Page 7 - MidWeek - April 27, 2022

APRIL 27, 2022 MIDWEEK 7
Showing Aloha Through Actions, Lei
F or years, Tom Yamane and his late wife, Jane, have been sharing their aloha with our island com- munity through puakenikeni flowers and lei they’ve picked from their own tree. Never wanting anything in return, they’ ve relished the joy that their gifts have brought others. Here are a few recipients who have felt the love and
“When I think of Tom and Jane, I think of the countless number of puakenikeni lei I have received from them over the years. Recently, a friend who has a puakenikeni tree of her own asked if Tom would
teach her how to make lei. He was so excited to share his craft. He showed her the technique to ensure the fragile flowers were protected during the lei-making process. It was certainly an honor to learn from a great craftsman.”
Hawley Iona Kāne‘ohe
“I’ m a transplant from the Midwest who came to O‘ahu for work but missed being near my family. When my new friend Robz invited me to a family dinner with his par- ents, I happily accepted. Jane and Tom were so welcoming and warm, I immediately felt at home though they were
complete strangers. They were so kind to invite me to their New Year’s Day dinner a few months later. My palate wasn’t accustomed to Japanese cui- sine and I had no idea what to expect, but Jane’s profoundly good cooking and Tom’s sto- ries made it one of the most memorable New Year’s of my life. In those early days of my arrival, a lot of people told me what “aloha” means — the Yamane family showed me.”
Donna Blanchard Kahalu‘u
“Tom and Jane Yamane are synonymous with the spirit of aloha. Throughout the flower- ing season, they meticulously pick the blossoms and sew them into lei, which are gifted,
Tom and Jane Yamane PHOTO COURTESY ROBIN YAMANE
our cousins and neighbors and we enjoyed making them together. The greatest joy we got was sharing a little part of ourselves with others and seeing photos of people wearing our lei.”
Is there someone you’d like to thank? Mail letters to MidWeek c/o Mahalo Nui at 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Ste. 7-500, Honolulu HI 96813, or email mahalonuiwithdar- ah@gmail.com. Include your name, where on the island you reside, phone number and, if possible, the phone number of the person you’ re thanking so she can contact him or her. Darah Dung hosts “The Pet Hui” and “Island Driver,” both on Spectrum OC16.
kindness from the Yamanes.
never sold to anyone wanting one. Jane passed away this past holiday season and Tom has continued their tradition knowing that through this endeavor, their legacy of gen- erosity continues. In a world where things are always hur- ried, the Yamanes remind me to slow down and enjoy the
important things in life — na- ture’s beauty and treasuring the ones we love. Mahalo, Tom and Jane, for all the aloha.”
Joan and Jody Sakaba Kailua
Tom Yamane says, “We never thought of selling lei, we just started giving it to
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