High school prom is probably one of the most memorable experience a high school student will encounter. But buying everything like dresses, shoes and other assessories can be expensive. To those who may not be able to afford them, now you have The Bella Project to the rescue.  The Bella Project founded by Amanda Ross, is offering free dresses and accessories to young ladies.  Their next event The Bella Boutique is going to be at the Honolulu Design Center on Saturday, March 13, 10 am- 2 pm.  First come first serve, so show up early.  KGMB Video

It’s jade flower season again. We have some jade lei at the shop. Please call in to confirm availability (732-7668)

It’s that time of the year.  It’s time to dispose your Christmas Trees, Wreaths and Kadomatsu as well.  The Kadomatsu is a little tricky. It was sort of temporary housing for the toshigami (god), so it is not exactly good luck to keep them around after the first week of January.  Don’t reuse them for pencil or nail holders.  Don’t try to paint them green and reuse them for other craft. Place it in a paper bag and sprinkle it with salt, then dipose it with the green waste can serve as an modern alternative to burning it. 

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2001/Jan/11/111islandlife15.html

It’s almost new year and we have kadomatsu at the shop. Pre-orders are welcome.  Call us at 808-732-7668 for availability.  Happy Holidays.

Sunday, Dec. 27 New Year’s Oshogatsu Workshops
The Japanese Cultural Center and TEMARI Center for Asian & Pacific Arts is holding a workshop on kadomatsu (bamboo and pine display) Cost: $50 Cultural Center members/$60 non-members (students 18 years & up). Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’I 2454 S. Beretania Street
http://www.hnlnow.com/events/index.php?com=detail&eID=40580&year=2009&month=12

Paper katomatsu
http://okadadesign.blogspot.com/2009/03/another-high-school-workshop.html

Red roses and Christmas greens arrangement is the perfect gift for the holiday.  The above arrangement is priced at $50.

Other Red Roses Special: Buy 1 dozen of South American roses at $24.99 and get half dozen more for free (while supply last). Or have it arranged into an 18-roses arrangement for $55.99.Happy Holidays.

Plumeria of white, yellow, light pink and hot pink, dotted our urban landscape with its fragrant and color; which reminded me that Chris stopped by the shop the other day for a lei and we had a conversation on plumeria. He happened to be the photographer for a plumeria article in the Hana Hou! Magazine for Hawaiian Airlines.

http://www.hanahou.com/pages/Magazine.asp?Action=DrawArticle&ArticleID=691&MagazineID=43&Page=1

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.

Two parades back to back during the last two weekends in Waikiki.  The Pan-Pacific Parade and the King Kamehameha Parade. People are all gaga over the floral display and the many performers.

^ These performers walk the whole way in wooden slippers.

Lei giving (or piling 🙂 is a local tradition for congratulating the graduate after the ceremony. From photo below, we can spot many of our island beloved lei from top to bottom, they are Single Purple Orchid Lei, Black Kukui Nut and White Seashells, Candy lei, Orange and Light Purple Cigar Lei, Purple Orchid Lei, Brown Kukui Nut Lei, Sea Grape Lei, Rainbow color Yarn Lei, Black Kukui Nut Lei, Tuberose with Ilima Lei, Ti Leave Lei, Double Crown Lei, Green Paper Origami Lei, Miale Lei, Blue Ribbon Lei, White Kukui Nut Lei.

Gardenias season on the island is between April and July. Season peaks right about now in June. If you want them in August, pray for heavy rain in July:) Not recommended. Care of gardenias is simple. When you bring home fresh gardenias from the florist, blossoms are usually tight and off-white with a light touch of green in color. To speed up the bloom and release of fragrant, display your gardenias in the warmer part of the house with bright light. To keep unused bunches dormant, place them in a small short glass of water, place a plastic bag over them to keep the buds from drying out and keep them in the lower shelf of your refrigerator. You can do similar to displayed gardenias when you’re out and about. Upon return, take them back out from the refrigerator, remove plastic bag and continue to enjoy the fragrant of these beautiful summer blossoms. Replace browned flowers with new buds, and change water often. Enjoy the summer. With gardenia around, you’re sure to be in paradise.