Our Heritage
E ala ē i ka la`i
Awaken and arise to tranquility
Tajima Botanica is a female-founded business on Maui, Hawaii, rooted in Japanese tradition, ancestral knowledge, and the ancient art of tea. It was founded by Sera Tajima, who grew up with Hawaii's deep respect for the ʻāina, and the Japanese devotion to craft.
Sera's journey took her to Doshisha University in Kyoto, where she learned tea ceremony in the city where the practice was refined over centuries. Later, her path led her to train kung fu at Shaolin Temple Europe, where she shared Japanese tea with the temple's tea master and monks in between training sessions.
These experiences are a continuation of the profound connection between martial arts and tea ceremony. Every movement matters. Each moment is sacred. True mastery comes through patient cultivation.
Tea is medicine. Ritual is healing. Tajima Botanica took shape during Sera's recovery from long covid. Unable to work for over a year, she recovered patiently with eastern medicine, learning Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Hawaiian healing of lāʻau lapaʻau.
Today, Tajima Botanica honors both lineages. We offer ceremonial Japanese teas sourced direct from tea gardens in Uji, alongside Hawaiian-grown botanicals that carry the mana of the islands.
Tajima Botanica exists to cultivate the knowledge of our ancestors and help people reconnect to their highest self through the ritual of tea.
Tajima Clan Crest
Our logo was crafted by Sera to share the story of the Tajima family. The enso circle, painted with the fluid grace of traditional sumi-e rooted in Zen Buddhism, represents the endless cycle of tea, from leaf to cup.
At its heart sits the family's geometric camellia flower crest, a kamon that carries deep cultural significance. Each family clan has their own crest. During feudal times, these crests determined the colors of samurai armor and announced lineage and honor.
Our camellia crest shares botanical kinship with the camellia sinensis tea plant, creating a perfect marriage of ancestry and family calling. The circular frame preserves the traditional kamon format, honoring generations of heritage.
Below the crest, a single delicate leaf grows from this ancestral foundation, symbolizing the growth of something entirely new. The kanji for Tajima flows in traditional calligraphy strokes, completing our visual story.