Buying lei made only with natural materials from Hawaii nei could be a new requirement for state agencies under an effort at the Legislature aimed at helping the local floriculture industry.

Companion bills in the House and Senate that each recently received initial public hearings propose to limit state agencies from making large or small purchases of lei not made in Hawaii using 100% natural materials originating in the state.

Under the proposed restriction, lei made with imported flowers, seeds, leaves and other natural items would be phased out as allowable purchases by state agencies. So would lei made with fabric, candy and other manufactured materials.

The measures cite negative impacts on local flower growers from increased use of imported plant materials and manufactured components.

Such lei, the bills also say, are often marketed using Hawaiian language, imagery and place names that may mislead consumers and undermine the local floriculture industry along with lei makers and cultural practitioners.

The bills would require that at least 30% of all lei purchased by state agencies by the end of 2032 be made entirely of natural objects and plant materials grown, harvested and assembled in Hawaii.

That threshold would rise to 40% by the end of 2037, and then to 50% by the end of 2042.

Additionally, no lei bought
by state agencies after the
beginning of 2043 would be allowed to contain plant material grown and harvested outside the state regardless of where such lei are assembled.

Madelyn McKeague, director of advocacy for the Hawaiian Council, said in written testimony on both bills that the proposed restrictions can have a significant impact in Hawaii where she said about 90% of lei sold locally are made with imported flowers.

Other items popular in lei sold in Hawaii, including kukui nuts and maile leaves, also are often imported from outside the state.

“State purchases of lei represents a valuable economic opportunity to support local,” McKeague said, adding that Honolulu City Council members spent nearly $4,500 buying lei. “Lei is one of the strongest enduring symbols of Hawaii and, to put it simply, what is a lei if it is not from Hawaii nei?”

The two bills wouldn’t apply to city officials, or the state Legislature. The proposed purchasing restrictions are only for state executive branch agencies, including state boards and commissions.

Other supporters of one or both the bills include the Hawaii Farm Bureau, the Haus of Puas floral and lei shop, the Tropical Flowers Express farm on Kauai, the Kapolei Chamber of Commerce and the O‘ahu Council of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs.

Not all the public testimony was in favor of the legislation, House Bill 2194 and Senate Bill 2781.

Nicholas Lee, controller of Cindy’s Lei &Flower Shoppe, expressed concern that a phased ban could be detrimental to lei makers and sellers if flower producers can’t increase production.

Lee said locally made lei have a competitive advantage due to quality and consumer tastes despite higher prices, but that supply is constrained due to aging farm operators, the agricultural labor force and other factors.

“I hope you will deeply consider the adverse
consequences of passing
HB 2194,” Lee said in written testimony that encouraged other forms of state support such as subsidies for local growers, pest and disease management support, and deregulation. “Local growers must be supported without implementing regressive
legislation that will do more harm than good.”

Sharon Hurd, chair of the state Board of Agriculture and Biosecurity, agreed with the intent of the legislation but also said in written testimony that it could be challenging to enforce restrictions if they become law.

“It may be difficult to determine the actual percentages used in production of the product as there is no test or procedure for this currently,” she said.

Hurd also said the Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity, which she also directs, may need additional staffing and other resources to effectively carry out the enforcement aspect of the legislation if it becomes law.

The value of Hawaii’s floriculture industry has been on a steep decline in recent years, falling to $44 million in 2023 from $89 million in 2019, according to the most recent analysis by DAB. Of the total, $6 million in 2023 was for lei flowers and other cut flowers, which was down from $12 million in 2019.

HB 2194 was introduced by 11 of 51 House members led by Rep. Darius Kila (D, Nanakuli-Maili).

The House Committee on Agriculture and Food Systems, which is chaired by one of the bill’s co-introducers, Rep. Cory Chun (D, Pearl City-Waipahu-Waikele), passed the bill unanimously after a public hearing on Feb. 6. HB 2194 now has been referred to the House Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce for further
consideration.

