ALOHA!  Fuku-Bonsai is a dream in progress that builds upon the bonsai career of founder David W. Fukumoto.  In 1985, Fuku-Bonsai evolved into a corporation to build an international bonsai center in the Kona-Kohala visitor destination area of the Big Island.  Unfortunately, in 1989 defective Benlate was sprayed at the nursery and before the center could open, there was a downward spiral and Fuku-Bonsai began an epic fight for survival!

                FAST FORWARD TO 2010 . . . after an epic 20+ year battle for survival, I am pleased and proud to report that Fuku-Bonsai will survive!  Total losses due to defective Benlate that was contaminated with weed killers caused over $30 million of losses!  The net total of the 1994 Benlate product liability settlement and the 2007 DuPont fraud settlement was less than 10% of our losses and DuPont used their economic and legal clout to force settlements that were very unfair.  But we survived when many other companies didn't.  I thank everyone for their support and pledge that Fuku-Bonsai will work to become the best source of the highest quality "popular bonsai" that can be grown anywhere by anyone who can grow houseplants!

                ~~~David W. Fukumoto       (david.f@fukubonsai.com)   

                1962-68   As newlyweds, David and Myrtle Fukumoto begin growing and training a Brassaia houseplant in their apartment and this enlarges into a lifetime pioneering of True Indoor Bonsai™.  The hobby expands to completely fill a suburban houselot. David became one of the first English bonsai instructors teaching evening adult education classes at Aiea High School and writes his first bonsai handbook. One of his classes forms into the Aloha Bonsai Club. Myrtle becomes a backyard nurserywoman, propagates seeds and cuttings, and maintains the bonsai collection of over 2,000 trees in training!

                1969-73   Co-founded the non-profit Hawaii Bonsai Association; developed their bonsai team-teaching curriculum and lesson plans as the educational committee chairman and course coordinator. Designed and slip-casted bonsai pots with original plaster molds. Participated in formulating the Hawaii State Burrowing Nematode Nursery Certification Program (in Honolulu) and upon approval, moved to the Big Island of Hawaii to form the first nursery under that program. Developed first non-soil media with volcanic pumice and the first products utilizing volcanic welded splatter cinder.  Extensive test marketing demonstrated that True Indoor Bonsai™ (Fuku-Bonsai's houseplants trained in the bonsai manner) are very successful gift bonsai for anyone who can grow houseplants.

                 1973-79   As a research affiliate of the Harold Lyon Arboretum of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, David amassed a ficus specie and variety collection, ran trials, researched, and published a series of articles in the American Bonsai Society Journal.  He pledged to equally support Bonsai Clubs International and also later wrote for Florida Bonsai, Bonsai Society of Greater New York, Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, American Nurserymen's magazine, Nippon (Japan) Bonsai Association and other publications. Over 50 articles have been published locally, nationally, and internationally.  Participated in a Japan Bonsai Tour with the Hawaii Bonsai Association.  Attended the International Bonsai Convention in New York including a presentation promoting IBC 80 Hawaii. Became the first Hawaii State certified nursery to ship to Canada and Europe. Designer of a line of plastic bonsai pots and saucers manufactured by Ole Orchard Hill of Michigan and later designer for a line of larger fiberglass bonsai pots.

                1980   Coordinated and moderated the Hawaii 3-Ring Demonstration at the International Bonsai Convention co-sponsored by the Hawaii Bonsai Association and Bonsai Clubs International at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel in Honolulu.   Co-founded the non-profit Big Island Bonsai Association in 1981 and led the two year project: Revitalization of Bonsai on the Big Island.   Participated in a Chinese Bonsai-Penjing Tour organized by Dorothy and Luther Young of Pennsylvania. As the only non-professional, David received the top editorial award from the Hawaii County Media Council for his Viewpoint article: "If the tax revolt succeeds, who wins?"

               1985-88  Fuku-Bonsai evolved into a corporation in 1985 to become the catalyst to build and operate an international bonsai visitor attaction and over 200 stockholders supported the effort. 17 acres of the former Tanaka Quarry in upper Keauhou-Kona was purchased and in-house design and construction began, funded with the income from the Kurtistown nursery and a series of stock offerings.  The center featured nine themed bonsai gardens and included extensive educational exhibits.   Co-founded the non-profit Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation to educate and promote, to be the public guardian of the memorial bonsai of the Hawaii State Bonsai Repository and to be the liaison to the community.

