HANAPEPE — Dino Oshiro had just minutes to finish paperwork so she could receive 400 fresh roses to honor veterans on Memorial Day. “When I first saw it, I thought it was a joke,” said the owner of Kala’s Kreations
HANAPEPE — Dino Oshiro had just minutes to finish paperwork so she could receive 400 fresh roses to honor veterans on Memorial Day.
“When I first saw it, I thought it was a joke,” said the owner of Kala’s Kreations in Kapaa. “There would be only so many people who would get the flowers, and in order to be eligible, you had just five minutes to get everything in.”
Her persistence paid off.
Two weeks ago, she was informed Kala’s Kreations would receive the roses from “Greenrose,” an Ecuadorian flower farm that has grown and donated roses to show appreciation on Memorial Day for the sacrifices of the United States Armed Forces.
Kala’s Kreations offered the fresh roses, two per family — one for the family, one for the grave of a veteran — during the annual Kauai Veterans Council Memorial Day service at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery.
Kauai was one of 207 locations selected for the Memorial Day flowers event, including Arlington National Cemetery, where more than 200 volunteers placed and distributed 150,000 roses.
Several hundred people participated in the Kauai service on Monday to honor veterans and pay tribute to the fallen.
Capt. Nicholas Mongillo, commander of the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana, said everyone knows a soldier who has fallen.
He said Memorial Day is a time to reflect and honor those who are not here with us, pointing out the absence of people like Bill Honjiyo, a highly-decorated Vietnam Era veteran, and more recently, U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye.
“Throughout the history of our nation, brave men and women have answered the call of duty to defend the ideals of the American dream, and in safeguarding our liberty,” said Gov. Neil Abercrombie in remarks delivered by his Kauai liaison.
“I commend them for their bravery. Your profound acts of citizenship represent the very principles on which our nation was founded.”
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
