but sometimes my friends and family call me KK. I am a nature lover born in O’ahu, HI and raised in California. My passion for flowers started in 2023 when I picked up an origami ikebana flower book while living in San Francisco. After exploring flowers through origami, I began taking local flower arrangement workshops held by different florists in the city and Ohara ikebana classes at the Japanese Cultural Center in Japantown. Surrounded by SF’s beautiful nature and navigating post-grad life, I was inspired to create my own floral business: Kalila Floral Studio, where I specialized in bespoke floral arrangements.

After moving back to O’ahu in 2025, I learned more about the art of lei making from my grandma and other talented lei makers on the island. I started practicing Sogetsu ikebana under the guidance of Junko Sensei and also became a member of the Ohara School of Ikebana Honolulu Chapter. During this transition in life, I learned a lot about myself: what I am capable of, who I am, and who I want to be. This led to my rebrand as kk flower, an evolving floral studio where I continue to explore flowers and nature through different art forms and share it with others.