Save Gladys' Lei Stand: Support Bonnie's Legacy

Bonnie has been sourcing lei for us for some time now. She called me today with our order and said that we needed to pick up early because she didn’t want her stand to get locked up with our lei still inside. That prompted me to ask what? What’s going on??

This is what she shared and I am now sharing with you on her behalf to try and save her lei stand.. with all the talk about kanaka owned business, keeping Hawaiians in Hawaii and showing Aloha, now is the time for all of us to stand together to help this ‘ohana continue their legacy.. and continue to provide everyone with their beautiful lei.

Gladys’ Lei Stand –

A Hawaiian Legacy of Aloha

My name is Bonnie Kaleikini and I am the fourth-generation owner of Gladys’ Lei Stand, a kanaka owned, ‘ohana-run lei business that traces its roots back to 1941—and even further, to Rachel’s Lei Stand, started by my great-tutu lady over 100 years ago. Lei-making is not just a business for us. It is our legacy. It is our koko — our blood.

As a baby, I slept in a carnation flower box while my tutu lady sold leis at Aloha Tower. From the time I could walk, I followed her everywhere — to schools for graduations, to pageants, fairs, hula competitions — learning to string, to sell, to make change, tie ribbons, and most importantly: to share the meaning of aloha. No lei, no aloha.

This stand has always been a Native Hawaiian, female-owned, family-run business — passed down from mother to daughter, generation after generation. We are proud members of the Lei Sellers Association and Boat Sellers Association, and we remain deeply connected to our community and culture.

This lei stand is our livelihood — but also so much more. It is therapy. It is passion. Stringing lei is a sacred act for me — a way to reconnect, to breathe, to give love in tangible form.

We source our flowers from local farms all across the islands:

Tuberose and awapuhi (ginger) from Waimānalo and Wahiawā

Pakalana, pikake, and baby hibiscus from Waimānalo and Nānākuli

Plumeria (pua melia) from Wai‘anae

Puakenikeni from Pearl City

Kika (cigar flowers) from Pālolo and Kapolei

Hilo maile from Hawai‘i Island

Tongan maile from Tonga

We even source flowers internationally when local options are limited or unaffordable — like carnations from Mexicoand dendrobium orchids from Thailand.

But despite all of this, we are now being squeezed out by development — blocked in by construction, ignored by the state, and surrounded by pressure to make room for higher-end stores. We are being pushed off ceded lands that should be serving Native Hawaiians, not displacing them.

We are the last of the Hawaiian female-owned lei stands in this area. And what’s happening isn’t just a threat to my business — it’s a threat to our culture, our community, and our legacy.

This is my life. This is my family’s legacy. This is our aloha.

And I say again:
No lei, no aloha.

Recently we have come under difficult times. I am a single mother, and both my parents have become ill.. I have been trying to manage the stand and care for my children and parents. To add to this, the state is demanding a back payment of fees, that unfortunately I also inherited with our lei stand. The state is refusing to allow us to continue our payment plan to pay off this debt and is threatening to shut us down permanently as of the end of this month if we are unable to come up with the balance of $8900 owed.

We have reached out to CNHA, OHA, and lei poina’ole, just for someone to help, advocate, at least get us more time to make this payment..

We humbly ask for any help you possibly can give to keep our stand open.. any amount, prayers or a share to support our cause is greatly appreciated.

mahalo nui loa ❤️