Sophia’s Lei Stand

I needed a lei for a coworker and chose this lei stand since they seemed to have the most variety. This stand also had a loud and kind of rowdy lady as the other reviews said. She’s the owner and comes off strong but she seems to work hard for her business.
The lei ranged from $ 5 for some orchid lei to $ 45 for a pretty multi flower lei. I told her that I only wanted to spend about $ 15 and she showed me a pretty tuberose lei. She takes credit card which was convenient. She also has military and kamaaina discount. I didn’t have any issues like some of the other people mentioned in their reviews but I can see how she could be a bit much for some people.

Stopped by the Airport Lei Stands this morning to purchase a specific type of lei, and pulled right in to the first few stalls… as usual the ladies sitting at the tables were all smiling hoping you check out their leis… but this lady at Sophia’s was workin it like a CAR SALESMAN! She was loud and roudy (like the other Unilocaler mentioned), talking over the other ladies at the stands next to hers. After I asked if she had the specific lei I was looking for, she informed me she didn’t and began to insult it. Then she began to drill me on it, «well what’s the occasion… who’s it for… that kind lei is junk!» she said. Did I mention she was LOUD!
Then when she realized she didn’t have what I wanted, she started to murmur under her breath and snicker while shooing me away saying… «well sometimes you should just move along…».
Initially she was all about the over-​kill, fake smiles… THEN, it’s… «I don’t need you, so be gone» attitude! Sum it up in one word… PILAU!

I should have looked on Unilocal before rushing to buy leis. Went to Sophie’s never again do not go there. Not if you want to get ripped of. Asked them how much a was the lei’s she goes and tell me the price when time to pay the price went up. Big rip of beware of this place.

There are sweet Filipino ladies working there but either than that this place is horrible. My friend and I went to this lei stand. The owner was in the front singing at the top of her lungs. to a song on her cell, just being roudy. But, another kind employee there helped me and gave me a price for a lei, I said okay… I see you have kamaiana and the owner blatantly butted in saying «there is none, and you won’t find prices like these.» hmmm… well the sign on the table says there is. okay… so I finally find the lei I want to purchase which was 55 $-can’t afford it. So I choose to get the 45 $ lei… expensive but worth it for my mom. Wondering why my credit card was charged for the 55 $ lei that I didn’t purchase!!! Also my friend was planning to purchase from Sophie’s lei stand but the prices they told him were even more expensive than what they gave me! haha anyways he decided to go to the lei stand next door. Which was way cheaper! The owner might want to reconsider how she treats her customers… definitely not going here again.

1. Rip Off!
I am new to Hawaii. Only been 3 months. She said there’s no Kamaaina discount. There is actually a sign on the table!
2. Bad service and attitude ever!
I was waiting for my friend who needed to buy a lei for his mother arriving from LA. He himself is new to town and had hard time finding the lei stand.
The owner lady came to our car to move our car when we were only there for 5 minutes. (Lei stand parking is 10 minutes)
Felt so bad for the rest of the day :(

Last week, SEVEN people from my department retired. SEVEN. Isn’t that crazy? But anyway, SEVEN people means SEVEN leis.
At first, I thought I could go to Walmart and buy leis – wrong. Walmart is okay if you need a lei in a pinch (as in OMG need one RIGHT NOW) but it was at least $ 20 for the nice-​non-​basic-​dendrobium-​ones. They had some $ 11ish ones but they weren’t that nice either. $ 20×7 = $ 140 for SEVEN people. Hmm. (Plus, I felt bad for buying leis at Walmart)
That’s when I remembered the Lei Stand at the Airport. Hurrah, I’m saved! All of the Lei Vendors were open at 730 in the morning when I stopped by and they all had a very nice selection. I’d say that most of the lei stands are pretty much the same but
I picked Sophie’s because the older Filipino lady at this stand was sweet – very helpful and not as pushy as some of the others. I ended up buying a bunch of very fresh tuberose leis from her for $ 7 each. WAY much more managable!
Lei Stands in General:
— Lots of parking and open early (Sophie’s is one of the first 3)
— Leis were very fresh and full, very fragrant
— Leis for all price ranges

The Lei stands are conveniently located at the Honolulu Airport and range anywhere from a couple of dollars and up. There are a line of stands and depending on where you park, you’re most likely going to go to the stand that you parked in front of.
I’ve been to several of the lei stands over the years and didn’t have any preferences, just connivence. A few weeks ago, my nephew was coming back from the Mainland to spend the holidays with us. His flight was a night flight and I didn’t expect the lei stands to be open but after a stop at Walmart and saw the sorry condition the leis were in, I decided to take my chances and hope at least 1 lei stand would be open.
I was in luck as there were a few open. As i usually do, I randomly parked in front of a lei stand and walked up to Sophie’s. The two aunties who were working there were friendly and engaging. I later found out one of them was the owner. She asked me who I was getting a lei for and after telling her, she suggested the ti leaf. I got it for $ 4 AND she gave me the lei she was working on for free! She told me to tell my nephew «Merry Christmas and welcome back to the islands». She was so sweet.
She had a big bowl of holiday candy and insisted I take a few. I kept declining but she kept insisting, lol. She reminded me of when you go to your aunt’s house and she insists you eat something even though you don’t want to. I finally took a couple of pieces but she grabbed a handful and told me to give it to my nephew.
Sometimes, when I go to the lei stands at the airport, I feel the ladies who work there are pushy. At times the leis don’t seem as fresh as they can be and the prices aren’t consistent. One time at a different lei stand I was quoted $ 5 for a simple plumeria (I had 5) but when I went to pay a different lady told me $ 35 when it should’ve been $ 25. When I asked about it, she told me the other lady gave me the wrong price and they couldn’t sell it for $ 5 because there was a shortage in plumerias. I ended up going to another stand and getting the lei’s for $ 5 each. I wouldn’t have had a problem paying the $$ but I felt as if they were just randomly quoting prices to customers.
At Sohpie’s that doesn’t seem to be the case. The aunties working there were genuinely warm and friendly and I’m all about customer service whether it be at a restaurant or even a lei stand. Btw, the owner told me they take orders as well. Apart from your typical leis, they also make haku leis etc. If you have a big order, you can also call this in. A big plus is their leis seem fresh and not wilting like other lei paces.
From now on, I’ll be picking up my leis at Sophie’s.