: $4.5 million 2006: $4.3 million 2005: $3.8 million 2004: $3.2 million 2003: $2.2 million Source: U.S. Customs |
"You just assume that we're in Hawaii and we're going to have plentiful leis," she said. "But I worked up a sweat today getting these leis."
Motuapuaku's difficulty stems from a lei shortage in Hawaii that is likely to worsen this week.
Political turmoil in Thailand has brought the shutdown of Bangkok's international airport since Tuesday by protesters seeking to unseat the current government. That has crippled shipments of orchids to Hawaii. The vast majority of cut orchids used in leis here come from Thailand.
"The bulk of our orders for everyday use is from Thailand. Recently, we have not been able to sell specific orders," said Tony Nguyen, manager of Lin's Lei Shop on Maunakea Street.
Fortunately for lei vendors, the airport shutdown didn't happen during graduation season.
"Most people now are out doing their Christmas shopping, so it's usually our slow time," Nguyen said.
Lei vendors said yesterday the current crisis shouldn't affect prices for now if the shipments can resume soon.
Pauahi Leis and Flowers, which has been in business in Chinatown for two decades, may see about 10,000 fewer orchids this week. It typically gets a shipment of about 15,000 orchids a week.
There aren't enough local flowers to make up for the loss of the Thai shipments.
"Right now it's the winter season, so not much here," said 64-year-old owner Lilia Bolosan. "If the sales are really, really down, maybe I'll close the business. Maybe I should retire already."
Sam Say, owner of M.P. Lei Shop, said he is willing to weather a few more days of no Thai shipments. He gets about 40 percent of his orchids from local growers, and they should be enough.
"This is a slow season anyway," Say said. "I think it will be over soon."
Workers at lei stands at Honolulu Airport say the lack of orchids isn't hurting them as much as the dwindling visitor arrivals.
Susan Maningding, a 12-year employee at Arthur's Lei Stand at the airport, said the stand does not have the larger orchids from Thailand.
"It's really not too bad though, because business too slow anyway, because the tourists are not coming in," Maningding said. "This is the worst holiday I've ever seen."
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