Floral lovers of all types recently spent a weekend learning about Hawaii’s tropical flowers and how to make them even more beautiful.

The Hawaii Floriculture Nursery Association, or HFNA, hosted a Fresh Look Expo all about designing with Hawaii-grown flowers.

The three-day event at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, held Sept. 19-21, included a nursery tour, a lei-making workshop, presentations, floral design workshops and demonstrations on making sustainable plant structures.

Canadian floral designer Hitomi Gilliam from the American Institute of Floral Designers gave a presentation about the “Principles and Elements of Design and Mechanics” before leading a hands-on workshop for attendees working on their own arrangements.

“This is the biggest workshop you’ll see. We had 60 people here today,” Gilliam said. “We have a lot of locals, people from other islands, a huge contingent from California, I’m from Canada and I had a student from Rome, Italy, come, too.”

On Saturday, Teresita D. Amore, a professor, researcher and floriculture breeder from the University of Hawaii at Manoa Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Department, presented a new anthurium they bred, which was named “Hitomi” after Gilliam.

“She has bred so many varieties of florals and named them for different people, and some of them are here now,” Gilliam said. “We do feel really special. It’s kind of awesome.”

When it comes to breeding floriculture, it takes a village, according to Amore. The Hitomi anthurium itself took 24 years from pollination to distribution.

Breeding begins with a lot of research and many attempts of cross-pollination until a seedling grows into something that starts to look interesting. Breeders and researchers then send photos to their cooperators, which include growers and designers, to get their opinion.

“Growers are an important component to the process. They test seedlings in larger numbers and tell us if this is something that would be feasible,” Amorea said. “If they like the seedlings, they will test 20-50 plants, ship them to other growers and designers and decide if the flower has consumer accessibility.”

To make the process the most cost-efficient, working with growers and designers is crucial for breeders who want to ensure that they are cloning something that will be bought.

“It’s a long journey, and if we commit such a long time, we better be doing something right. That’s why the professional advisory is so important,” Amore said. “We have had less growers participating with many aging farmers, but the cooperators we do work with are great partnerships.”

One of those partners is HFNA, which has been in existence sine 1948 and represents over 350 members of the Hawaii floral community across the state.

HFNA works to promote better conditions that will create and sustain an economically viable flower and plant industry and enhance its members’ business success through education, marketing, research and services.

“The amount of flowers sold in and around Hawaii has decreased in the last few years, with some of that due to aging farmers and the effects of the 2018 lava flow and COVID-19,” said President Eric Tanouye. “We do have some younger people getting involved, and there is a wide range of ages here this weekend, which is exciting to see.”

With the new anthurium bred from research at UH, Hawaii growers will already have a market set up, and designers that will share the novel flower with their communities in California, Canada and elsewhere.

“This is something unique and the first of its kind, it’s not the same old same old,” Amore said. “You don’t see this shape in anthurium, and you don’t often see transitional colors, so there is a novelty there.”

Even for the most skilled and experienced breeder, grower or designer, the three-day Fresh Look Expo provided new opportunities for networking and personal growth.

“I’m here learning as a breeder, because I have to know what designers want, and it’s an excellent way to get feedback while learning some techniques,” Amore said.

“The expo is always a great time to get together as a community and celebrate the beautiful flowers we get to play with,” Gilliam said.

Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – While workers at the Hilton Hawaiian Village fight for better wages and a bigger workforce, they are also heading into another fight — for unemployment benefits.

They could be eligible, but maybe not, if they do too much damage to the hotel’s income.

At the picket line at the Kalia Road entrance to the Hilton Hawaiian Village, like his colleagues, 9-year bellman Gerritt Vincent filed for unemployment but may not know for years if he will get paid.

“They told us we shouldn’t really expect much, but just to apply because you know, we’re worth it,” Vincent said.

Vincent says with no money coming in, unemployment payments would be helpful.

“I told my kids, ‘We’re sorry. We’re not going to go to McDonald’s. I told my wife, ‘Sorry, we can’t go to Target for next few days, we’re going to have to eat what we have at the house,’” he said.

