Fukubonsai & "Fukubonsai.com"

FUKU-BONSAI & "FUKUBONSAI.COM"

                ALOHA! In 1962 a Brassaia houseplant in training decorated the Honolulu apartment of newlyweds David and Myrtle Fukumoto. A few years later, bonsai filled all of their Kaneohe yard. David trained trees at night and was a part of a booming construction industry. Myrtle rooted the cuttings and learned nursery skills. Soon he was sharing his bonsai knowledge at evening adult education classes and co-founded bonsai clubs and the non-profit Hawaii Bonsai Association. The part-time backyard nursery began in 1972, we moved to the Big Island to form Hawaii's first certified export nursery in 1973, and evolved into a Hawaiian corporation in 1985.

                We're committed to benefiting bonsai and complimenting the Big Island visitor industry and economy. The corporation was formed to take over the Fukumoto family nursery and be the catalyst to develop the Fuku-Bonsai Center in Keauhou-Kona. The center opened in 1992. Unfortunately in 1989 and 1990 defective Benlate fungicide wiped out the nursery and we closed the center in 1994. Since then, we've rebuilt the nursery and continue our battle in the courts to collect damages from DuPont.

                A modest new FUKU-BONSAI CULTURAL CENTER & HAWAII STATE BONSAI REPOSITORY co-sponsored by the non-profit IRS tax-exempt Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation has opened adjoining the nursery. We're on Olaa Road off Volcano Highway 11 in Kurtistown which is 10 miles from Hilo enroute to Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii. You're cordially invited to visit.

Like the center, this Internet site will focus on education and will be continually enlarged. As a member of the "Silent Generation," I grew up with those who lived through and fought World War II. In Hawaii the Japanese in this generation proved their loyalty by their heroic exploits in the highly decorated 100th Infantry and the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. These men went to school on the GI Bill, came home; and with all other nationalities led a peaceful unselfish revolution dedicated to equal opportunity for all in multi-cultural Hawaii.; They've been called the "Greatest Generation" and this certainly is true in bonsai! In the early 1960's when I first became interested very few were knowledgeable and willing to share their knowledge. This changed when I happened to meet Ted Tsukiyama, a rising star in Hawaii's arbitration community who to me exemplified what the spirit of bonsai should be. Dr. Horace Clay was also a prominent public figure as a horticulture professor, writer, and personality involved with numerous groups and with his own radio show. Haruo "Papa" Kaneshiro joined us and built the philosophical foundation to share the art and cultures of bonsai in Hawaii.; There were others of this Greatest Generation who dreamed of sharing bonsai as a bridge to international friendship and peace. In the continental United States, John Naka was a unique charismatic teacher who developed into an extraordinary international bonsai ambassador. In Japan Saburo Kato was totally dedicated to the idea that, while there will be beautiful masterpiece bonsai, the true spirit of bonsai is in the quiet connection between bonsai and owner-trainer in the same relationship as parent and child. Akiji Kataoka quietly reinforced this theme while developing the modern ceramic bonsai pot. Until then, only Japanese bonsai was known. Yee-sun Wu of Hong Kong, at his own expense, wrote, published, and distributed thousands of copies of a book that introduced the Chinese contribution to artistic pot plants. The bonsai world owes this generation a huge debt of gratitude.; Fuku-Bonsai, as a commercial bonsai nursery, supported this local, national, and international bonsai movement. As the generation passed on, we established the Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center & Hawaii State Bonsai Repository, co-sponsored by the non-profit Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation. Now, when Hawaiian bonsai growers pass away, their best bonsai can come to the center to live and be enjoyed by visitors. We display trees that have been trained by Dr. Horace Clay, Haruo Kaneshiro, Sadakichi Sugahara, Hideki Yonehara, Jackson Kansako, Kelly Shimizu, Dr. Theodore Oto and others. We exhibit bonsai created in Hawaii during Hawaii bonsai conventions or during visits by Saburo Kato, John Naka, Pius Notter, Tom Yamamoto, Shiji Ogasawara, and others. The lava rocks of Hawaii are extraordinary and we've adopted and built upon concepts first introduced by Yee-sun Wu. Our International Honor Roll recognizes the contributions of the representatives of this Greatest Bonsai Generation.; Bonsai is man and nature in harmony. It should not be a status symbol and there should be no competitions. The best bonsai are often created by nature at the timberline where the cycle of "growth-dieback-regrowth" is repeated many times. If such a tree that may be over 100 years old is collected and trained into a beautiful bonsai in 10 years, is it appropriate to say that the trainer "created" it? If it had been purchased, does the new owner deserve a trophy?; Bonsai master Saburo Kato simply states: "Bonsai should be treated like children." They need to be loved and guided and their needs met. From this daily interaction comes the appreciation and serenity of nature. It is not necessary to know "The Rules of Man" to enjoy man and nature in harmony. While he has the exceptional skills of a master bonsai artist, Saburo Kato is the leader of a very quiet school of "populist bonsai" to be enjoyed by everyone. We agree.; In the last 50 years many in Japan codified various aspects of bonsai and; in creating order, developed a national bonsai hierarchy that stretched from the fields of former rice farmers producing specification bonsai stock to the formal schools of classical bonsai to socially correct bonsai organizations. Many are internationally attracted to this version of bonsai while many in Japan have moved on. Bonsai is an art, a craft, and a hobby.; As an art, you know what you like and what you don't like. If you like what you have, leave it alone. If you don't like it, figure out what's wrong and fix it! As a craft, you can study everything about all forms of artistic pot plants and this will create healthier trees and provide the foundation for creating masterpieces. And as a hobby, I hope you find enjoyment and share it with others! I hope the information in this website increases your interest and knowledge of bonsai.; Please spread the word . . . with the support of many people, Fuku-Bonsai has recropped and survived! We are evolving into a unique product development company with high standard limited production. MAHALO (thank you)!

David W. Fukumoto, Founder and president, Fuku-Bonsai Inc., March 2001
Phone (808) 982-9880; FAX (808) 982-9883; E-mail: david@fukubonsai.com

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