NAWILIWILI — Outside, activity from the day was winding down, but inside the confines of CJ’s Floral Design in the Harbor Mall shopping center off Rice Street, activity was just beginning, as the three ladies there unpacked and prepared lei
NAWILIWILI — Outside, activity from the day was winding down, but inside the confines of CJ’s Floral Design in the Harbor Mall shopping center off Rice Street, activity was just beginning, as the three ladies there unpacked and prepared lei that will help graduates and their families celebrate.
“Lei is the top seller,” CJ Nakashita, the shop’s proprietor, said. “We also put out single-stemmed rose bouquets, multi-stemmed bouquets, and other items, but lei is still the most-purchased item.”
There appears to be no shortage of flowers for this year’s graduation ceremonies, and celebrations that will peak this week when four schools will graduate their senior classes, including Waimea and Kaua‘i High tomorrow night, Friday, June 3.
Nakashita said that there are some new variety of lei available this year that utilize differing styles of creation, using orchids imported from Thailand to help cope with the demand for fresh floral lei.
Nakashita said that starting with last week’s graduation of Kapa‘a and Kula high schools, by the time they get through with deliveries on Friday, they will have distributed over 2,000 lei to five major retail outlets on the island, from Lihu‘e to Princeville.
These include Star Market, the Foodland stores in both Waipouli and Princeville, Safeway, and Wal-Mart.
The hectic schedule of graduation only adds to the frenzied activity going on at the Harbor Mall outlet, where Nakashita relocated her distribution business from her former Wailua location so she could be closer to Lihu‘e Airport.
With the relocation, Nakashita said she’s discovered that there is now walkin traffic as well.
Nakashita said, “We’ll be open on Friday, the main graduation day, but (will be on an) on-and-off and-on schedule depending on how the deliveries go.”
Customers are welcome to stop in for pick-up-and-go service for lei, floral arrangements, and a limited number of gifts as well, she said.
While juggling between the opening of her new shop which is currently celebrating its third week in the new Harbor Mall location, Nakashita explained that they still do not have set shop hours because “things are still growing out.” However, she said they are open from Monday through Friday for now, with expanded hours on Tuesday nights, when the bulk of her shipments arrive.
Nakashita’s staff includes lei designers Eleanor Sasaki and Stella Miyoshi, who oversee the local production of lei; Maria Macadangdang, shop manager; Alicia Leong, office manager; and Mary Montoya, distribution manager.
For more information, people may stop in at the shop located in Suite 112 at Harbor Mall, or call 241-7779.
This week’s graduation schedule calls for Kahili Adventist School to celebrate tonight, Thursday, June 2. Tomorrow, Friday, June 3, Kaua‘i High School seniors celebrate their commencement starting at 5 p.m. at Vidinha Stadium.
