Don’t you just love the Aloha Festival Floral Parade . 62 years since the first and still better than ever.  It is only one of the many events of the Aloha Festival – a month long celebration of the Hawaiian culture statewide.

It is simply spectacular floral display from head to toes.

Choose a location where family members gather. That way everyone can enjoy the flowers more often. It could be the dining room, kitchen, family room, entrance hallway, sun room. Now look for a spot to place the flower arrangement that is away from foot traffic.

Next you can choose the size and shape of the arrangement. It could be a low arrangement at the center of the dining table, a medium height arrangement in a kitchen nook, or a tall arrangement on a side table at the family room. Make sure the spot is away from direct sun or other heat source. The arrangement will last longer when it is located at a spot with a constant cool temperature. Stop by your neighborhood florist and pick out your favorite flowers. Your florist can work with you on flower selections that would meet your budget. A tropical arrangement would match any island home decor. You’re not stuck with the standard red ginger, bird of paradise and anthurium. Your florist can introduce you to the helicornia, protea, pin cushion, beehive ginger, tower ginger, purperia, caribaea and dendrobium. If tropical arrangement is too much of a just look-so-the-same to you, your florist can introduce you to a variety of seasonal flowers such as peonies, cherry blossoms, godetia, daffodil and narcissus. Some flowers were seasonal but are now available year round, such as the tulips, roses, Gerbera Daisy, Freesia, Alstromeria, mums. Carnation, Iris, and Ranunculus. Enjoy your flowers.

For a Chinese funeral, it is best to send a wreath or flower arrangement of white and yellow chrysanthemum. For a more traditional Chinese funeral, thorny flowers such as roses should be avoided. And when the deceased  are more than 80 years old, brigher flowers are appropripriate.  Ribbon banner naming the senders and their relationship to the deceased are often draped across the arrangement. Usually the banner is written in Chinese, so ask ahead if the florist can provide Chinese calligraphy service.

Often time the obituary notice may say “No Flowers” This is more often just a directive to the general public. Extra flowers from the general public may require extra transportation expense to move the flowers after the ceremony. Closed families and friends are often okay to send flowers but just check with the family to make sure.

Our old neighbor, Hale Niu Tuxedo is back in business. Their new shop is located at 4210 Waialae Avenue – right across from Kahala Mall. Visit them for their best service, and best price in town. Bar none. (Sounds like a commercial, didn’t it:) Enjoy.

Tuxedos by Hale Niu (808) 734-2125

Nicknamed “Booming,” the Olympic flower bouquet is beautiful and is filled with meaning.  Here at Sweet Blossoms Hawaii, we give our best shot at making one of our own.

“The flower that will play the leading role is the Chinese red rose, a flower species first cultivated by the Chinese people. As red is propitious in Chinese tradition, red Chinese roses are suitable to convey the hospitality of the Chinese people,”

Â

“They represent friendship, unity and fairness, and bless the Olympic Games with great success.”

9 China red roses
6 fragrant plantain lilies (veronica)
6 pieces of ophiogon japonicus grass,
hypericum berries
obedient plant leaves
leather leaves

[BeijingReview] [2008BIMC] [en.beijing2008.cn]

Free Delivery to Manoa Valley on August 3. Manoa Valley, the “coolest” spot in Honolulu I must say. We offered free delivery to Kaimuki last month and it was such a hit that we want to offer this free delivery to our nearby neighborhood as well. Watch for our future summer free delivery special for the St. Louis Height, Kahala, Palolo and Moiilili area soon.

Free Delivery to Kaimuki area on June 28 & 29. No special occasion. Just thought your family and friends from the Kaimuki area could use some flowers. It’s going to be hot this summer and flowers from their yards may not be looking exactly the best. We offered free delivery to Waikiki hotels a few months back and it was such a hit that we want to offer this free delivery to our nearby neighborhood as well. Watch for our free delivery special for the Manoa, Kahala and Moiilili area soon. Don’t worry about the gas price rising in Hawaii. We delivered your flowers in a Toyota hybrid.

It’s a lei lovers’ delight last Friday in Honolulu. Beautiful thirteen foot long lei were draped over the King’s statue to pay tribute to our King Kamehameha.  Check out the week long celebrations at the different islands.

(The original Kamehameha statue is located at Kapa’au, the Island of Hawaii. Also another Kamehameha statues are located in Hilo and the Capitol in Washington D.C.)

(green orchid, he’ee, Maile, tuberose, cigar, kukui nut)

Lei are like flower arrangements, you can either pick one off the fridge or you can order ahead. When you order ahead, the lei will come granantee fresher and nicer.  There are certain lei such as the maile, pikake, puakinikini, royal ilima, or the haku, you need to order them early anyway. Not many shops have many of them in stock.

(Green orchid, willamina orchid, angle orchid, cigar, carnation)

Since we are not your everyday lei shop, you can ask us to do a lei of a different color combination, different twist combination, shorter length for kids, and of course the haku lei – very popular for graduation, weddings and birthday celebration.Â

(haku lei)

It’s graduation season. Lei giving come to mind when you live in Hawaii. And the question always come up, what is the right kind of lei to give? There is not much of any rules when it comes to lei giving. You can give it anytime, with or without an occasion. You can even buy your own lei so you could just look good. Okay, may be there is a few rules. Never give a pregnant woman a close lei, and the lei maker can make you an open end lei of any type of lei. Just ask. Give lei with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. (for company function, it is easier when the giver and recipient be of the opposite gender) Always accept a lei with a mahalo or thank you. If you’re allergic or uncomfortable with flowers around your neck, you can take it off discreetly after receiving it. Lei should be treated with respect, never place them on the seat of a chair, the floor or swing them around. Don’t wear the lei that you are about to give. Although it is okay to give any lei regardless of gender, some lei are preferred by men and other are preferred by women. In general, lei with kukui nut looks good on men. Other intricate orchid lei look beautiful on women. Lei maker even have special names for them – Christiana, Angel, Butterfly, Wilamina, just to name a few.

Lei preferred by male – kukui nut with mock orange, cigar with kukui nut, crown, maile, ti leave, ti leave with rose, heehee with sea grape, double crown, triple crown.

Lei preferred by female – pua kenikeni; pikake – single, double, triple strand or rope style; Orchid in the Christina, angel, butterfly, wilamina weave style; micro ginger with ilima, orchid, ti leave, red ginger;

Lei for both gender – single orchid in color of green, white or purple; double orchid, cigar, carnation, carnation with roses, tuberose, tuberose with carnation; tuberose with roses; haku, royal ilima, white ginger – single or double; plumeria, tie leave, stephanotis, shell,

Fragrant lei – pikake, pua kenikeni, ginger, tuberose, crown.

Rare lei – Ohia, Kaunaoa, Hinahina, makihana, Maunaloa, Pakalana, Paper flower, firecracker, Vanda Orchid, jad vine,

history on lei
more history
lei seller oral history