Nomenclature is the manner in which names are assigned. We collect names and titles and then we reveal the story behind that name.

The name “Hoa Hoa’s” came from a Vietnamese friend of ours whom Lee (Brochu), Femke (Berkhout) and I (Richard Gibson) worked for at a bar (our local Kensington market hangout at the time) when we started the band together. She was our boss, “Hoa” means flower in Vietnamese. Our first gig was there. That’s where we went every night for beers, she kept us employed! She was/is an amazing woman. It was a fun place.

We had a gig at the bar and no name yet; Femke said, “The Hoa Hoa’s” and laughed, it stuck. Those were good times. She would leave us at the bar after 11PM and we would just party all night, dancing or playing fooseball! Radio on way after closing time! Lots of friends of ours worked there, Brooke Gagne from Planet Creature too. Good times for a couple years there. But we all moved on. That was around 2003-05-ish.

- Richard Gibson of The Hoa Hoa’s