Ikenobo Ikebana Society of Honolulu

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Ikenobo Society of  Honolulu is a  501(c)(3) organization to support and promote  the Japanese floral art of Ikenobo ikebana in Hawaii.   On June 22, 1980, the Ikenobo Society Honolulu Hawaii Chapter held an  Inaugural Luncheon with Headmaster Sen'ei Ikenobo presenting the charter  to founding President Kako Oda and conducting an Ikenobo ikebana  demonstration. The Honolulu Ikenobo chapter was the 28th to be founded  in the US; today there are 41 chapters in the USA. 

Current officers:

President - May Hiraoka-Tomita

1st Vice President - Beryl Ono-Stapleton

2nd Vice President - <vacant>

3rd Vice President - Hiroko Seno

Recording Secretary - <vacant>

Corresponding Secretaries - Barbara TInius & Tamayo Matsumoto

Treasurer - Diana Salansky

Assistant Treasurer - Litheia Nakamoto

 Ikenobo is the original school of ikebana and has a rich history, having been initially documented more than 555 years ago, of people coming to see and learn from a priest who was arranging flowers to place before Buddha.  Over the centuries it has continued to adapt to changing lifestyles.  Having enjoyed imperial support and been promoted as an activity for samurai, smaller arrangements were later promoted as a desired skill for young woman to practice.  Continuing to evolve with society, various arrangements grace modern homes as well as temples, offices or other locations today

 Ikenobo has 3 main styles with traditional and more modern variations of both rikka and the simpler shoka, as well as  natural and more creative free styles known as Jiyuka.  (See section below for more information on styles.)

You can find more information at: 

https://www.ikenobo.jp/english/

Ikenobo has 3 basic styles of ikebana:

(examples can be seen in Photo Gallery:

https://ikenobohonolulu.org/ikenobo-styles )

1. Rikka (立花) -- the oldest and most complex originating more than 555 years ago from simpler arrangements offered to Buddha. It has 9 main components with optional additional parts to fill in or round out the arrangement.  There are both traditional (shofutai 正風体) and modern (shimputai 新風体) versions of rikka.
2. Shoka (生花) - a simpler format that developed in the Edo period from parts of rikka.  It has only 3 main components that  can represent past, present and future, or heaven, man and earth.  This also has both traditional (shofutai 正風体) and modern (shimputai 新風体) versions.
3. Jiyuka (自由花) or Free Style has no specified form, but falls into 2 basic categories: naturalistic and "designed" in which materials are used in a less natural manner...

Members enjoy a number of benefits such as workshops, demonstrations, luncheons and discounts at local stores.  They are given opportunities to share their ikebana at exhibits and the Japanese Culture Center of Hawaii.  In addition, they can access newsletters from Ikenobo HQ in Kyoto as well as apply to attend higher level workshops in Japan.  

There are 2 levels of membership:

1. regular - good for most members
2. special - replaced the previous teacher level, opening more advanced classes to more serious students level 6 and above at a higher price...

Membership drive is generally done in February with all applications submitted to HQ in bulk.  Contact us for information on how to join.

Email: ikenobohonolulu@gmail.com

Classes are currently taught in the following areas and general times. Most are held two times per month. Please contact us about joining one of these classes, 

Location -  Day/Time   

Aiea  - no new students   

Honolulu  - Tuesday Mornings   

Honolulu - Wednesday afternoons

Honolulu   - Wednesday evenings   

 Honolulu -  Friday mornings   

Kailua -  1 Saturday morning/month   

Kaneohe -  Wednesday or Thursday mornings   

Kula -  no new students    

Mililani - Tuesday mornings