FLOWER POWER Bills target imported blooms used in islands' traditional garlands JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHERAssociated Press Mar 26, 2026 3 hrs ago 0 1 of 5 Below: Mei Mei Say, owner of M.P. Lei Shop, left, stands next to state Rep. Darius Kila on Feb. 26 in Honolulu's Chinatown. MENGSHIN LIN PHOTOS, ASSOCIATED PRESS Left: Lei hang in a refrigerator Feb. 26 at Cindy's Lei Shoppe in Honolulu's Chinatown. Purple Thai orchid lei sit inside a refrigerator Feb. 26 at M.P. Lei Shop. Cindy Lau, owner of Cindy's Lei Shoppe, threads flowers onto string Feb. 26 in Honolulu's Chinatown. Pikake flowers ADOBE STOCK Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHERAssociated Press SPOTLIGHT| HAWAIIkAms62C %@FC:DEi %96 7=@H6CD : E92E 3C:89E\AFCA=6 =6: J@F C646:G65 @? J@FC w2H2:: G242E:@? 2=>@DE 46CE2:?=J H6C6?VE 8C@H? :? E96 p=@92 $E2E6]k^AmkAm%96 G2DE >2;@C:EJ @7 E9@D6 @5@C=6DD @C49:5D 2C6 :>A@CE65 7C@> %92:=2?5[ H96C6 :E :D 4962A6C E@ 8C@H 2?5 DEC:?8 E96> :?E@ E96 82C=2?5D DJ?@?J>@FD H:E9 w2H2::2? 4F=EFC6]k^AmkAm$@>6 w2H2:: =2H>2<6CD E9:?< E96 DE2E6 D9@F=5 5@ >@C6 E@ 96=A E96 AC@5F46CD @7 =6: >256 H:E9 =@42==J 8C@H?[ 7C28C2?E 7=@H6CD] x562D :?4=F56 =236=:?8 C6BF:C6>6?ED E92E H@F=5 :56?E:7J w2H2::\>256 82C=2?5D 2?5 2 AC@9:3:E:@? @? DE2E6 286?4:6D 3FJ:?8 :>A@CE65 =6:[ E9@F89 D@>6 =6:\D6==6CD H@CCJ DF49 CF=6D H@F=5 >2<6 E96 82C=2?5D E@@ 6IA6?D:G6]k^Am People are also reading… Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts McDowell County high schoolers show off art, music, more at Spring Art Show Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state Marion man charged with murder Wednesday in 2024 death of 3-month-old daughter The story behind new McDowell County ice cream business The Scream Man found dead along Interstate 40 in Burke County; Medical examiner notified McDowell County Schools superintendent: Planning for a new school Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying property owners in McDowell County Lenoir woman accused of scratching Telsa Cybertruck using board with nails; see video here Railroad conference in Morganton focuses on passenger trains, rebuilding from Helene McDowell County leaders hear updates, concerns about 2027 property value reappraisal Marion man charged after 200 grams of cocaine found in search of home near school Siena almost pulls off all-time March Madness upset against Duke kAmQ*@F 5@?VE 4@>6 E@ w2H2:: 2?5 ?@E 2E =62DE 92G6 2 7=@H6C @C 2 =6:[Q D2:5 zF9:@ {6H:D[ rt~ @7 E96 w2H2::2? r@F?4:=[ 2 ?