New firm taps local talents for lei, mwar making

The CNMI is a rich pool of talented Pacific islanders, especially in the art of making mwars and leis, so new business venture Leis on Arrival is tapping into this considerable mother lode to drive up what it describes as a pioneering venture in lei-making here in the CNMI.

Company co-owner Mara Khorram said her new business has gathered an array of talented lei-makers in a short span of time, and Leis on Arrival is continuously tapping local manpower to create not only leis but also mwars, considered a unique craft of the CNMI.

Khorram presented her new company, which she co-owns with Romina Salaverria, during the Tuesday Saipan Rotary Club meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan. Both women started the company just last December 2005.

Typically, Khorram and Salaverria started the business after seeing a need that was not being met. They were welcoming visiting friends and family members to the island, yet they could not find any leis on sale at the airport and they were becoming frustrated.

In Hawaii, there are over 40 companies that are venturing into the lei business, said Khorram. “It’s a proven industry,” she said, adding that the new business venture would be a contribution to tourism despite the economic difficulty.

“Our mission is to greet the visitors to the islands with leis or mwars,” she said.

Some of the challenges they faced during the initial planning for the business included the supplier of fresh flowers for the leis. Khorram said that, although the CNMI boasts of beautiful flora and fauna, the flowers here usually do not last beyond a day or two. Also, the frequent typhoons damage the flowers on the island.

Orchids are the best material for the leis because it could last for weeks when kept in cold temperature. Khorram said.

“But there are no orchid plantations on the island,” she said. This means that the company has to import the raw materials from neighboring Asian countries. They have established strong contracts between suppliers of the flowers and Leis on Arrival orders the flowers every week.

She said the business realized the potential of the mwars, so they also shared with their suppliers the art of making mwars.

The company provided the leis during the inaugural ceremonies for newly installed Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Tim Villagomez, and the Tinian Mayor and its municipality. It also provided the leis during the Concert of Ballet Stars, among many others.

Leis on Arrival will soon provide leis at the DFS Galleria inside the Francisco C. Ada Saipan International Airport. They are also currently negotiating with tour agencies in the CNMI who expressed interest for future projects, said Khorram.