Flower Harvest Precedes “Blossoms for the Brave” Event

Blossoms for the Brave: Leora Murakami, Masaru Abe, and Ray Benarao. Photo courtesy Lois Whitney.

By Wendy Osher

Retirees and volunteers from the Kaunoa Senior Center began gathering flowers yesterday as they prepare to join the public in stringing some 2,500 lei to be placed on the graves of veterans for Memorial Day.

Among those participating in the crown flower harvest yesterday were: Vietnam veteran Roy Nakasone, SP-4 with the US Army 1st Cavalry; Korean War veteran Ray Banarao, Private E-1 and E-2 with the US Army 1st Cavalry; and Cold War veteran Masaru Abe, E-5 with the US Army 8th Aviation Co.

Blossoms for the Brave. Roy Nakasone. Photo by Lois Whitney.

Event organizers thanked Maui Lani Maui Lani Development Manager Daren Suzuki for his help in making the crown flower harvest possible.

Donation of additional material is welcome and can be dropped off at the County Building in Wailuku between 9 and 10 a.m. on Friday.  Items needed include: lei needles and crochet thread; green Ti leaves (cut and frozen); crown flowers; orchids; Bozu flowers; Plumeria (buds and partially open); and other sturdy flowers. Pre-sewn lei 20- to 24-inches long can also be dropped off for donation.

The flower harvest is part of a “Blossoms for the Brave” event in which the community is invited to join in strining lei on Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the front lawn of the County Building.

Shuttle service is available for the Friday event from the War Memorial Football Stadium parking lot every half-hour starting at 8:30 a.m.

The completed lei will be delivered to the Makawao Veterans Cemetery by Girl Scouts on Memorial Day.

***Supporting information courtesy Lois Whitney.

Blossoms for the Brave. Ray Benarao and Masaru Abe. Photo by Lois Whitney.

Blossoms for the Brave. Ray Benarao. Photo by Lois Whitney.