               1989-90   Fuku-Bonsai sprayed defective fungicide that was contaminated with weed killer at the Kurtistown nursery causing devastating almost total loss of all plant inventory. Over 5,000 product liability cases filed against DuPont.

         The pot is a priceless Chinese drum design by master bonsai potter Akiji Kataoka of Yamaaki Kiln of Tokoname, Japan. Kataoka began his career trying to duplicate the ancient Yixing, China pots. He went on to lead the development of Japanese bonsai pottery. This is amongst his last creative flowering and he ended his career returning to his Chinese inspiration. The pot features four Kimei feet and he handsigned it for us. 

                Benlate residual contamination weakened Brassaia and it became impossible to produce our former quality plants and we were forced to switch.  For many years, nothing would grow in the pile of media that was removed was removed from the benches that were sprayed with the Benlate.  The exception was Dwarf Schefflera! Dwarf Schefflera was introduced into Hawaii about 1972 and was so widely distributed throughout the United States by Hawaii's certified nursery industry that the common name is "Hawaiian Umbrella Tree."

                Fuku-Bonsai was amongst the first to train it as bonsai and originated the major breakthroughs. The Dwarf Schefflera bonsai at Fuku-Bonsai are believed to be the oldest Dwarf Schefflera Bonsai in the world.  Yet top Japanese grand masters consider them as "World-class Masterpiece" category even though they have been in training only since the 1970's.  For bonsai, this is very short.  It's demonstrates that Dwarf Schefflera is ideal as an "AMERICAN BONSAI!"  IT GROWS QUICKLY AND IT GROWS INDOORS!   It is the proven most durable of all houseplants that have the ideal bonsai traits. 

                In October 2000, we launched our efforts to effectively teach how to train.  Fuku-Bonsai's True Indoor Bonsai are already the most successful gift bonsai because they meet the two basic rules for success. They are the best indoor bonsai for those who can grow houseplants and all have been pre-trained and already have character. "Rule #3" is formally stated:  "For best growth, create the optimum growing conditions and environment."  The workshop handbook is now in its 3rd Edition and is being enlarged and improved.

.          2000   The Fuku-Bonsai Logo Tree is a Dwarf Schefflera trained into a tropical banyan form from a cutting rooted in 1976.  Fuku-Bonsai founder David Fukumoto has had over 50 of his bonsai articles published locally, nationally, and internationally.   The logo tree featured on the front-back wrap-around-cover of the January-February 2000 issue of Bonsai Magazine,  the publication of Bonsai Clubs International. That issue included articles: "Bonsai in Hawaii" by Ted Tsukiyama, and "Passing the Torch" by David Fukumoto. 

     We've created a new entrance and interim center as we prepare for designing and constructing a new International Bonsai Center in Kurtistown!

            The giant 2006 seed crop has matured and with the nursery being rebuilt, with more bench space to spread out the plants for training and with a very promising enlarging staff,  we are expanding and growing for the future!  Front:  Founders David and Myrtle Fukumoto.  Top from left:  Michael Imaino (Sr. Plant Manager & president Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation),  Kate Wood (Operations Manager), Antonio Diaz (Nursery trainee), Edison Yadao (Customer Service & Workshop Manager; vice-president MPBF)  Photo:  May 2011

            To now,  our Hawaii Authorized Retailers and retail sales at Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center, mail-order, and website sales have absorbed our production.  (See Big Island Map & Fuku-Bonsai Authorized Retailers.) With production to greatly increase we are preparing to ship internationally and have identified our ideal target accounts.  To further prepare, Kate Wood and David Fukumoto completed the Export University short course at UH-Hilo and we prepare to pre-sell a percentage of production to exclusive accounts to represent us in each country.  

             We’ve been consistently underfinanced, understaffed, and under-rated! Fuku-Bonsai’s True Indoor Bonsai is now recognized as the most successful gift bonsai for anyone anywhere who can grow houseplants. The challenges ahead are formidable but we will strive to be the best source of this high-quality, most popular American-Hawaiian form of bonsai.   You are cordially invited to visit!  Mahalo (thank you) to all who helped!