@?AC@7:E E92E AC@>@E6D }2E:G6 w2H2::2? 4F=EFC6 2?5 3FD:?6DD] Qu@C FD E@ ?@H 36 :>A@CE:?8 :D ?@E 8@@5] xEVD 24EF2==J 6>32CC2DD:?8]Qk^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm$J?@?J>@FD H:E9 DE2E6k^DA2?mk^AmkAm%96 4FDE@> @7 8:G:?8 2?5 H62C:?8 =6: >256 @7 7=@H6CD[ =62G6D[ D665D @C D96==D 9:DE@C:42==J :D 2DD@4:2E65 H:E9 w2H2::2? A6@A=6[ 7@C H9@> E96 82C=2?5D C6AC6D6?E =@G6 @C E96 DA:C:E @7 Q2=@92]Q %96J H6C6 FD65 ?@E ;FDE 7@C 46C6>@?:6D 3FE H@C? :? 6G6CJ52J =:76 3J 6G6CJ@?6 7C@> 49:67D E@ 49:=5C6?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ 2 a__a A2A6C AF3=:D965 3J E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 w2H2::]k^Am kAm%@52J[ A6@A=6 :? w2H2:: 8:G6 2?5 C646:G6 =6: 7@C 2== <:?5D @7 46=63C2E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 3:CE952JD 2?5 AC@>@E:@?D] w:89 D49@@=[ 4@==686 2?5 6G6? 6=6>6?E2CJ D49@@= 8C25F2E6D C646:G6 =6: A:=65 E@ E96:C E@AD @7 E96:C 9625D[ E96:C 7246D D=@H=J G2?:D9:?8 369:?5 2 C:D:?8 H2== @7 7=@H6CD] t249 J62C @? E96 @A6?:?8 52J @7 E96 {68:D=2EFC6[ =2H>2<6CD >66E 2 D:>:=2C 72E6]k^AmkAm!C68?2?E H@>6? 2C6 8:G6? @A6?\6?565 DEC2?5D[ C2E96C E92? 2 4=@D65 ?64<=246[ 3642FD6 @7 2 EC25:E:@? E92E D2JD E96 =2EE6C C6AC6D6?ED E96 F>3:=:42= 4@C5 HC2AA:?8 2C@F?5 E96:C 323JVD ?64<]k^Am kAmQ(6 2=H2JD 2C6 =@@<:?8 7@C H2JD E92E H6 42? 9@?@C A6@A=6 E9C@F89 @FC x?5:86?@FD 4F=EFC6D[ H9:49 :D 8:G:?8 =6:[Q D2:5 DE2E6 #6A] s2C:FD z:=2[ H9@ :D }2E:G6 w2H2::2?]k^Am kAmq642FD6 =6:\8:G:?8 :D D@ :?8C2:?65 :? w2H2::[ =2H>2<6CD 4@?DE2?E=J 3FJ E96> 2?5 5@=6 E96> @FE — 2E 8C@F?53C62<:?8D[ E@ 9@?@C 4@?DE:EF6?ED @C G@=F?E66CD[ @C 7@C DE2776CDV 3:CE952JD[ 7@C 6I2>A=6]k^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm#68F=2E:@? 677@CEk^DA2?mk^AmkAmz:=2 E9:D J62C DA@?D@C65 2 3:==[ C6BF6DE65 3J E96 w2H2::2? r@F?4:=[ E92E H@F=5 92G6 C6BF:C65 2 46CE2:? A6C46?E286 @7 =6: AFC492D65 3J DE2E6 @77:4:2=D E@ :?4=F56 7=@H6CD 8C@H? :?\DE2E6] xE 2=D@ D@F89E =6: =236=D E6==:?8 4FDE@>6CD H96C6 E96 7=@H6CD H6C6 8C@H?]k^Am kAm%92E >62DFC6 72:=65[ 3FE 2 C6=2E65 3:== :? E96 $6?2E6 C6>2:?D 2=:G6] xE H@F=5 4C62E6 2 H@C< 8C@FA E@ DEF5J H96E96C =@42= 7=@H6C 8C@H6CD 2?5 =6: >2<6CD 42? >66E E96 C:D:?8 56>2?5 7@C E96 82C=2?5D[ 2?5 >2<6 C64@>>6?52E:@?D E@ AC@E64E E96 DE2E6 :?5FDECJ]k^Am kAmQ%96 8C@H:?8 4@>>6C4:2=:K2E:@? @7 =6: 2?5 =6: >2E6C:2=D 92D =65 E@ :?4C62D65 FD6 @7 :>A@CE65 A=2?E >2E6C:2=D 2?5 >2?F724EFC65 4@>A@?6?ED E92E 2C6 >2C<6E65 FD:?8 w2H2::2? =2?8F286[ :>286CJ[ 2?5 A=246 ?2>6D[Q E96 $6?2E6 3:== DE2E6D] %92E Q>2J >:D=625 4@?DF>6CD 2?5 F?56C>:?6 =@42= 8C@H6CD[ =6: >2<6CD[ 2?5 4F=EFC2= AC24E:E:@?6CD]Qk^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5QmuC28C2?E 9:6C2C49Jk^DA2?mk^AmkAmpD w2H2::VD A@AF=2E:@? 