For Healani Klein, the pre-Valentine’s Day flower arranging event at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Campus Center was a morning of magic and aloha.
“It’s full of beautiful energy, lovely people,” she said while using the Japanese style of ikebana to create two bouquets—one for her and another that was donated to Mental Health Kōkua, a nonprofit that shared her arrangement with a family that is struggling.
More than 100 students, staff and families joined Klein at a free event on February 8, sponsored by the Home Garden Network (HGN) and Family Education Center of Hawaii (FECH) within the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, in collaboration with a local community organization partner, Student Parents at Mānoa. They chose from roses, chrysanthemums, daisies, pompons and other florals for their bouquets, carefully making an arrangement for Mental Health Kōkua’s clients and one to take home.
“I love seeing when the community comes together doing stuff like this, because not only are they able to enjoy themselves and get some stress relief with this activity, but also be able to help the other people,” said UH Mānoa student and event volunteer Jhanella Gerardo.
“I feel like it’s like a responsibility as a citizen here, especially, to be able to give back to the people, to give back to the land.”
Now in its fourth year, the event is a partnership between HGN, FECH, a community organization that provides parenting and community garden training programs on Oʻahu, and Mental Health Kōkua.
Les Guzman, the Honolulu lead at Mental Health Kōkua, said the flower arrangements were distributed that day to families. “It’ll go right on their living room, dining table or in their room, you know, and it’ll just be an aloha from, you know, the team here that has thought about them.”
Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Science Sothy Eng, the founder of HGN added, “This event not only brought families together but also created a meaningful way for them to share their love and support with the community through fresh flower arrangements.”
Norman Tansey, executive director of FECH, emphasized the impact of the event, noting that simple acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in people’s lives and highlight the importance of compassion in our community.
