Honokaʻa’s Grace Flowers Hawaiʻi Prepares for Busy Valentine’s Week

Alison Higgins, owner of Grace Flowers Hawaiʻi in Honokaʻa, spent Saturday organizing orders and stocking more inventory as the shop prepared for one of the busiest weeks of the year ahead of Valentine’s Day. The move matters for Big Island residents who rely on the shop for last-minute bouquets, leis and deliveries during the holiday spike in demand.

After 14 years in business and having opened Grace Flowers Hawaiʻi in 2012, Higgins runs a sizable local operation. Higgins and a team of 16 handle roughly 30 weddings and events per month in addition to everyday retail, lei-making and deliveries, a workload that translates into roughly 360 events a year. That steady stream keeps the shop busy outside holiday peaks and underlines its role as both a retail outlet and event services provider for North Hilo County.

Customer behavior shapes the shop’s Valentine’s response. Higgins noted a familiar pattern of walk-ins and forgotten plans that compress ordering timelines into the final days before Feb. 14. “We usually get quite a few walk-ins from people, mostly teen boys, who may have forgotten about Valentine’s Day and are hoping to get their loved one a bouquet,” Higgins said. To meet that rush, the shop increased in-store inventory and adjusted staffing levels.

Inventory strategy mixes local sourcing with off-island purchases. Grace Flowers Hawaiʻi strives to use locally sourced flowers when possible, but red roses come from off-island and must be ordered. “We try to have plenty of red roses and locally sourced flowers, as well as enough staff to take care of more in-store customers,” Higgins said. The reliance on off-island roses creates a supply vulnerability during peak weeks; if roses run out, the shop plans to offer other options to customers.

The local economic implications extend beyond bouquets. A team of 16 represents a meaningful source of employment in Honokaʻa, and handling roughly 30 weddings and events per month supports a network of vendors - from venues to caterers - that benefit when florist capacity is strong. Conversely, dependence on off-island floral supply highlights the advantages of expanding local cut-flower cultivation to improve resilience and keep more spending on-island.

For residents planning Valentine’s purchases, the practical takeaway is to order early or be prepared to choose alternatives if red roses sell out. Grace Flowers Hawaiʻi’s mix of leis, arrangements for family members, friends, spouses and sweethearts, and event work means the shop will be a major hub for floral needs in the days after Feb. 9. Expect longer lines and increased foot traffic at the Honokaʻa storefront as Higgins and her staff handle the seasonal surge.