Cade Watanabe, UNITE Local 5 financial secretary-treasurer, said, “We’re telling all of our members not to depend on it, not to expect it.”

That’s because it depends on how much the strike impacts Hilton’s bottom line.

Under Hawaii law and court rulings, if a strike has little or no impact on operations, workers are eligible for unemployment benefits. If the company loses 20 to 30% or more of its revenue, the workers are not eligible.

Even experts, like state House Labor Committee Chair Scot Matayoshi, can find it confusing.

“It’s honestly kind of counterintuitive to me, too,” he said.

It seems backward because strikes are designed to damage and even shut down the employer, but if the union succeeds in that, they don’t get unemployment.

Matayoshi says the law seems structured as a compromise, supporting striking workers without disabling their employers.

“If the strike is to such an extent that the whole business gets shut down, especially a crucial business, like a hospital, then unemployment benefits are withheld as perhaps incentive not to do that,” he said.

But it also creates another conflict between owners and workers. Employers will fight the unemployment applications, by offering the state Labor Department proof of business disruption severe enough for the state to deny the benefits,

“That’s something that will take a lot of time, ” Watanabe said. “That also will require the employer to share their financials.”

Financials the union will challenge on behalf of its workers, in disputes that can go on for years.

And every dispute is unique.

For example, nurses who were locked out from Kapiolani Hospital, didn’t leave voluntarily and the hospital still operated. But the Labor Department says the nurses’ eligibility is still under review.

While the law confusion seems to require change to the law, even with all the power labor has in the state, unions fear that by opening up the labor laws at the legislature could lead to unexpected negative consequences.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.

(BIVN) – Three decades ago, the last local sugar plantation closed in Hāmākua. For the next two weeks, Honokaʻa town will host Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival in reflection on that era. 

From the Honokaʻa Heritage Center news release promoting the event:

The 2024 Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival, is a community-driven heritage event that will honor the stories and people who built the economy and culture of the Hāmākua Coast. Timed to mark the 30th anniversary of the 1994 closure of the last local sugar plantation, the Festival will salute surviving plantation workers, highlight the contributions of each of the various ethnic groups that immigrated to work on the plantations, showcase sustainable agricultural initiatives with promise for the post-sugar era, and explore the roots of resilience in the local community as it confronted the economic and social impacts of the closure.

The Honoka‘a Heritage Center is working closely with local community groups to organize and host a diverse lineup of fun, family-friendly events across Honoka‘a Town over a two-week period (Oct. 5-20, 2024). The Festival is expected to attract at least 6,000 attendees, from around the island and state, as well as from overseas.

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Festival highlights include:

Recognizing the Sugar Workers Luncheon – Sat., Oct. 5 (Invite only)

If you or a family member worked for Hamakua Sugar Company, please contact (808) 437-1947 for tickets to this free luncheon saluting the sugar workers.

Screenings of New Documentary Film, “Roots of Resilience: Stories of Hāmākua Sugar” (Free to attend)
Throughout the festival, attendees can view free screenings of the Honoka‘a Heritage Center’s new film based on its 2023 oral history project. Roots of Resilience: Stories of Hāmākua Sugar is a one-hour documentary that features compelling first-person stories of local sugar workers, their families, and community members, capturing the profound impact of the sugar plantation era on the Hāmākua Coast. Screenings at the Honoka‘a People’s Theatre on Oct. 11 (5 pm and 7pm), Oct. 12 (2 pm) and Oct. 13 (5pm and 7pm).

Softball Tournament – Sun., Oct. 6, 9 am (Free to attend)
An Intergenerational Softball Tournament at Honoka a County Park will bring back the friendly competition of the old “camp against camp” games. Refreshments available for purchase.

Photo of final harvest parade, courtesy the Honokaʻa Heritage Center

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Family Friendly Fun at the Hāmākua County Fair – Sat., Oct. 12, all day (Free to attend)
The Hāmākua County Fair promises a day full of excitement for everyone:10:00 a.m.: Parade through Honoka a Town ʻ11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.: Live music on the main stage at the Honoka a Park Complex (Hālau Kuaunu, Ryan Hiraoka, Kingside, Pas & Sala, Hui Hoʻokani, the Honokaʻa Jazz Band, Kalapana Awa Band and more!)

