We made our grave site delivery to Diamond Head Cemetary on Memorial Day and boy, what a sight. Graves were doted with flowers and flags. I would say the graves are almost as decorated with flowers as much to during Easter or Chinese Ching Ming.
Lei Day is May Day in Hawaii. Full day celebration is happening at Kapiolani Park. Check out the flyer for more detail event information. I certainly wouldn’t miss the Lei Contest. Happy May Day! Check out photos of some of my favorites.
http://www.honolulu.gov/parks/programs/leiday/program+83rd+lei+day+celebration+pdf.pdf
It’s New Year soon; locals are getting kadomatsu for themselves and share them with friends, families and neighbors. Locals who live in the mainland (US) are having them delivered to their parents, old neighbors and friends, wishing them a happy New Year.
The Kadomatsu is packed with wonderful meanings that we have concluded that it is the perfect arrangement for the New Year. I have updated last years post on the symbolism of kadomatsu.
Green Bamboo / Take – A symbol of endurance and strength. The nodes or the joints indicate hardship that one experiences in life…” more
Pine / Mastu – A symbol of immortality. It remains green throughout the year. The city of Matsumoto translates to source of pine. more
Plum blossoms / Ume – A symbol of endurance and hope. The plum tree is the first to bloom after a bitter, cold winter to indicate the coming of spring. “ more
White Chrysanthemum (mum) A symbol of perfection and simplicity, the orderly unfolding of its petals represent perfection. It is the symbol of wealth, fidelity and truth.
Kokutan – “The Kokutan is originated from parts of Asia. In Japan, this plant is called Sharinbai, meaning spokes of the wheel, referring to the arrangement of the leaves on the stems. This plant is also found in the warmer parts of Korea and Japan. Hawaii Okinawan name is Kokutan…..full text
Nanten - “A highly respected, slow growing tree. It is much sought after for a pillar for tokonoma, an alcove in Japanese houses. The symbolism is to alter or deter any harm or difficulties to a favorable circumstance….full text
Straw Rope – that tie everything together.
When things are scatter, disorder and just a mess.  Simply, it is just unpleasant to see it around. And never mind the thought of giving this mess to someone as a gift. Or could we?
By putting out just a little thoughts and effort into lining them in an orderly fashion. It could become something good. Something that you can definetly give to someone as a gift.  This is not about judging a glass half empty or half full. This is about putting an effort to fill up a half filled glass until it is fulfilled. Enjoy, this special crown flower with pikake lei.
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Shower trees are blooming to the max around town. Soft petals of pink, white and yellow float and drift in the air with a light summer breeze. You would easily mistaken these as cherry blossoms. The most dramatic view of these shower trees are at South King Street where they color the avenue with their blossoms on each side of the street. People also noticed another dramatic cluster at the KCC’s main parking lot. Bring your picnic basket and beach mat to Kapiolani Park. Enjoy the shower.
Sometimes it is not the anticipated, but how the unanticipated being handled that makes the event wonderful and memorable. It was a rainy Saturday, not exactly the expected sunny outdoor wedding in Hawaii. Katy, the wedding planner, handled the event with ease. The photographer, Alyssa captured the indoor wedding perfectly. Celebrate love. Rain or shine.Â
More photos can be viewed at alyssapix.com
Flower delivery is the best job in the world. I am the messenger of love, appreciation, and congratulation. Never another job would let me witness so much happiness. Have you ever seen the reaction people have when they receive flowers? It is pure happiness. Happiness that just glow and radiate from the smile and out. You could feel the energy of the happiness. It is never close to the same happiness when a mother receives her newborn child, when a child who hits his first home run, when long lost friends find each other again. But you know what I’m talking about. So, next time when you receive flowers, don’t bother tipping me (unless you’re more than happy) because I’m already blessed to be delivering you the flowers and I’m happy that it is not just some greasy food or lost luggage. Enjoy the flowers and show me your smiles.
We photograph our flowers arrangement with a few point and shoot digital cameras. We use mostly natural day light and white background. With white flowers, we use darker background.
Soon we will try some of the tips from Table Top Studio  and learn to use artificial light, use a light box to diffuse light and provide a cluster-free background (unless it is mood driven arrangement where the background is also important; wedding flowers is a good example.) Switch your digital camera from the default average focus mode to spot focus mode. This will give you more control over what you want to focus. Use a tripod to steady your shots for sharp images. Use daylight balanced compact fluorescent bulbs so you don’t have to compensate for off white balance shots. Use two to three source of soft light to eliminate harsh shadows. Rotate arrangement for the best angle. Shooting down on the arrangments will show more flowers and less vase, which will usually resulted in more dramatic photos.
Our hanging basket flowers are wilted and somehow its offspring made it in the crack of the asphalt pavement in our parking lot.  That prove to me that good thing doesn’t always end up where you planned but it is still end up being a good thing.
There are florists in other city that We love. One of them would be VSF in West Village, New York City. It was introduced to us by a bride-to-be (and now a happily married wife) who lives in New York but had her wedding in Hawaii. The VSF shop is furnished like a mud room. Flowers are in variety of glass vase and tin. You could almost imagine the garden or green house is behind the building. The arrangements and bouquets on their website are lush, unique, and inspiring. Check out their event arrangements – talk about drama. Wow out.