May A. Moir

May Arstad Moir
Born
May Margaret Arstad

(1907-12-04)December 4, 1907
Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii
DiedSeptember 9, 2001(2001-09-09) (aged 93)
Other namesMay Arstad Neal,
May Arstad Neal Moir
EducationPunahou School
OccupationsFloral designer, gardener, horticulturist, orchid breeder, writer, botanical collector
Spouse(s)Charles Micajah Neal Jr. (m. 1928–1949; his death),
William Whitmore Goodale Moir (m. 1950–1985; his death)
Children1
AwardsLiving Treasures of Hawai'i (1985)

May Arstad Moir (née May Margaret Arstad; 1907–2001) was an American floral designer, gardener, horticulturist, orchid breeder, writer, and botanical collector in Hawaii.[1] She was awarded the title of one of the "Living Treasures of Hawai'i" (1985). She was also known as May Arstad Neal, and May Arstad Neal Moir.[2]

Life and career

May Margaret Arstad was born on December 4, 1907, at Kap'iolani Maternity Home in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, and she was raised in Kaimuki.[1] She graduated from Punahou School.[1]

In 1928, she married Charles Micajah Neal Jr., and together they had a daughter.[2][3] She briefly worked with Charles in real estate.[1] Her first husband died in 1949, and a year later she re-married her friend William Whitmore Goodale Moir.[1][2]

Moir and her husband William were known for their extensive gardens at their Dowsett Highlands home in Honolulu, which is registered with the Smithsonian Institution.[4][5]

She was the namesake of some 6 or more orchid species, of which was a Dendrobium named D. "May Neal, and a Miltonia named Miltonia May Moir, both bred and named by her second husband.[1] In the 1980s she was a volunteer in the gardens at Chinese Court in the Honolulu Academy of Arts (now the Honolulu Museum of Art).[6][7] In 1984, Moir was featured on episode 325 of Spectrum Hawai‘i, a television show on PBS Hawai‘i.[8] She was named in 1985 as one of the "Living Treasures of Hawai'i" by the Buddhist temple Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.[9]

Publications

  • Moir, W. W. G. (William Whitmore Goodale); Moir, May A. (1970). Variegata Oncidiums. Orchids Limited.
  • Moir, May A. (1977). Flower Sculpture: A Handbook. Ku Pa'a Publishing. ISBN 9780914916253.[1]
  • Moir, W. W. Goodale (William Whitmore Goodale); Moir, May A. (1980). Breeding Variegata Oncidiums. University Press of Hawaii, Harold L. Lyon Arboretum. ISBN 082480712X.
  • Moir, William W. G.; Moir, May A. (1982). Creating Oncidiinae Intergenerics. University Press of Hawaii, Harold L. Lyon Arboretum. ISBN 9780824807849.
  • Moir, May A. (1983). The Garden Watcher. University of Hawaii Press, Harold L. Lyon Arboretum. ISBN 9780824807894.[1][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Bornhorst, Heidi (September 16, 2001). "May Moir was friend and mentor to gardeners". The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved October 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b c Leidemann, Mike (September 11, 2001). "May Arstad Neal Moir, 93, gardening maven". Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Obituary). p. 21. Retrieved October 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Marriage of Neal and Arstad". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. October 15, 1928. p. 12. Retrieved October 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "William Moir, cane, orchid expert". Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Obituary). February 27, 1985. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Zap, Claudine (May 14, 2015). "Historic Honolulu Home Features Lush, Tropical Garden". Realtor.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "The Old and New Find a Place in Chinese Court". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. February 9, 1983. p. 67. Retrieved October 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Always in bloom". Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMa). Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Omo, Kavet (May 5, 2025). "May Moir, Hawaiian Quilts, Tennent Gallery". PBS Classics Hawai‘i. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  9. ^ "Hongwanjo Names 6 as 'Treasures'". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. February 16, 1985. p. 5. Retrieved October 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Reference Services Review: RSR. Pierian Press. 1973. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-87650-291-4.
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