All Day:

Vendors throughout the Honoka‘a Park Complex, including local food and artisanal crafts.

Keiki activities: Pumpkin patch, costume contest, races, STEM games, face painting, and bounce house.

“Sugar Town” inside the county gym features vendors of all things sweet, student art show, sale of festival merchandise, lucky number drawings, demonstrations, and commemorative Pogs.

Hāmākua Energy Agriculture and Sustainability Expo, with exhibitors offering information, demos, games, and giveaways focused on sustainable agriculture and ranching. Attendees can explore traditional and modern farming techniques and learn how to incorporate sustainable practices.

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On Māmāne Street, visitors can enjoy the Mutt Contest and Poi Dog Pageant at the former Bank of Hawaii parking lot; and a Cultural Village at the Honokaʻa Heritage Center with cultural exhibits and demonstrations. The Plantation Worker Hub at the Honokaʻa Union Hall will be a place for workers and their families to gather, share stories, and even record oral histories.

Cultural Heritage Events – Oct. 14-17 & 20 (Free to attend)
Cultural Heritage Events will celebrate some of the diverse ethnic groups who immigrated to work on the plantation, put down roots, and contributed to the unique “local” culture that characterizes Hawai‘i today:

Japanese Night: Oct. 14, 5 p.m. – Presentation by Dr. Patsy Iwasaki about Katsu Goto, plus food, followed at 7 p.m. by the film “Picture Bride” at the Honokaʻa People s Theatre.

Portuguese Night: Oct. 15, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. – Portuguese games, food, demos and exhibits at the Honoka‘a Heritage Center.

Filipino Night: Oct. 16, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. – Guest speaker on Filipino contributions to the labor movement, with refreshmants at the Honoka‘a People s Theatre.

Puerto Rican Night: Oct. 17, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. – Dance to Katchi Katchi music at the People’s Theatre; meet master cuatro maker John Guzman; food and exhibits.

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Hawaiian Night: – Postponed; date TBA

Plantation Night at Honokaʻa High School Football Game – Oct. 18, 6 p.m. ($4 Seniors, $8 General admission)

Join us to root for the home team while honoring the Sugar Workers during the halftime show.

Golf Tournament – Oct. 20 (Paid player registration required, free to watch)

The festival will conclude with a Plantation Golf Tournament at the historic plantation-era Hāmākua Country Club.

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Thank You to Our Sponsors

The Honoka‘a Heritage Center is deeply grateful to the County of Hawai‘i for seed financial support and logistical assistance. We also wish to thank the many generous corporate sponsors whose donations have make the Hāmākua Sugar Days Festival possible. To date, the list (still in formation) includes: Sugar Legacy Sponsor: Hāmākua Energy; Sugar Mill Sponsors: Honokaʻa Hospital and Skilled Nursing, KTA Super Stores, CPB Foundation, Kualoa Ranch, and Turo; Sugar Harvester Sponsor: Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company; Sugar Cane Sponsors: HFS Federal Credit Union, Isemoto Contracting Co., Creative Arts Hawaii, Hawaii Affordable Properties, Honua Ola Bioenergy, Dodo Mortuary, Inc., Big Island Mechanical and Construction, Hawaii Johns, HPM Building Supply, Walmart, R. Sakata Insurance, and Bank of Hawaiʻi; and Sugar Planter Sponsors: Kuwaye Trucking, Donna’s Cookies, Kuhio Grille, Hawai‘i Community FCU, Kolea Hop Water, and I Luv Dumplings.

A growing number of community partners have provided generous in-kind support throughout the planning of the Festival. They include Hāmākua-Kohala Health, Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Water, Canada-France-Hawai‘i Telescope, Honoka‘a People’s Theatre, Hawai‘i Community College, and Honoka‘a Public House.

The full schedule of events can be found at the Hāmākua Sugar Days website.