SB 2781 was introduced by Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole (D, Kaneohe-Kailua). The Senate Committee on Government Operations held a public hearing on the measure on Feb. 3 but did not immediately act on the bill.

Sen. Angus McKelvey, chair of the committee, said during the hearing that he was aware of concerns about unintended negative impacts on businesses, and that he might want to explore the idea of requiring lei sold in Hawaii be labeled as to origin. Such a law
exists for coffee.

“Is that something that, if the bill would move forward for consideration, (would) address the concerns that were raised?” McKelvey asked McKeague of the Hawaiian Council.

“Yes, absolutely,” McKeague replied. “I think we would still remain in support.”

On Thursday, McKelvey deferred any decision on the bill by the committee tentatively to Feb. 17.

A year ago, Boston travelers had nonstop flights to Hawaii on two different airlines. This winter? None. That’s because both Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines dropped their service between New England and the Aloha State.

But there’s good news to report.

Delta just announced it’s bringing back its Boston-Honolulu flights.

The Atlanta-based airline on Friday said it will restore service between Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and Honolulu’s Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), just ahead of the 2026 holiday season.

The route will reclaim the title of America’s longest domestic flight and mark the return of a seasonal route Delta previously operated for just one winter between 2024 and early 2025.

But that wasn’t the only Hawaii news the carrier shared.

Delta also announced its Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) hub will get new nonstop service next winter to a second Hawaiian destination: Maui.

Both flights will launch Dec. 19, which, for those glancing at their calendars, is the Saturday prior to Christmas. (The holiday comes on a Friday this year.)

Those routes — one new and one returning — were among a series of other moves Delta revealed to bolster its service between the U.S. mainland and Hawaii for next winter, a warming thought after a brutally cold few weeks in much of the country.

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Here’s what to know about the new service.

Boston to Honolulu

Delta will operate its Boston-to-Honolulu route four times per week for most of next winter but plans to run its planes between New England and Oahu each day during the peak holiday travel rush.

The carrier will operate its BOS-HNL flights with an Airbus A330-300, which sports:

• 34 lie-flat Delta One seats
• 21 Delta Premium Select (premium economy) recliners
• 24 extra-legroom Comfort seats
• 203 seats in the main cabin

While Delta previously went head-to-head with Hawaiian on what was — and will soon be again — America’s longest domestic route, it appears the carrier will (for now, at least) have the run to itself … unless Hawaiian follows Delta in pulling an about-face on a route it cut last year, citing underperformance.

Lounge review: Inside the fancy Delta One Lounge in Boston

Minneapolis-St. Paul to Maui

Passengers will also see the A330-300 on Delta’s all-new nonstop route from MSP to Kahului Airport (OGG) on the island of Maui.

Delta will operate five weekly round trips on this route for most of the winter but will expand it to daily service during both the peak holiday rush and the busy spring break period.

This will be the carrier’s second nonstop flight to Hawaii from Minneapolis. It already flies between MSP and HNL.

Other Hawaii additions

On top of those additions, Delta is planning a larger Hawaii expansion for next winter.

The carrier will operate extra weekly flights to Honolulu from three hubs: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

Elsewhere, the carrier is planning an earlier start this fall to its winter seasonal service from Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) to Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Its flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to KOA will also get a bigger plane for the winter season — one of Delta’s twin-aisle Boeing 767-300s.

Read more: Some of our favorite ways to use Delta SkyMiles

Reclaiming the mantle

The return of Boston flights to Honolulu means current service to Hawaii from the New York City area will lose the distinction of being the longest domestic flights in America.

Still, there are plenty of nonstop options to the Aloha State from JFK and nearby Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), as TPG’s Clint Henderson recently experienced for himself.

The best hotels on Oahu, from luxury resorts to iconic hotels

Bottom line

If you have a stash of Delta SkyMiles to use and like the sound of Hawaii for the holidays, I’d keep a close eye on Delta’s booking channels in the coming days to try to see how the newly released award space looks. Remember, as long as you don’t book one of the carrier’s “basic” award flights, you can get your miles, taxes and fees fully restored and refunded if you later have to cancel.

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