Every valentine deserves a rose that lasts forever. Students from ’s are continuing an annual tradition of crafting one-of-a-kind copper roses, popularly known as ”forever roses,“ which are sold around Valentine’s Day to help raise funds to support the program.

“Every piece doesn’t look exactly alike,” said Danny Aiu, sheet metal and plastics professor. “It’s all hand-formed. They may have been cut similarly but each is unique.”

Flower petals and leaves start as flat sheets of copper, which are cut using a plasma cutter and carefully molded into shape. Students assemble the individual pieces before hand-crimping each petal to give it a lifelike texture.

Honolulu CC’s Sheet Metal and Plastics Technology program is a nine-month certificate that starts every August. Graduates receive automatic entry to the Hawaiʻi sheet metal workers apprenticeship program.

Through hands-on experience, students develop skills in fabrication, architectural metal work, pattern development and more. Smaller projects such as crafting roses give students the opportunity to tap into their creative side and think about the possibilities of working with metal.

“When I do these types of projects, I hear students say, ‘I can make that,‘” said Aiu. “You let them use their imagination.Then they start seeing the talent within themselves to make other things.”

Sales information

Copper roses will be available for purchase in the Honolulu CC sheet metal shop (Bldg 17) on Friday, February 14, from 9 a.m. until supplies run out. Roses sell for $15 each or four for $50. Cash only. Customers are limited to four roses each.

February 10, 2016: Honolulu CC sheet metal students craft forever roses

Every valentine deserves a rose that lasts forever. Students from ’s are continuing an annual tradition of crafting one-of-a-kind copper roses, popularly known as ”forever roses,“ which are sold around Valentine’s Day to help raise funds to support the program.

“Every piece doesn’t look exactly alike,” said , sheet metal and plastics professor. “It’s all hand-formed. They may have been cut similarly but each is unique.”

Flower petals and leaves start as flat sheets of copper, which are cut using a plasma cutter and carefully molded into shape. Students assemble the individual pieces before hand-crimping each petal to give it a lifelike texture.

Honolulu CC’s Sheet Metal and Plastics Technology program is a nine-month certificate that starts every August. Graduates receive automatic entry to the Hawaiʻi sheet metal workers apprenticeship program.

Through hands-on experience, students develop skills in fabrication, architectural metal work, pattern development and more. Smaller projects such as crafting roses give students the opportunity to tap into their creative side and think about the possibilities of working with metal.

“When I do these types of projects, I hear students say, ‘I can make that,‘” said Aiu. “You let them use their imagination.Then they start seeing the talent within themselves to make other things.”

Sales information

Copper roses will be available for purchase in the Honolulu CC sheet metal shop on Thursday, February 14, from 9 a.m. until supplies run out. Roses sell for $15 each or four for $50. Customers are limited to four roses each.

February 10, 2016: Honolulu CC sheet metal students craft forever roses

from on .

Every Valentine deserves a rose that lasts forever. Students from Honolulu Community College’s program continue an annual tradition of crafting a one-of-a-kind Valentines gift that is guaranteed not to fade. The copper roses, popularly known as “forever roses,” are hand-crafted by sheet metal students every year and are sold around Valentine’s Day to help raise funds to support the program.

Flower petals and leaves start as flat sheets of copper, which are cut and carefully molded into shape. Students then assemble the individual pieces before hand-crimping each petal to give it a lifelike texture.

“Every piece doesn’t look exactly alike,” said Danny Aiu, sheet metal and plastics professor. “It’s all hand-formed. They may have been cut similarly but they don’t all look alike,”

Honolulu CC’s Sheet Metal and Plastics program is designed to qualify students for entry into the sheet metal workforce. Through hands-on experience, students develop skills in fabrication, architectural metal work, pattern development and more. Smaller projects such as crafting of the forever roses give students the opportunity to tap into their creative side and think about the possibilities of working with metal.

“When I do things like this, I hear students say, ‘I can make that.’ You let them use their imagination,” added Aiu. “Then they realize, ‘I can make this, I can do that,’ they start seeing the talent within themselves to make other things.”

Sale information

The copper forever roses will be available for purchase in the Honolulu CC sheet metal shop (Building 17) on February 14 from 9:30 a.m. while supplies last.

These one-of-a-kind roses make special Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day gifts for $15 each or four for $50.

Customers are limited to four roses.

Every Valentine deserves a rose that lasts forever. Students from Honolulu Community College’s continue an annual tradition of crafting a one-of-a-kind Valentines gift that is guaranteed not to fade. The copper roses, popularly known as “forever roses,” are hand-crafted by sheet metal students every year and are sold around Valentine’s Day to help raise funds to support the program.

Flower petals and leaves start as flat sheets of copper, which are cut and carefully molded into shape. Students then assemble the individual pieces before hand-crimping each petal to give it a lifelike texture.

“Every piece doesn’t look exactly alike,” said Danny Aiu, sheet metal and plastics professor. “It’s all hand-formed. They may have been cut similarly but they don’t all look alike,”

“The best thing about everything we’re doing here is I think just learning and paying attention to detail,” said Honolulu CC sheet metal student Kanani Smythe. “It’s kind of fun to make them nice and detailed so you can look at it and be proud of the work you’re doing.”

Added sheet metal student Travis Miyashiro, “Seeing the finished product, after all the hard work and then it just comes together, that’s cool.”

Honolulu CC’s Sheet Metal and Plastics program is designed to qualify students for entry into the sheet metal workforce. Through hands-on experience, students develop skills in fabrication, architectural metal work, pattern development and more. Smaller projects such as crafting of the forever roses gives students the opportunity to tap into their creative side and think about the possibilities of working with metal.

Added Aiu, “When I do things like this, I hear students say, ‘I can make that.’ You let them use their imagination. Then they realize, ‘I can make this, I can do that,’ they start seeing the talent within themselves to make other things.”

Sale information

The copper forever roses will be available for purchase in the Honolulu CC sheet metal shop (Building 17) on Saturday, February 13 from 9:30 a.m. until supplies last.

These one-of-a-kind roses make special Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day gifts for only $15 each.

Customers are limited to four roses.

—By Kapiʻolani Ching

students studying continue the program’s annual tradition of creating and selling unique ‘forever roses”. More commonly made out of sheet metal, this year the program will be crafting only copper roses due to its popularity last year.

The sale will take place on Friday, February 13, 9:30 a.m. at Honolulu CC’s Sheet Metal and Plastics Program located in Building 17 (behind the Administration Building), and will continue until the roses sell out.

These one-of-a-kind roses make a special Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day and Memorial Day gifts for only $15 each. Customers will be limited to the amount of roses they can purchase.

Money raised from the project benefits the program.

National Career and Technical Education month

During the month of February Honolulu Community College celebrates National Career and Technical Education (CTE) month. Along with the college’s strong liberal arts program, Honolulu is proud to offer 21 CTE programs that include sheet metal and plastics technology, cosmetology, administration of justice and occupational and environmental safety management, to name a few.

—By Billie Lueder

students in the continue the program’s annual tradition of creating and selling the unique “forever rose” made from sheet metal. The sale will take place Friday, February 14 at 9:30 a.m. by the Sheet Metal and Plastics Program at Honolulu CC, Building 17 and will continue until the roses sell out.

These one-of-a-kind sheet metal roses make a special Valentine’s gift for only $5 each, and a few copper roses will be available for $15 each. Customers will be limited to purchasing four sheet metal and one copper rose at a time.

The construction of the roses will take place February 11, 12 and 13 from 12:00 noon to 3:30 p.m. There will be no sales during the construction days. Money raised from the project benefits the program.