Hawaii Bonsai Association Show at the Okinawa Festival

The Hawaii Bonsai Association (HBA) once again had its bonsai display at the annual Okinawa Festival in the Hawaii State Convention Center over Labor Day weeekend. Andrea and I volunteered to support the HBA all three days, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. HBA is a federation of bonsai clubs throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Friday

Andrea and I were the first to arrive at just before 2:00 PM on Friday, August 30.


I set up my hau tree and took this photo.


I also brought six bonsai (in (mostly) plastic pots) to donate to the bonsai sale.


The four storey waterfall in the lobby of the Convention Center.


More people came with bonsai and setup progressed.


When we got home Andrea took a photo of the water lily to share with people at Manoa Hertage center. Kevin got it from Anthony and gave it to me.

Saturday

Andrea and I supported the bonsai exhibit Saturday morning, August 31, until 1:00 PM.


We arrived at a quarter to eight and Warren was already there. The exhibit looks great.


My tree is a formal upright (chokan) hau, a polynesian introduction, from seed, about ten years old. The accent is a California desert suiseki
(viewing stone).


A view of the festival hall. The bonsai exhibit area is on the far left.


I brought a haggerbush bonsai to work on. This is the "before" shot.


When the festival opened at 9:00 AM the traffic through the bonsai exhibit was continuous.


Ed M. did demonstrations the whole time and I narrated for a while. Photo by Andrea.


Working on the haggerbush bonsai. Photo by Andrea.


Continuing to remove branches. Photo by Andrea.


After pruning the haggerbush.


A procession in the lobby awaits the opening ceremony at 11:00 AM.


Here comes the procession, shisa (dancing lions) first, then dancers, and then banner carriers. Mayor Kirk Caldwell greets officials. Can you
see him in the white hair and blue shirt?


A clearer shot of Mayor Caldwell.


Dancers and standard bearers ascend the stage.


Mayor Caldwell came by and we chatted for a while. Photo by Andrea.


Talking about bonsai with a Pacific Bonsai Club member. Photo by Andrea.


After our tour of duty ended at 1:00 PM, we went upstairs to look around and shop. Andrea likes the spam musubi pillows.

Sunday

Sunday, September 1, was the second and last day of the Okinawa Festival. Andrea and I arrived before 1:00 PM.


Roy and Ed were doing bonsai demonstrations.


I sat down and worked on my guava forest. Photo by Andrea.


Alvin's juniper is just 25 years old, but in my opinion, it's the best in the show.


I brought my five tree guava forest to work on (left) and took this photo of the photo backdrop at the VIP area.


Riding the escalator up. Photo by Andrea.


We toured the exhibits upstairs again and saw this martial arts exhibition.


Posing with a shisa costume. Photo by Andrea.


We talked to our policeman friend earlier in the day and later he bought a bonsai in training, one of Ed's demo trees. Photo by Andrea.

Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com

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Last updated September 2, 2019 by Dr. Rick Wagner. Text and images Copyright © 2019, unless otherwise attributed, all rights reserved.