Make the most out of rainy season
When rainy season hits, it’s important to channel water away from your home foundation and direct it into the garden or into a catchment basin. Rain chains are a beautiful and functional alternative to traditional, closed gutter downspouts.
You can find an excellent selection of high quality heavy gage copper and aluminum rain chains on our online store www.indopacificemporium.com which are orderable by the foot, so you can get the exact measurement you need from your gutter, to the ground or basin. We offer free shipping to Hawai’i or anywhere on the continental USA.
Rain Chains shown above: Arts and Crafts, Double Lotus, Copper Bells, and Oval Loop Copper Rain Chains available at www.indopacificemporium.com
Guide the water in a way that is pleasing to the senses
Guiding rainwater visibly down chains or cups from the roof to a stone vessel or a ceramic pot can transform a plain gutter downspout into a pleasing water feature. From the soft tinkling of individual droplets to the soothing rush of white water, they are a treat to see and to hear.
Where did copper rain chains originate?
The concept of rain chains or ‘kusari doi’ in Japanese are not a new idea. For hundreds of years, the Japanese have used the roof of their homes to collect water, transporting it downward with chains and finally depositing the rainwater into large barrels for household water usage. Japanese temples often incorporate ornate and large rain chains into their design. Rain chains have been spotted in South America, where chain is easier to obtain than machined downspouts.
Water Catchment
The Japanese often put a ceramic or stoneware pot beneath the chain which fills with water, so that when it rains, the water drips from the chain into the pot, creating a beautiful display.
Restorative nature of flowing water
Channeling water in this way can provide a restorative experience and help connect people to natural systems. What better way to highlight the seasonality of water?
Come visit our nursery on the rainy north shore of Kauai in Kilauea. We have order able rain chains on display and a gorgeous selection of Paros vessels that serve as a striking catchment basin for your rain chain.
What is Paros?
Paros is a mixture of pumice, lava and concrete stone that is poured into a form and then hand-carved into beautiful ‘lava stone’ vessels or statues. Many Balinese temples are carved from this stone mixture, because it is lightweight, absorbs and holds water well, and ages quickly; developing a coating of moss that adds to its natural appeal. For this reason, we have chosen to have our carvers create a line of these stone vessels designed to sit under rain chains, to beautifully capture the flowing water – and become a living art piece. We have a new shipment arriving early March, so be sure to come by and see our selection of Paros vessels and garden statues to create your own sanctuary.
Order Paros or Custom statues any time of the year
We are always taking custom orders for our next shipment. Call us or email us to inquire about your projects. NOTE: We have a new shipment of paros vessels and garden statues arriving early March 2023!
Garden Ponds is located in Kilauea, next to the Kauai Mini Golf. We are open Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays we are open at 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Give us a call at 808-828-6400 or visit us at www.gardenpondskauai.com
This Paros vessel at The Porter Pavilion at the Anaina Hou Community Park in Kilauea is aging beautifully with a layer of living moss!
Our budding Micro Lotus ‘Spring Rain in Linan in front of a large Paros vessel at our water garden nursery in Kilauea. Come say aloha!
