- Hawaii is a unique and special place with the oldest English-speaking bonsai community. Isolated in mid-Pacific, Hawaiian bonsai was once almost exclusively enjoyed only by older Japanese men. There are no secrets anymore. Hawaiian Bonsai has made unique bonsai contributions, has been a modern liaison between East and West, and has evolved into a hobby enjoyed by men, women, and children in a harmonious multi-ethnic society governed by the Spirit of Aloha.
- Although most of the Hawaiian bonsai community are Japanese, we're proud to be Americans. As independently thinking Americans, we know what we like and what we don't like. Growing up in the tropics, the sentimental trees of our youth are the giant banyans and the creation of banyan bonsai required us to re-examine and modify the traditional bonsai concepts to fit our trees, our values, and our situation. Having learned traditional Japanese bonsai, incorporated aristocratic Chinese penjing philosophy, and having developed a tropical adaptation, there are new forms and bonsai concepts constantly being developed.
- Many years ago the late Dr. Horace Clay introduced the Dwarf Autograph Tree to Hawaii and began training it as bonsai. He noticed that it threw down stilt roots like the mangrove trees and envisioned a bonsai "walking across the tidal flats." On one of his numerous trips to Japan, he talked of his need for a very long and very narrow bonsai pot and he was excited when a unique handmade 43" long x 11 1/2" wide x 3 1/2" high ceramic bonsai pot by Japanese master bonsai potter Seizan Kataoka of Tokoname cleared customs.
- Today, "Walking Mangrove" is in the Hawaii State Bonsai Repository as a living memorial to Dr. Clay. In maintaining the essence of his design, the tree is pruned and repotted to half of the pot with the remainder of the pot kept empty "so the tree has room to walk." Clearly this is not a traditional Japanese or Hawaiian bonsai. It reflects the philosophy of Chinese penjing and Dr. Clay as a unique creative person. Such is the evolution of modern bonsai in Hawaii.
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Dr. Horace F. Clay and "Walking Mangrove" |
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Restyling "Papa" Kaneshiro's Ironwood |
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Kansako's Philosophy |
| Royal Seacliff; a 360° view turntable landscape | |
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Tropical Mame Bonsai; Banyan Serissa |
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Surinam Cherry; blending styling concepts |
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Ficus Root Styling & Research-Collection Philosophy |
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