2?5 E@FC:D> 3@@>65 :? E96 a_E9 46?EFCJ[ =6: >2<6CD EFC?65 E@ ?@??2E:G6 @C?2>6?E2= A=2?ED DF49 2D 42C?2E:@?D 2?5 ;2D>:?6 E@ >66E D@2C:?8 56>2?5[ 2?5 E9@D6 2C6 DE:== D@>6 @7 E96 >@DE A@AF=2C]k^Am kAmz:=2[ 2 s6>@4C2E 7C@> H6DE ~29F[ D2:5 96 92D 2 DEC:4E CF=6 7@C 9:>D6=7 2?5 9:D DE277i Qx C62==J ECJ ?@E 7@C FD E@ 8:G6 @FE @C49:5 =6:[ DA64:7:42==J E96 AFCA=6 %92:=2?5 @C49:5 =6:]Qk^Am kAm(9:=6 D9@AA:?8 7@C =6: C646?E=J :? w@?@=F=FVD r9:?2E@H?[ 9@>6 E@ 2 4@?46?EC2E:@? @7 =6: DE2?5D 2?5 7=@H6C D9@AD[ z:=2 D@F89E @FE AF2<6?:<6?: — 2=D@ <?@H? 2D E96 Q`_46?E 7=@H6C[Q DFAA@D65=J 52E:?8 E@ E96 52JD H96? =6: 4@DE 2 5:>6 — 2D H6== 2D 8:?86C 2?5 EF36C@D6] %96 3=@@>D[ H9:49 2C6 ?@E ?2E:G6[ 6>:E G2C:@FD 568C66D @7 ;2D>:?6\=:<6 DH66E?6DD]k^AmkAmQ!6@A=6 H2?E A:<2<6Q — 2 EJA6 @7 ;2D>:?6[ D2:5 uC2?4:D (@?8[ @H?6C @7 =@?8E:>6 r9:?2E@H? 7:IEFC6 y6??JVD {6: 2?5 u=@H6CD] Q%92EVD E96 E@A 7=@H6C :? w2H2::]Qk^Am kAm(@?8 FDF2==J D@FC46D E96 2C@>2E:4 H9:E6 7=@H6CD 7C@> 2 72C> :? }2?2<F=:[ ?62C z:=2VD 9@>6E@H?] qFE E96C6 2C6 D62D@?2= D9@CE286D :? H:?E6C[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm(@?8 2?5 9:D H:76[ !:4<@F? (@?8[ H9@ DEC:?8D 7=@H6CD E@86E96C :? E96 324< @7 E96 DE@C6[ 92G6 C6?E65 E96 3FD:?6DD 7@C `g J62CD] %96J D6== @C49:5D 7C@> %92:=2?5 E@ 8:G6 4FDE@>6CD 2 4962A6C @AE:@?[ 6DA64:2==J H96? =@42= 7=@H6CD 2C6 =:>:E65]k^AmkAm{@42=D 2=H2JD AC676C =@42= 7=@H6CD[ D2:5 |@?EJ !6C6:C2[ 86?6C2= >2?286C @7 (2E2?236 u=@C2=] qFE :>A@CE65 7=@H6CD 96=A DEC6E49 =:>:E65 =@42= DFAA=:6D[ 96 D2:5] ~?6 A@AF=2C =6: 3=6?5D w2H2::\8C@H? EF36C@D6 H:E9 :>A@CE65 42C?2E:@?D]k^AmkAm%96 %92:=2?5\8C@H? @C49:5D 2=D@ >66E 2 56>2?5 7@C =6: @FED:56 @7 w2H2::[ @7E6? 7C@> 7@C>6C C6D:56?ED H9@ >@G65 E@ @E96C DE2E6D[ 96 D2:5]k^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qmr@DE 4@?46C?Dk^DA2?mk^AmkAm(2E2?236 u=@C2= :D w2H2::VD 3:886DE 7=@C:DE] xE D6==D 23@FE ad_[___ =6: A6C J62C[ 244@F?E:?8 7@C 23@FE 2 BF2CE6C @7 :ED 3FD:?6DD[ !6C6:C2 D2:5]k^AmkAmw6 DF3>:EE65 E6DE:>@?J @AA@D:?8 z:=2VD 3:== @? AFC492D:?8 A2C2>6E6CD 7@C DE2E6 286?4:6D[ D2J:?8 :E 4@F=5 F?:?E6?E:@?2==J C65F46 @G6C2== =6: FD6 C2E96C E92? DEC6?8E96? E96 :?5FDECJ]k^AmkAm#6DEC:4E:?8 :>A@CE65 7=@H6CD 4@F=5 5C:G6 FA E96 4@DED @7 =6:[ 96 D2:5 :? 2? :?E6CG:6H]k^Am kAmQx7 =:<6 b_ =6: DE2?5D 2?5 7=@C:DED 2C6 7:89E:?8 7@C E96 D2>6 =6:[ E92EVD H96? =6: :D 8@:?8 E@ DE2CE E@ 36 S`__[ S`d_[ Sa__[Q 96 D2:5] {2DE |@E96CVD s2J[ 2 E9C66\DEC2?5 A:<2<6 =6: D@=5 7@C S`d_]k^Am kAm(:E9 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?VD E2C:77D[ %92:=2?5\8C@H? @C49:5 ?