HFNA sponsored Wedding Celebrations 2019 throughout the state with sponsorship from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Hawaii County Department of Research & Development
For the third year, a floral design workshop with Hitomi Gilliam AIFD moved into Lili`uokalani Gardens to provide large examples of how to use locally grown flowers and foliage in contemporary arrangements.
This year, the emphasis was on weddings. The Hawaii Floriculture & Nursery Association organized workshops statewide with sessions on Kaua`i, `Oahu, and Maui before culminating in Hilo.
An ad in Ke Ola Magazine announced both the 20th annual He Hali`a Aloha No Lili`uokalani (Queen’s birthday festival) and the floral design event in early September
Sunday morning designers Hitomi Gilliam and Alison Higgins of Grace Flowers Hawaii moved into Lili`uokalani Gardens with truckloads of equipment and flowers. Three large arrangements were created by noon. This blog entry details the white pillars near the arched stone bridge.
Galyn Williams helps deliver flowers and materials to the white pillar design area (photo by Sarah Anderson)
K.T. Cannon-Eger carries podocarpus to the white pillar area (photo by Sarah Anderson)
The pillars started with bamboo poles held in place with forming stakes and wire. Oasis and chicken wire cages were strapped to the poles and filled with podocarpus foliage.
a team of florists begin work on the white pillars (photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger)
teamwork!
Lois Hiranaga AIFD of Maui and Hitomi Gilliam AIFD of Vancouver BC begin attaching wire supports to the bamboo (photo by K.T. Cannon-Eger)
detail of the finished floral design
detail of the finished floral design
detail of the finished pillars
by noon, the white pillars were ready for use in marriage vow renewal ceremonies (photo by Sarah Anderson)
ready for celebrating 100 years of weddings in the gardens — here’s to 100 more (photo by Rita French)
Rev. Satoshi Kaimipono Tomioka of Puna Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (photo by Rita French)
Ashtin and Brian Hart renew their vows with their children and Rev. Tomioka (photo by Rita French)
(photo by Eric Tanouye)
Yolanda and Gilbert Hesia and their family and Kumu Leilehua Yuen (photo by Sarah Anderson)
The next two blog entries will cover the other floral design sites: one in view of the red bridge and one int he bamboo patch.
Friends of Lili`uokalani Gardens provided the site, ministers, and photographers. HFNA provided the floral designs, mechanics and product plus talent. The workshop participants also provided bouquets, head pieces, and lei to the ministers and couples.
At the end of the day, the structures were taken down and all the flowers were given away.
U.S. Japanese Gardens 