NAWILIWILI n When shoppers hit the road in search of Mother’s Day flowers and gifts, there will be lots to choose from. “I got here at 7:30 this morning, and it’s already 4 p.m. Where did the day go?” CJ
NAWILIWILI n When shoppers hit the road in search of Mother’s Day flowers and gifts, there will be lots to choose from.
“I got here at 7:30 this morning, and it’s already 4 p.m. Where did the day go?” CJ Nakashita wanted to know as a seemingly unending list of things to do still loomed.
“I’ve got a delivery in Wailua, and then it’s back here, again. I guess I’m working late tonight,” she sighed, resigned to a long day as she unpacked part of her 900-stem rose shipment that arrived Thursday afternoon.
“Mother’s Day is the biggest holiday of the year,” Nakashita said. “It’s even bigger than Valentine’s.”
“Prices are a little higher than normal due to the large demand,” she said. “But, it’s not that high, and there were no shortages this year.”
To help fulfill customers’ orders for flowers to honor mothers, Nakashita, a local floral wholesaler, said she tripled her normal orders that are being earmarked for shipments to some of the bigger markets on the island.
Leading that list is Star Supermarkets at the Kukui Grove where she said she has arrangements, bouquets, assorted cut floral arrangements, and lei being delivered.
Other markets include Wal-Mart, the Foodland stores, and Safeway, although Nakashita said their deliveries will consist primarily of assorted lei.
“Florists order as much as five times their normal orders to take care of Mother’s Day requests and orders,” Nakashita said.
She’s being conservative in her ordering because some of her wholesale accounts have made other arrangements for ordering.
Mother’s Day also signals the start of several busy weeks for florists, because in addition to the national observance, the floral demand is also stimulated by the need to honor graduates with lei.
Kaua‘i Community College starts the graduation circuit this Friday at their KCC Performing Arts Center. The KCC commencement is followed by graduations at Kapa‘a High School, then Kaua‘i and Waimea high schools. These major celebrations are punctuated with commencement ceremonies for preschools and private schools.
Additionally, Family Flower Farms’ staff have been on duty starting Monday in the lawn fronting Eiwa Street at the Kaua‘i Musuem where they offer a wide range of live orchid plants and arrangements for Mother’s Day.
Nakashita said, “I’ll be open for Mother’s Day as well.”
She opened a small floral boutique in the Harbor Mall shopping complex, and said she’ll be open from 10:30 a.m. until about 4 p.m. Sunday.
In addition to “lei and flowers to go,” Nakashita said she has an assortment of sterling silver jewelry, American West hand- tooled leather bags, and an assortment of gifts.
“It’s all part of a one-stop shop,” she mused. “And, for those who are looking for gifts for the doggie mama, there is a line of petwear that has been taking off ever since I started bringing it in,” she laughed.
“Happy Mother’s Day!” she said.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) and dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
