What's new?

Blue Ribbons.  John Jusczak has prepared a list of all the blue-ribbon winners at the 2018 show, including a brief background of the rationale behind the ribbon classes and descriptions of the dozens of ribbon categories.  Why so many?  Because we like to give awards and encourage people to show off their beautiful orchids.  To see the list, click on the photo above, which depicts the winner in the "Dendrobium hybrid" category.
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Volcano Relief Donations.  Many orchid growers and many of our friends were affected by the lava flows in Puna.  Our Board of Trustees voted to donate the proceeds of the Silent Auction at this year's orchid show to volcano disaster relief.  We raised $8000.  $3000 was given to Hope Services, which has provided housing assistance for those displaced by the eruption, $3000 was given to Food Basket, Inc., which has provided food, water, and other emergency supplies, and $2000 was given to Hawaii Island Humane Society, which has rescued pets from the lava zone and provided shelter for them until they can be reunited with owners or adopted.  See our Community page here for a list of Silent Auction donors who made this possible.
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Newcomers Tour.  On Aug. 18, HOS newcomers (people who joined in the last two years) were treated to a tour of Rick Kelley's property in Orchidland Estates, where Rick has mounted hundreds of orchids on trees.  It rained, but everyone still had a good time.  Above: one of Rick's orchids in the rain.
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Kaleidoscope of Orchids, the 66th annual Hilo Orchid Show, was held July 13-15, 2018.  Above, volunteer Armon Collman seen through the kaleidoscope in the Vireya Society exhibit.  Check out our gallery of show photos in the Galleries menu.
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2018-2019 scholarship recipients Aaron Shipman (left) and Daniel Dunnom were introduced at the June meeting.  They are flanked by Scholarship Committee members (from left) Sonia Juvik, Shelly Nowaki, and Barbara Heintz.

​Orchid Show Art Contest Winner.  Al Yano of Hilo won our orchid show art contest, with his entry (above) depicting the show theme "Kaleidoscope of Orchids".
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Orchid Workshop at Volcano Art Center.  Two attendees show their enthusiasm for their creation as others work in the background at the workshop on designing and building a mini orchid display, conducted by Donna Barr and Shelby Smith on January 27.  These mini displays are a popular feature at our annual orchid shows.
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Julie Goettsch Receives Orchid Digest Diamond Award.  Rick Kelley presented Julie with the award in recognition of her outstanding service to Hilo Orchid Society.  The full award citation is in the Jan. Feb. Mar. 2018 issue of Orchid Digest magazine.
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2018 Officers and Trustees.  The officers and trustees for 2018 were sworn in at the holiday party.  From left: Ben Oliveros, Cindy Caldicott, Nathan Sherwood, Rick Kelley, Lillian Paiva, Dana Culleney, Larry Kuekes, Joe Bush, Dorothy Imagire.  Not pictured: Ken Armour.
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Photo Contest Winner. Lou Rhoades contributed this beautiful photo of Denrobum amethystoglossum which was selected by popular vote as the favorite of the over 500 pictures submitted by members. Lou and his wife won a pair of tickets to the holiday party.
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Plant Table Winner. Shelby Smith won two free tickets to the holiday party for bringing the most plants to the monthly meetings in 2017. Dana Culleney is also a major contributor to the monthly plant table.
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Scholarship winner.  Scholarship Committee chair Shelly Nowaki (left) presented 2017-2018 scholarship winner Joyce Lilly (right) at the October meeting.
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2017 Fall Nursery Tour.  On Sept. 24, Hilo Orchid Society members got to visit five local orchid nurseries, several of which are normally closed to the public, and purchase orchids at discount prices. Thanks to Jerome Siebenrock (left front) for organizing the tour.  Click on the photo above for an album of photos from the tour, taken by Dana Culleney.
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Orchid Conservation.  President Rick Kelley presented our donation of $1000 to Peter Tobias, President of the Orchid Conservation Alliance, an organization that protects threatened orchid habitat.

Upcoming Events

The following events are at the Kamana Senior Center, Hilo, unless indicated otherwise:
Sept. 8, 1:30-4:00 pm – Hilo Orchid Society meeting
Sept. 30, 8:00 am – Fall Nursery Tour.  A map showing where to meet will be sent to people who have signed up for the tour.
Oct. 13, 1:30-4:00 pm – Hilo Orchid Society meeting

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 the next orchid show with just a few orchids.  Your space is limited to 16 inches, but results are limited only by your imagination.