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Hawaiian flower growers carry on family tradition

Both Joey and Donna come from a long line of Hawaiian flower lovers. Donna’s grandmother, Toshiko Iwamasa, was well known in Waimea for her haku pansy lei, as well as her classes in lei making. Toshiko taught her daughter, Ellen Hori, the art of lei making and she in turn passed it on to her daughter, Donna. Now Donna’s daughter, Lyla, is also involved in the flower business.

Donna’s parents worked as vegetable farmers on an ag lot they leased not far from J&D’s current spot. When Donna decided to continue the family’s farming tradition, she knew she’d prefer growing flowers instead of revisiting her childhood chores on the vegetable farm.

Joey grew up on Oahu with a flower-loving mother who owned Lorry’s Lei Stand in Honolulu for many years. She instilled in her son the appreciation of working with flowers. The flower tradition continues in the family as their daughter Lyla has her own business making and selling small cup bouquets. Though Donna and her daughter both enjoy arranging flowers and making lei, the majority of the cut flowers grown on J&D Farm today are shipped to florists and lei makers throughout the state.

Donna and Joey started farming in 1983 by leasing a portion of Donna’s parents’ farm. They have experience growing lots of different crops and are always experimenting with new ones. During the recession, they grew more food plants. When the weather turned dry, they tried succulents and Christmas cactus for fun. Now customers ask for some of these, so they are still growing them.

Read more at West Hawaii Today
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