“Blossoms for the Brave” Honors Veterans, May 24

The County of Maui’s annual “Blossoms for the Brave” event will honor Maui’s veterans on the front lawn of the Kalana O Maui Building in Wailuku from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, May 24, 2019.

“This community lei-making event prepares volunteers for the placement of lei at each gravesite of the 2,920 heroes on Memorial Day at the Maui Veterans Cemetery in Makawao,” Mayor Victorino said. “We say, ‘Many hands make for light labor.’ So, the more the merrier. Please come and honor the memory of our veterans who sacrificed so much for our country.”

A free shuttle service will be available from the Ichiro “Iron” Maehara Baseball Stadium parking lot. Buses will depart every half hour from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Donations of lei-making materials are requested. These include green ti leaves (cut and frozen); crown flowers; orchids; Bozu flowers; plumeria (buds and partially open); Bougainvillea flowers and leaves and other sturdy flowers. Loose flowers are also needed for the aerial drop on Memorial Day.

Flowers and greenery may be dropped off any time after 7 a.m. on the day of the event at the South High Street parking lot fronting the County Building. Pre-sewn lei are also welcome; finished lei should be 16 inches long before tying. Lei-making will begin at 9 a.m.

The event is hosted by Kaunoa Senior Services, the Department of Housing and Human Concerns and the Office of Mayor Michael Victorino.

For more information, call Kaunoa Senior Center at (808) 270-7308.