@H 42? 4@DE 23@FE 2D >F49 2D D@>6 =@42= 7=@H6CD[ 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm!6C6:C2[ H9@ :D }2E:G6 w2H2::2?[ H@CC:6D E92E A6@A=6 H:== :?4C62D:?8=J EFC? E@ =6: >256 H:E9 42?5J @C C:33@?D C2E96C E92? 7=@H6CD[ 2 DEJ=6 6DA64:2==J 4@>>@? 2E 8C25F2E:@?D]k^Am kAmQ%96 3:886C E9C62E[Q 96 D2:5[ Q:D >2<:?8 :E D@ 6IA6?D:G6 E92E E96 A6@A=6 @7 w2H2:: 42??@E 277@C5 E@ 6?;@J D@>6E9:?8 E92EVD 4F=EFC2==J D:8?:7:42?E E@ FD]Qk^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor “I enjoyed my time being the mayor but now look forward to new opportunities. I love Old Fort and am excited to see the town continuing to grow." See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts The schedule of downtown events was adopted by the Marion City Council during the regular meeting. McDowell County high schoolers show off art, music, more at Spring Art Show Students displayed their works in the visual arts such as painting and sculpture and performed music, singing and poetry. Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton “It’s elegant and modern but with a traditional feel, a kiss of Mexico City,” Donna Zamora said. Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state Since this bridge floods, replacing it is a priority to avoid potential flood damage and add resilience against future natural disasters.
Old Fort mayor suddenly resigns from office, mayor pro tem appointed acting mayor “I enjoyed my time being the mayor but now look forward to new opportunities. I love Old Fort and am excited to see the town continuing to grow."
See events that will close Marion downtown streets this year, including Friday night concerts The schedule of downtown events was adopted by the Marion City Council during the regular meeting.
McDowell County high schoolers show off art, music, more at Spring Art Show Students displayed their works in the visual arts such as painting and sculpture and performed music, singing and poetry.
Los Compadres owners bringing street food, festive vibe to new restaurant in downtown Newton “It’s elegant and modern but with a traditional feel, a kiss of Mexico City,” Donna Zamora said.
Marion to replace bridge to lift station with $1.4 million grant from state Since this bridge floods, replacing it is a priority to avoid potential flood damage and add resilience against future natural disasters.