MPBF logo 2x2 72dpi.jpg (9269 bytes)
MID-PACIFIC BONSAI FOUNDATION
          An IRS tax-exempt non-profit foundation to exhibit, research, educate, promote, and perpetuate the art and culture of bonsai; to be the custodian of memorial bonsai in the Hawaii State Bonsai Repository, to serve as the liaison with the community, and to create international friendships through bonsai.
c/o Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center & Hawaii State Bonsai Repository
                  PO Box 6000, Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760
MPBF NEWSLETTER #1
November 2003
Michael with driftwood demo tall narrow photo.jpg (41614 bytes)
   MPBF president Michael Imaino
during a Bonsai Day presentation
titled: "Constructing a Tree!" in
innovative effort to create a new
tropical styling. The demo was
reported and posted at:
www.fukubonsai.com/4ab5.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            Aloha!  Since 1985 the non-profit Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation has shared the educational and community goals of  the for-profit Fuku-Bonsai corporation as they were identical to the Foundation's.  The Foundation was initially formed to be the public guardian of the donated Sadakichi Sugahara memorial bonsai and through the years, has accepted and maintained other worthy and outstanding trees.  Now, when Hawaiian bonsai masters pass away, their best trees can come here to live, to be enjoyed by visitors from throughout the world.

            The Foundation's second major focus was to assume responsibilities for the educational activities that were to take place primarily at the 17-acre Fuku-Bonsai Center in upper Keauhou-Kona that was then under construction. The center open briefly in 1992; but unfortunately,  decimation of the Kurtistown nursery inventory due to defective Benlate led to Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, foreclosure, and loosing the Kona center. Since then the Foundation has taken a quiet back seat role as the corporation struggled to rebuild the nursery and continue legal efforts to collect damages from DuPont.

             Like Fuku-Bonsai, the Foundation operates without fanfare.  With limited funds but with the support of individuals and other businesses, the bonsai collection was brought back from Kona, a modest Kurtistown center exhibit was built, and educational activities begun. The Foundation also participates in the Big Island Bonsai Association (BIBA) All-Big Island Bonsai Shows. 

            The Foundation is the primary host of the Bonsai Days and workshops held on the second Saturday of each month. The activities are often reported on the joint www.FUKUBONSAI.COM website. Several of the Bonsai Days of this past year focused on the three Christmas Berry trees originally trained by America's premier bonsai master John Naka in 1981 and 1990.  The two training sessions resulted in major articles in Bonsai Clubs International's Bonsai Magazine. Training has continued and photographs are being taken for a major "Tribute to John Yoshio Naka" article to be published in the near future.

             With the nursery rebuilding and restructuring almost complete, the Foundation will become more visible and this newsletter is just the latest in a series of increasing activities.  In the coming issues, we'll tell you more about our past, present and future as we enlarge the Foundation's section of the website.

           All current MPBF officers are also Fuku-Bonsai employees.  We receive support from corporate stockholders, center visitors, and Big Island residents.  We hope you'll visit the center, participate, and support the Foundation!
 
          ~~~ Michael S. Imaino, MPBF president
          ~~~ David W. Fukumoto, MPBF editor
ISAMU "HAM" KANESHIRO ALOHA!    The center and the foundation have been the beneficiary of many individuals throughout the community. We feature and say farewell to Ham with the warmest mahalo and aloha!
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