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TheBuzz

BY ERIKA ENGLE

Wednesday, July 18, 2001

Passing the torch
ginger bouquet

The nonilluminated, obviously old neon sign in the window reads, "Flowers by Larry Nolan," but the clearly new sign hanging over the storefront at 1349 Nuuanu Ave. reads "Flowers by Mila."

The florist formerly known as Larry Nolan retired at the end of June, after 41 years running the shop. "He was only 22 when he started," said new owner Mila Wong-Arlett. He plans to "travel the world and relax," Wong-Arlett said, "because he hasn't done that (relaxed) in a very long time."

She reopened the venerable Miyamoto Building flower shop under new management -- hers -- July 4.

Wong-Arlett has owned Maunakea Pawn one door down for about a year, and runs both businesses from the flower shop. "I put a sign, please come to the flower shop," she said, "It's a hard job."

She has two years left on the Pawn Shop lease and is looking to sell the shop. "It's negotiable -- with or without inventory," she said.

Gung ho about her new venture, the store hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., "but I'm here early," she said, at a time of day when the early crowd is lined up down the block snaking into the neighboring okazu-ya.

When Nolan started his career there were 29 flower shops on Nuuanu Avenue, she said. "Then they knocked the buildings down and the flower shops moved to Kaimuki, downtown, and only he stayed here."

She does quite a bit of business related to the three adjacent funeral homes and nearby graveyards, but she also does wedding flowers and delivers.

A new AM player?

If Federal Communications Commission permission is granted, there may be a new five kilowatt AM radio station, at 1600 on the dial, serving the Makaha area with a 91.4 meter tower proposed for the area of 85-578 Waianae Valley Road.

KM Communications Inc., which was not found in a search of state business registration records, has filed an application with the FCC for a construction permit for the radio facility. There is no indication when the agency will rule.

A published legal notice identifies the sole director and shareholder of the company is Myoung Hwa Bae, and Kevin Joel Bae as an officer of the company.

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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com