Behind the Bloom – Lei Day Contest with Deb Di Bella AIFD
Join me and My Flower Friend Deb Di Bella AIFD- as we tour the Lei Contest at the Lei Day Celebration in Queen Kapi’olani Park in Honolulu during our Filming in Hawaii- in 2024 for “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom 2 Part Episode- about the Culture and History of Lei- and Lei Day!
Today on Behind the Bloom Video on uBloom- I’m viewing the 2024 Lei Day Contest- in Queen Kapi’olani Park with my Life Long Friend Deb Di Bella AIFD. Deb lives on Oahu- and her and I have been friends for what seems like a lifetime. We are both members of the American Institute of Floral Designers, and Deb was super helpful when I create my 1001 Idea book- that morphed into My Award Winning Book- Bloom 365- that includes 365 Tips, Tricks and Techniques that will help you master the art of Flower Arranging… You can get your very own copy of Bloom 365 Here!
So Many Lei of all shapes and Sizes- and types of materials are on Display at the Annual Lei Day Contest in Queen Kapi’olani Park… you have to see it to believe it… Add this Wonderful Flower Event to your Bucket List!
Deb is a local lei artist- and incredible flower designer. She is so talented- you can see for yourself with the Lei Po’o (Lei for head) she wears in this episode. When Kelly and I decided to travel to Hawaii- with the crew to film the Lei Day Celebration for Life in Bloom- I called my Flower Friend Deb- quite out of the blue- and she responded with the Most Amazing Aloha Spirit- and jumped in to help me, introducing me to a myriad of Flower Friends on Oahu- and also linking me up with Eric Tanouye from Green Point Nursery- and Tessie Amore PhD - at the University of Hawaii- (You’ll learn more about them- in Our Flowers of Hawaii Episode that will premiere in Season 8 of J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom. Deb also helped educate me- in the Culture of Lei- and Hawaiian Lore, Customs and Etiquette- as well as sharing so many of her friends and contacts with me. It was truly MONUMENTAL help – (in the TV business we call it a fixer- a person that is on the ground where you will produce a series- and knows all the ins and outs- and lay of the land… or in this case Lei of the Land… ) and Deb became a shining example of the “Aloha Spirit” perfectly… her help embodies the meaning of “Aloha Spirit” and I am forever grateful!
More Fresh Flower Lei- with incredible detail, texture and fragrance… WOW!
Naturally- I invited Deb to join at the Lei Day Celebration to tour the Lei Day Contest where she explained so many of the intricacies that are part of this annual event. It’s hard to show in pictures - the attention to detail - these artists implement- not to mention the color, texture and of course fragrance- that comes with these beautiful lei. There are so many categories- and even ones for craft and for kids… The Lei is a livestyle in Hawaii- and it is a physical symbol of Love- and the Aloha Spirit!
Winning Lei Ribbons in the White/Green Category- at the Lei Contest in Queen Kapi’olani Park in Honolulu for Lei Day 2024!
I’m delighted to share my Flower Friend Deb Di Bella– and the Lei Day Contest with you- today… with this Behind the Bloom glimpse of the just a few of the Lei on Display in Queen Kapi’olani Park for Lei Day 2024! Mahalo Nui Deb- You are one in a Million!
My Wonderful Flower Friend- Deb Di Bella AIFD- with her Lei Po’o- Join Deb and I as we share our thoughts about the contest- learn more- and talk about the Culture of Lei… in This week’s Behind the Bloom Web-exclusive Video on uBloom!
You can watch this weeks Behind the Bloom Episode here! - that offers Web-exclusive content - not yet seen in Episode 705- A Day for Lei- coming Next Week - to Public Television Stations near you- and PBS.org and PBS Passport!