And if a bloom is blemished, it's worthless. Another problem has been steadily rising shipping costs in Hawaii. Both Matson Navigation Co. and CSX Lines, Hawaii's primary lifelines to the West Coast, recently announced new fuel surcharge hikes on top of recent rate increases. The climbing costs hurt, Durston said, because he brings in 50 percent of his seedlings from Florida and California. It trickles down.
Flowers are also hard work.
Fred Humphrey several years ago scaled back his efforts at his small nursery in Waimanalo. As for romantic notions of sunny days and sweet-smelling flowers, Humphrey douses the dream. Or think about putting on a heavy raincoat in hot weather to spray chemicals. Down the road, Alvin Tsuruda quietly snips at his anthuriums. The Zen-like horticulturist dips his shears into a disinfectant after each careful cut, a precaution against bacteria.