LIHU‘E — The normally sociable Kaua‘i Bonsai Club booth was abnormally quiet, barred by fencing as fair goers took in the commercial tent.. Members who normally would occupy the booth were instead gathered around their display in the agricultural tent
LIHU‘E — The normally sociable Kaua‘i Bonsai Club booth was abnormally quiet, barred by fencing as fair goers took in the commercial tent..
Members who normally would occupy the booth were instead gathered around their display in the agricultural tent as they were each absorbed in their own thoughts following the disappearance of over a dozen specimens between midnight, Saturday, and early Sunday morning..
“This is the first time in 37 years,” club member Joe Rosa commented loudly. “I’m the hanawai man so I gotta be here all the time. But, this year…” his voice trailed off trying to comprehend the loss of the displayed plants…
Amil Valpoon said that the club lost 13 accent plants, four medium specimens, as well as the big specimen that resulted from a demonstration, Saturday night..
Valpoon added that each of the plants that disappeared also lost their accompanying stands..
“This hurts,” he said. “Some of the plants belong to our newer members, and some of them were in their first show.” Additionally, Valpoon said that the stands and plants were of the more expensive varieties, primarily junipers, with their accompanying pedestals, many of which were imported..
Masaki Teshima, the club’s president was silently looking over the remaining display Sunday, one member commenting, “He lost a plant, too. His one was real old. I hope they don’t kill it because it’s priceless.” Anita Kaneakua’s loss was devastating as she had only completed a big display during a demonstration hosted by the club as part of the fair’s Saturday night activities lineup.
“I don’t know what I would do if they took one of mine,” another club member mulled.
“Mine came from China.” Roy Oyama, the Kaua‘i Farm Bureau president, was on the scene discussing the losses with club members.
“I told Sue (Keller) to offer a reward,” Oyama said. “This is something that doesn’t just affect the bonsai club. It affects everyone.” Meanwhile, Keller and other leaders of the farm fair reacted quickly, notifying the major airlines of the bonsai club’s losses.
Additionally, police reports were made with photographs of the missing pieces supplied by the Kaua‘i Bonsai Club.
With just a few hours remaining before the commercial tent could dismantle, members of the Kaua‘i Bonsai Club opted to close down early and spent the remaining time close to their plants.
