May 1st in Hawaiʻi Is “Lei Day”
“May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi♪” floating through the streets. As April comes to an end, a light and cheerful song begins to drift through Hawaiʻi: “May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi♪” You’ll hear it everywhere from local radio to schoolyards where children sing it with bright, happy voices. The entire state gradually […]
The Sacred Hawaiian Leaf “Ti Leaf”: A Story of Green and Red
In my previous post, I introduced Aspidistra (Haran), a familiar material in ikebana. This time, I’d like to talk about a plant that closely resembles it and is deeply symbolic of Hawaii, the Ti Leaf. A Leaf Filled With Hawaiian Spirit Called Ti in Hawaiian and known scientifically as Cordyline fruticosa, this plant is far […]
What Is Taro (Kalo), the Plant That Sustains Hawaiian Culture?
Today, I’d like to introduce a plant that we, as people who work closely with nature here in Hawaiʻi, should truly understand and honor. Have you ever seen these large, heart-shaped leaves around the islands? Yes, this is the famous taro, known in Hawaiian as Kalo. Kalo grows to about 1–2 meters tall, and each […]