Forever roses go on sale Saturday

DSC_0082By: Karisa Kealiinohomoku
and Tiera Spencer

Ka La staff writers

 

Every year, around Valentine’s Day, people from all over Oahu come campus to buy roses for someone they love. And these roses last Forever.

Why do they call it a forever rose? Because these roses are made by students in HonCC’s Sheet Metal & Plastics technology trade out of 100 percent copper, and copper never dies!

Danny Aiu, an instructor in the sheet metal program started this tradition 10 years ago, and it keeps growing every year.

While he was still teaching night classes at HonCC, a former student said, “ I bet you couldn’t make a metal rose.” Intrigued by the thought, Aiu accepted the challenge. First he drew a layout on the blackboard, then hhe cut out the pieces and rolled them up into a flower.

“There you had it, the first forever metal rose,” Aiu said. “I still have the original rose in my

For the first couple years SMP students were only making roses as projects for themselves, but about eight years ago they started selling them to the public for Falentine’s eay, and every year since it has been one of HonCC’s hottest commodities, and something the school is known for all over the island.

The students in SMP class started working on the roses the first week of this semester, and their goal for this semester is to make and sell 500 roses. All their proceeds are going to pay for the material they used for the roses and future project for the SMP students.

“It was a team effort,” says Robert Arakaki (SMP student) one of four who participated in the making of the roses this year.

They all had some advice for those purchasing the roses.

Kanani Smythe says, “It will be the best gift you can give, because it lasts forever.”

Travis Miyashiro adds, “Come early because they sell out fast.”

Brandon Baqui advises students to, “Be careful, because the metal is really sharp.”

The roses go on sale Saturday Feb. 13 at 9:30 a.m.   People are usually lined up outside the door for several hours before the start of the sale, so come early because they sell out fast.

Copper roses will be sold for $15 each or $50 for five roses.

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