The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa celebrated spring with a gift of sakura (cherry blossom) trees from Japan Airlines (JAL) with the Hawaii Sakura Foundation and the Hawaii Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce (HJJCC) in March at the Magoon Research Facility in Mānoa Valley.
The three sakura trees commemorate the continued partnership between UH Mānoa and JAL and highlight UH’s engagement with the global community. The event was also an opportunity for JAL to strengthen relations and ties to other community networks.
UH Mānoa partners included the Office of the Provost, campus arboretum and landscaping services. Representatives from JAL, Hawaii Sakura Foundation, HJJCC, the Consulate-General of Japan in Honolulu, Cherry Blossom Festival and Gendai Haiku Association attended the ceremony.
“Sakura are globally iconic because of people’s connections to it,” said UH Mānoa Campus Arboretum Curator Nōweo Kai. ”As demonstrated [at the planting], sakura has the power to bring a variety of folks together and reverently inviting all to connect with each other.”
This year marks 70 years of JALʻs support of the HJJCC and Cherry Blossom Festival, in addition to their commitment to community engagement and environmental stewardship.
