Visiting Ānuenue Pūnua- and making Pua Kenikeni Lei

From her Generational Trees- at her home in Kaneohe, Hawaii

Behind the Bloom- with Ānuenue Pūnua making Pua kenikeni Lei

Jun 8

A Flower Experience of a Lifetime- I’m so honored to be able to visit Ānuenue Pūnua- and watch her create a Pua Kenikeni Lei- in the time honored tradition- of her mother- Primrose- in the shade of her Generational Pua Kenikeni Trees- at her home in Kaneohe, Hawaii! Watch the video here…

Today on Behind the Bloom – I’m so excited to be sharing this incredible experience with you – when we visited Hawaii for our Episodes on Lei for Season 7 of “J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom” - my Friend Jenny Fiedler- introduced me to Cultural Practitioner- and Pua Kenikeni Lei maker Ānuenue Pūnua!

Ānuenue’s Daughter- Ko´aloa picking the Pua Kenikeni Flowers- from the Generational Trees- started by her Grandfather- many years ago- at their home in Kaneohe, Hawaii!

We are so honored today to be invited to her home- to experience the 3 generational Pua Kenikeni Trees- that Ānuenue (her name means “Rainbow”) and her daughters care for! I was so honored to have Ānuenue treat us with “Aloha Spirit” and welcome us with “Ohana” - while we visited her in Kaneohe! You’ll see her beautiful daughters in this video- and they kindly picked the Fragrant and beautiful Pua Kenikeni Flowers- with a bucket that Ānuenue’s father had created for her mother to pick these delicate flowers. Pua Kenikeni Flower is our Featured Flower in Episode 705- A Day for Lei- you can watch it here!

Ānuenue’s three amazing and beautiful daughters- Kūla´ila´i - Ko´iahi and Ma´aloa with the Bucket her mother Primrose used to pick Pua Kenikeni flowers- for lei making- from these Generational Family Trees- at their home in Kaneohe, Hawaii!

You are treated to a special experience as Ānuenue makes these incredibly fragrant flowers into a lei - demonstrating her mother Primrose’s traditional way of making a Pua KeniKeni Lei. This is my favorite lei- there is no way to explain the incredible fragrance that this lei has- and I love the way the lei and flowers transition- from a bright cream - to yellow- gold and orange… over a period of time… I love placing a Pua Kenikeni lei I’ve worn all day- next to the bed on the nightstand so I can go to sleep and wake up to the amazing fragrance… there is nothing quite as special as Pua Kenikeni Lei- and and being able to experience a Lei that is made by Ānuenue is simply INCREDIBLE!

Kūku bringing the Harvested Pua Kenikeni Flowers- to the table for Lei Making… This process was so meaningful- and I appreciate Ānuenue talking story with me- about the process- and the cultural significance of Lei!

I am so thankful and grateful that my visit- with Ānuenue and her daughters, and the fragrant Pua Kenikeni Lei- is something I can share with you- and at the same time- that we captured this moment in time to share with Flower Lovers, Lei Makers, Pua Kenikeni Fans- and people that love and respect the amazing Love and Art of the Hawaiian People.
I’m so thankful and grateful we could capture this memory – for our series- J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom- and our Visit with Ānuenue and her Daughters in Episode 705 - A Day For Lei- You can watch it here! - The Video today is more Web-Exclusive Video- that we weren’t able to include to include in the PBS Series. You can learn more about Ānuenue and her Cultural Expertise- by following her on Instagram.com/rainbow_koolau – I’m so honored to share Ānuenue’s talent, art and culture with you today!

A Very Special Day indeed- that will remember with Aloha for the rest of my Life… Thank you Ānuenue for being so kind and generous- with your Family- the Generational Trees and Flowers- and your Time and Talent… Mahalo my dear friend- a hui hou- (- Translation - “Until We Meet Again!” )

A Very Special and Love filled - “Mahalo”- to Ānuenue and her Wonderful Daughters- Ko´iahi , Ma´aloa and Kūla´ila´i and their Generational Trees for welcoming us with Aloha- and for being so kind and generous with their talent and flowers! I am forever grateful- and my Flower Life was changed forever- by this Kind and Loving Experience- Much Love … a hui hou my friends!
Watch this week’s Web-Exclusive- Behind the Bloom with my Hawaiian Friend Ānuenue Pūnua and the Pua Kenikeni Flower and Lei Making Here!