Welcoming 2024: A Special New Year's Message
Welcoming 2024: A Special New Year’s Message
As we stand at the threshold of a brand-new year, we take a moment to look back on the shared journey of the past year. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for the collective effort, resilience and collaborative spirit that are the hallmarks of our Grove Farm values.
And as we cast our gaze forward to 2024, we are filled with optimism and anticipation for what lies ahead forGrove Farm. This upcoming year promises to be a testament to our community’s capacity for innovation, mutual growth and fruitful partnerships.
Embracing a spirit of change and progress, we are setting our sights on unexplored territories, aspiring to reach new heights. We have an array of exciting projects on the horizon and are eager to work together to build a more sustainable Kauaʻi.
Thank you for your unwavering support, hard work, and commitment. Here’s to a year of innovation, unity and unparalleled success. May the New Year usher in joy, prosperity and an abundance of opportunities.
Warmest wishes for a Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!
Making Kadomatsu: Embracing a Time-Honored New Year Tradition
According to Japanese tradition, the new year is a time for reflection and fostering hope for a prosperous and harmonious future. One unique custom involves creating and displaying bamboo, pine, and flower arrangements called kadomatsu.
This year, the Grove Farm team gathered bamboo and pine branches from our local surroundings and began the careful process of cutting and assembling our kadomatsu. A big arigato gozaimasu goes out to our sensei in this process, Mike Garcia, for guiding us through each step of the arrangement process.
While the bamboo is a prominent feature of the kadomatsu, the pine is actually the most important element! It’s believed that the pine tree is where the spirits of the deities live and is a central part of the decoration.
The bamboo began being added to the traditional decoration when samurai were prominent in Japanese society. Legend has it that a shogun, seeking victory in battle, sliced through bamboo as a symbolic gesture. People would also wish their problems of life away on the tips of the bamboo since the plant would grow straight up towards the sky.
Incorporated in our special arrangements are beautiful cherry blossoms. The flowers of this prolific tree are known for their hardiness because they bloom during the coldest parts of the year. Together, these elements create the modern kadomatsu, which can be displayed in front of your home until January 7th. Following the tradition, the arrangement is then burned for good luck.
Grove Farm Donates to Folds of Honor - Operation: Rising Star
Dan Case, who grew up on the Grove Farm sugar plantation and is the father of Grove Farm’s Steve Case, served in the U.S. Navy’s elite underwater demolition team, the precursor to today’s Navy SEALs.
His sons, Steve and Jeff Case, Chairman of the Grove Farm Foundation, continue to honor their late father’s memory by supporting causes that benefit veterans. In this spirit, the Grove Farm Foundation is proud to donate $10,000 to Operation: Rising Star, a commendable organization that provides scholarships to the families of fallen service members. This donation will remain in Hawai‘i, aiding local families.
A salute to Daniel Case!