Fragrant flower lei, synonymous with Hawaii, face competition from cheaper imports
Associated Press
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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)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)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)Lei hang inside a refrigerator at Cindy's 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)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)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)
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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)