CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Mae Gushikuma put together an ikebana arrangement last week to decorate the offices at the state Capitol. She has been doing ikebana for over 20 years.

Sprucing up
the Capitol

3 volunteers make state offices
blossom with floral beauty

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By Stephanie Healea
shealea@starbulletin.com

In the midst of the hustle and bustle at the state Capitol, there are islands of serenity and beauty, thanks to the work of three volunteers who create flower arrangements for several offices using ikebana, a Japanese style of flower arranging.

Sprucing up otherwise bare or dull offices, the kindness "adds a lot," said Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono. "My entire staff really appreciates the fresh flowers."

Using heliconia (both the yellow and red ones and a brownish variety), yellow spider mums, anthurium (obake), kokotan branches and other flora and greenery, a group of three experienced volunteers create beautiful ikebana arrangements at four locations at the Capitol.

Mae Gushikuma, Betty Shimabukuro and Gladys Blondin come each Monday like clockwork to add the finishing touches to tables and desks. They are church volunteers and use flowers supplied mostly from their backyards or from friends' yards.

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Gladys Blondin, left, and Mae Gushikuma worked on an arrangement in the lieutenant governor's office.

"Sometimes we buy them," said Gushikuma. "We have to get something that lasts quite a while because we're only here once a week."

They lay newspapers on the table so the clippings and the water from the flowers do not make a mess.

Hirono said the women always use a long, shallow container with a short arrangement for the long table in her office where she holds meetings. The volunteers know that people will be talking and need to see across to one another, Hirono said.

Going from one office to another, Shimabukuro held the doors while Blondin or Gushikuma pushed the cart holding their flowers and supplies.

"I like doing this," Gushikuma said "We meet a lot of friends; we meet all the senators" and representatives.

In less than two hours, they had gone to the governor's office, then to the lieutenant governor's office. They continued to the governor's Office of Information and finished with an arrangement in an interior area outside the House chambers.

Gushikuma has been doing ikebana for more than 20 years.

Blondin worked at the governor's office before she retired. She said she saw the other two doing the arrangements and liked it. When she retired she asked them if she could do the ikebana with them and she went to classes to learn the art.

"There are a lot of people in our community that add to our quality of life, with beauty and kindness," said Hirono.