The expenditure of Honolulu City Council members on lei has brought attention to a cherished local tradition, with each member investing hundreds of dollars to honor constituents and celebrate various community achievements.
The spending, while a small fraction of the each member’s $25,000 discretionary budget, showcases the importance placed on the floral garlands in local culture.
Monthly meetings often see council members adorning distinguished community figures with these vibrant symbols of Aloha, whether they be championship sports teams, longtime business owners, or retiring officials.
Council member Esther Kiaʻāina, representing the Windward Coast, emphasized her perspective on the necessity of this expenditure for community outreach.
“I feel it’s a critical part of my community outreach efforts,” Kiaʻāina stated, justifying her $863.76 lei spending last year as an investment in community connection.
She is known to source her lei from local vendors such as Lin’s Lei Shop and Pauahi Leis and Flowers, favoring fragrant varieties that enhance the ceremonial experience.
Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam also places importance on purchasing lei, typically from Cindy’s Lei Shoppe.
He recalled a recent ceremony honoring the shop’s 93-year-old namesake, Cindy Lau, noting, “My family has been a Cindy’s family for a long time,” linking his purchases to personal tradition.
Dos Santos-Tam favors the red hala lei, a meaningful choice representative of his alma mater, Punahou School.
The trend continues with Council Chair Tommy Waters, whose office’s lei spending reached $700.56, as he too enjoys the offerings from Cindy’s Lei Shoppe alongside Watanabe Floral.
In contrast, Council member Matt Weyer, who represents the North Shore, tends to avoid fragrant lei due to potential sensitivities among attendees.
Weyer, who spent $1,134, favors the eye-catching but scentless cigar flower lei.
He credits his office manager, Leitani Peltier, who is also a lei maker, for guiding him in selecting the most suitable garlands.
Despite varying approaches, the overall trend among council members shows a commitment to this floral tradition.
Radiant Cordero, who demonstrated frugality in spending only $347.84 on lei, remarked on rising costs impacting their budgets, and mentioned that for larger groups, particularly schools, they often resort to crafting their own lei.
This do-it-yourself approach often utilizes ti leaves from friends and family, showcasing a sense of community involvement in the lei-making process.
Andria Tupola, another council member representing parts of West Oʻahu, recorded the highest expenditures this past year at $1,307.18, including materials for creating lei for the Legislature’s opening.
Her colleague Augie Tulba followed closely with $984.49, which included $301.55 spent on eyelash yarn for certificates presented during a recent ceremony.
While all city council members reported considerable spending on lei, many state lawmakers did not report similar expenditures.
Some, like Rep. Nicole Lowen and Rep. Kirstin Kahaloa, still shared in the tradition, spending over $500 collectively on lei for the opening day celebrations.
Notably, Lowen’s spending reached $536.13 and Kahaloa’s totaled $314.14, underscoring the continued appreciation for the gesture of giving lei in such formal contexts.
Among the Senate’s largest lei expenditures were Sen. Henry Aquino, who spent $748.46 in the 2025 calendar year, and Sen. Michelle Kidani, whose spending surpassed $614.
On a larger scale, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office revealed a significant cumulative spending of $4,329.95 on lei for the 2025 fiscal year.
His spokesperson Scott Humber explained that the lei purchases are coordinated through the Administrative Services Officer, stating that providing lei serves to demonstrate love, respect, and appreciation for honored guests.
“Providing lei also helps humanize our hardworking City team,” Humber conveyed, highlighting the integral role of such traditions in fostering community relations.
Overall, the spending on lei by city council members not only reflects a deep-rooted cultural practice but also underscores their commitment to community engagement and connection through this beloved gift.
image source from：civilbeat
