Orchid shortage for Hawaiian leis

The Honolulu Star Bulletin is reporting that an orchid lei shortage might very well hit the Hawaiian islands this week. The reason is a crisis in Thailand that has shut down the Bangkok airport:

"Hawaii may run out of orchid leis next week as a result of the political crisis in Thailand, which has shut down the international airport in Bangkok and crippled the import of flowers to the state."

The shortage apparently comes at a good time since lei sales will be slow until University of Hawaii graduation ceremonies in December.