A local company has put fresh-flower lei vending machines in several Hawaii hotels, and guests are loving the convenience.

• The Orchid Lei Company (in business over two decades) rolled out the machines in the last two years, placing them in three Waikiki hotels and one other location.
• They solve a common problem: people heading to banquets or dinners who forgot to grab a lei can now buy one on the spot.
• The machines run 24/7 and are temperature-controlled, keeping the fresh lei good for up to six days, with staff checking quality every other day.
• Visitors like being able to browse photos and pick exactly what they want with no pressure, instead of driving to Chinatown or the airport.
• Keepsake "forever" lei are also sold, and front desks can point guests to the machines when asked where to find lei.

Outlook: If the response stays strong, expect the company to expand the machines to more hotels and locations across the islands.