What's new?

  • ​Scholarship Winners.  Current winners of our Yasuji Takasaki Memorial Scholarship were honored at the January and February meetings.  Left, Jed Akao receives a lei from Barbara Heintz.  Right, Edward Bufil receives a lei from Ruth Robison as Scholarship Chair Shelly Nowaki looks on.
  • We're giving away money!  If you're a student at University of Hawaii at Hilo, or know one, click here to find out more.
  • Scholarships are funded by proceeds from the Silent Auction at our annual orchid show.  Many thanks to the donors who generously support it (click here to see the list of donors).
  • New Orchid Photo Contest Gallery.  Click here to see the gallery of photos that have been submitted for our orchid photo contest.  The contest is open to all HOS members and runs through October.  The only rule is that the photos must be taken by you – no cheating by submitting someone else's.  The winner will receive two tickets to our holiday party and auction.  Email your photos to lkuekes@me.com.
  • Orchid Conservation.  President Rick Kelley presented our donation of $1000 to longtime conservation advocate Pauline Brault, which she accepted on behalf of the Orchid Conservation Alliance, an organization that protects threatened orchid habitat.
  • Fall Nursery Tour.  On Oct. 29, HOS members got to visit and buy orchids at three local nurseries: The OrchidWorks, Carmela Orchids, and Hawaii Hybrids.  Above, at The OrchidWorks, Ken Armour shows part of the group some of the Phalaenopsis species that are behind thousands of hybrids.
  • Orchid Workshop at Volcano Art Center.  Shelby Smith, Ben Oliveros and Larry Kuekes conducted an orchid workshop at Volcano Art Center on Oct. 15. Larry spoke about Orchids Around the World, Ben talked about orchid culture, and Shelby (above) led a hands-on potting demonstration.
  • School donations.  HOS donated orchids to the two schools that made the best use of the free orchid show tickets that were given to local schools.  Above, Dorothea Fendentz (left) presents a Grammatophyllum orchid to Kelley Lacks, principal of Malamalama Waldorf Elementary School.  For more details, see our Community Service page.
  • August Sale at the Mall.  A group of commercial growers got together to put on an orchid sale at Prince Kuhio Plaza on Aug. 5 and 6.  HOS volunteers were there to answer people's orchid questions and promote our Society.  Above, Donna Barr, Larry Kuekes and Julie Goettsch, flanked by orchids growing on logs brought by Rick Kelley.  Photo by Dana Culleney.
  • 2016 Hilo Orchid Show and Sale.  This year's show was a great success, thanks to all the volunteers who helped make it possible.  Above, Shelby Smith with the amazing  HOS exhibit that he designed and built.  For many more pictures of the show, see "2016 Hilo Orchid Show" under Galleries. 
  • UH Hilo Students Learn About Orchids.  Students in Prof. Sakai's Floriculture and Orchid Production class toured The OrchidWorks on Feb. 17.   Above, Ken Armour shows the students Taeniophyllum pusillum, a rare leafless orchid.
  • Orchid Isle Project.  Five members of the Kona Daifukuji Orchid Club, with a hospital maintenance man, planted and mounted orchids at the Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua near the emergency room entrance (shown) and in the hospital's Healing Garden.
Hilo Orchid Show Was a Hit
  • Our 65th annual orchid show, "Jewels of the Jungle",  was held June 2-4 in Hilo's Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium.  The show is the largest orchid show in the state of Hawaii.  Attendees got to see tens of thousands of orchids on display and for sale.  Above, the Hilo Orchid Society's exhibit, designed and built by Shelby Smith, filled with orchids lent by Society members.
Mini Displays Make a Big Hit
Karen Kimmerle's mini-display made such a hit at our 2016 show that it was featured on the cover of Orchids magazine.  You can create your own great mini-display for our 2017 show with just a few orchids.  Your space is limited to 16 inches, but results are limited only by your imagination.

Upcoming Events

April 8:
  • Hilo Orchid Society meeting.
May 13:
  • Hilo Orchid Society meeting.
​June 1:
  • Hilo Orchid Show Preview Party
​June 2-4:
  • Hilo Orchid Show and Sale