About Ikenobo 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 Gail Atwater

1st Vice President Beryl Ono-Stapleton

2nd Vice President Alice Matsuno

3rd Vice President - 

Recording Secretary Barbara TInius

Corresponding Secretary Diana Salansky

Treasurer May Hiraoka-Tomita

 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 below)

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 at various days and times around Oahu.  There is also at least one teacher on Maui.  Please contact us for more information on who may be teaching near you at a day and time convenient to you --(weekday, evening, and weekend classes are currently  available in various locations on Oahu from the following instructors:

Masako Furuyama

Junko Hagio

May Hiraoka-Tomita

Nobuko Kida

Ellen Kondo

Louise Nagata

Carol Sueyoshi

Barbara Tinius