KODAMA KOI FARM TOUR 2011
Hi, (Please forward to everyone you know that's Koi Kichi)
I wanted to let everyone know that we are having our second annual trip to Kodama Koi farm and the Aloha Koi show this February 19th and 20th, 2011. The show is on one week after the San Diego show. Last year we took customers with us on a buying trip to Kodama Koi Farm where they purchased Koi and Taro Kodama entered them in the Aloha Koi Show for us. 2 out of the 3 Koi we selected came in first in the show. An unexpected but very exciting outcome for sure! I don't guarantee that I can pick out first place Koi every time, for everyone...LOL.
Taro Kodama also tells me that this year they are having a Kodama Koi Academy for those people that would like to learn more about Japanese Koi. The dates for that program are Feb 16th and 17th and you need to pre-register at the farm before arriving 808-354-7031.
You would have to get yourselves to Oahu and take care of your own accommodations (we have some suggestions on accommodation from our own experiences there) We would pick everyone up at a pre-determined location in Oahu, head to the farm for a day of looking and/or buying Koi. Taro Kodama would be available to help you personally with your selections. If you would like to enter your Koi purchase in the show, you would have to pay the small entrance fee and Taro will transport them there for you.
After touring the farm, we will head to the North Shore for a late lunch and maybe some beach time. If you haven't been to the North Shore, you'll want to see it, it's awesome! If you love shrimp, the North Shore is famous for it's garlic shrimp. I must say it's fantastic!! Also a big cup of shaved ice hits the spot for sure.
Our next pick up will be on Saturday the 19th for the first day of the show where you can see your Koi and the many other high grade fish entered. There are vendors and speakers and Taro had a breeder from Japan bring in specially selected Koi for sale at the show. We found there to be lots to do at the show and it was a fun day.
Sunday the 20th is the last day of the show and the day you get to see how your fish placed. Nothing like walking up to the show tank to see a blue ribbon with your name on it...very thrilling!
Taro offers boarding at the Farm for your purchases. We paid $25 a Koi a month last time and all our purchased Koi arrived larger than when we left them and in excellent condition.
Because we can offer you our services in taking you to the farm, which isn't open to the public, as in, you can't just walk in off the street. We are an approved quarantine facility here in Kelowna. We will get the required import permits for your Koi, handle the air freight, ground transportation, 21 days of quarantine and inspections for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, pay your import taxes. The air freight fees and quarantine will be split between how ever many Koi are imported. You will be responsible for paying the HST on your own Koi.
Koi are illegal to import into the province of BC without a permit and 21 day quarantine plus 2 fisheries inspections in an approved quarantine facility. Most people aren't able to enjoy buying or even seeing Koi of this caliber with out a trip to Japan. Going to Kodama Koi farm is great because it's close by, it's all Japanese Koi certified KHV free. They have been fully quarantined in Hawaii and rested from their trip from Japan. And if we import them and quarantine them for you, you can buy Koi you normally wouldn't have been able to. The farm has anywhere from 30.000 - 60.000 Koi on premises from select grade to very high end show grade of every variety to choose from.
All Koi purchased will be shipped from the Farm in April to Kelowna where they will be quarantined for a minimum 21 days. After they have been given their release papers from the fisheries, you can either pick them up from our facility or we can air freight them to you. Hopefully our new 3200 square foot fish house will be ready by then for you to see.
If you are interested in this Koi trip for February 2011, let me know and we'll add your name to our list. There are only a limited number of spots available and they are filling fast so early booking is suggested.
Regards,
Dayleen Van Ryswyk
President/CEO
Okanagan Koi
1-250-765-5641
1-877-KOI-TO-GO
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