| CHRISTMAS HAWAII |
RICHARD TAJIRI'S
Christmas Hawaii was started by three venturous friends:
Richard Tajiri, Ron Sugita & Van Takemura. For the first
year in 1976, we brought in two containers and sold them
mostly to hotels, banks and other commercial establishments.
While Ron & Van found the tree business not profitable
enough with extremely hard work, Richard found it fun by
traveling to the mainland, meeting new people and bringing
the best quality trees to his friends and families. He brought
in two to four containers yearly next several years for
mainly whole sale to florist and pre-order customers.
In 1983, he married Paula. Together they incorporated the
business as FMR (Fast Moving Richard) Sales and expanded
business to major Christmas tree retailer in Oahu. Since
then, the container counts has been growing each year and
became the biggest single owner retailer in Hawaii.
During these years, Christmas Hawaii/Richard Tajiri
introduced "Stand Straight pin stands", "Tree IV", "Fraser
Firs", "Colorado Spruce", "Nordman" and etc. to Hawaii. He
also created "Tip Flocking" which makes trees look like real
snow fall trees.
Richard spends hundreds of hours visiting various farms in
Oregon and Washington throughout the year checking and
tagging his trees. He even helps farmers prune their trees so
that they could grow the best quality trees to take to Hawaii.
Richard Tajiri is now known as one of the most knowledgeable
retailers among Christmas Tree industry and is lovingly
called the Godfather of Christmas Trees in Hawaii.
Richard Tajiri, Ron Sugita & Van Takemura. For the first
year in 1976, we brought in two containers and sold them
mostly to hotels, banks and other commercial establishments.
While Ron & Van found the tree business not profitable
enough with extremely hard work, Richard found it fun by
traveling to the mainland, meeting new people and bringing
the best quality trees to his friends and families. He brought
in two to four containers yearly next several years for
mainly whole sale to florist and pre-order customers.
In 1983, he married Paula. Together they incorporated the
business as FMR (Fast Moving Richard) Sales and expanded
business to major Christmas tree retailer in Oahu. Since
then, the container counts has been growing each year and
became the biggest single owner retailer in Hawaii.
During these years, Christmas Hawaii/Richard Tajiri
introduced "Stand Straight pin stands", "Tree IV", "Fraser
Firs", "Colorado Spruce", "Nordman" and etc. to Hawaii. He
also created "Tip Flocking" which makes trees look like real
snow fall trees.
Richard spends hundreds of hours visiting various farms in
Oregon and Washington throughout the year checking and
tagging his trees. He even helps farmers prune their trees so
that they could grow the best quality trees to take to Hawaii.
Richard Tajiri is now known as one of the most knowledgeable
retailers among Christmas Tree industry and is lovingly
called the Godfather of Christmas Trees in Hawaii.
Company Profile
Bringing the best quality trees to Hawaii for over 30 years!
Richard Tajiri was born in Wailuku, Maui and brought up in
Haiku. After he graduated from Boldwin High School, he
came to Honolulu and attended University of Hawaii and
worked at various tour industries.
Besides the Christmas tree business, he owned and operated
the Blue Velvet Lounge in Waikiki, Big Deal Sales
(wholesale garlic, beef jerky and etc.), Walk in Liquor in
Kakaako.
In 1983 he got married to Paula. In 1986 they sold all their
business except Christmas Hawaii and moved to Pacific
Northwest, where all the Christmas Trees come from.
First they moved to Richmond, BC to help their friend. Then
following year, they moved to Lakewood, Washington and
owned & operated Haiku Gardens Japanese Restaurant for
13 years. Their karaoke lounge was a famous gathering place
for locals with Hawaiian Jam sessions every month.
In 2000, they moved to Portland, Oregon. Portland has been
offering great opportunities for their daughter, Ami with
good public schools and various cultural and athletic
activities. Since 2002, they own and operate Rumours
Restaurant and Lounge in Stayton, Oregon.
For the past 23 years, Richard goes back to Hawaii to sell
Christmas Trees and see his friends and families. He is
planning to do this for many more years.
Haiku. After he graduated from Boldwin High School, he
came to Honolulu and attended University of Hawaii and
worked at various tour industries.
Besides the Christmas tree business, he owned and operated
the Blue Velvet Lounge in Waikiki, Big Deal Sales
(wholesale garlic, beef jerky and etc.), Walk in Liquor in
Kakaako.
In 1983 he got married to Paula. In 1986 they sold all their
business except Christmas Hawaii and moved to Pacific
Northwest, where all the Christmas Trees come from.
First they moved to Richmond, BC to help their friend. Then
following year, they moved to Lakewood, Washington and
owned & operated Haiku Gardens Japanese Restaurant for
13 years. Their karaoke lounge was a famous gathering place
for locals with Hawaiian Jam sessions every month.
In 2000, they moved to Portland, Oregon. Portland has been
offering great opportunities for their daughter, Ami with
good public schools and various cultural and athletic
activities. Since 2002, they own and operate Rumours
Restaurant and Lounge in Stayton, Oregon.
For the past 23 years, Richard goes back to Hawaii to sell
Christmas Trees and see his friends and families. He is
planning to do this for many more years.
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