What's new?

Scholarship Winners.  Each year we give scholarships to students at the University of Hawaii at Hilo.  This year's recipients were introduced at the September 2019 meeting.  They are Aaron Shipman, left, and Lael Bukoski, right.
2019 Hilo Orchid Show – show art and show theme.  The painting above, by local artist Esther Szegedy, is the official art for the 2019 Hilo Orchid Show, being held June 28-30. the artwork represents this year's show theme "Orchid Odyssey".  The art will appear on show posters, T-shirts sold at the show, and other items.
2019 Officers and Trustees.  The officers and trustees for 2019 were sworn in at the holiday party on Dec. 9 by past president Julie Goettsch (right).  From left: Dorothy Imagire, Lillian Paiva, Joe Bush, Nathan Sherwood, Dana Culleney, Rick Kelley, Ben Oliveros, Lise Dowd, Larry Kuekes, Tom Mirenda.  Not pictured: Ken Armour.

Photo Contest Winner.  Members chose Shelby Smith's stunning photo of Cattleya schilleriana var. semi-alba as the winner of the 2018 photo contest.  Shelby won 2 free tickets to the holiday party.

Logo Contest Winner.  After 80 years, HOS finally has an official logo.  Members chose Larry Kuekes' design, featuring Vanda Miss Joaquim, the orchid responsible for our island being nicknamed the Orchid Isle after it was grown here by the millions.  Larry won 2 free tickets to the holiday party.
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Show Table Contest Winner.  Glen Barfield won the contest for the person bringing the most plants to the show table at meetings in 2018.  Pictured is Calanthe vestita 'Glenn Gardner', one of the orchids that Glen brought to the November meeting.  Glen won 2 free tickets to the holiday party.
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Fall Nursery Tour.  On Sept. 30, a busload of HOS members visited three local orchid nurseries.  Thanks to Jerome Siebenrock, left front, who organized the tour.  To see more pictures from the tour, click the photo above.
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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.  The photo above depicts the winner in the "Dendrobium hybrid" category.  To see the list, click here.
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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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Upcoming Events

The following events are at the Kamana Senior Center, Hilo, unless indicated otherwise:
Oct. 12 1:30-4:00 – Hilo Orchid Society meeting
Oct. 12 4:00 – AOS judging
Oct. 25 6:00 pm – AOS judging, 875 Komohana St
Nov. 9 1:30-4:00 – Hilo Orchid Society meeting
Nov. 9 4:00 – AOS judging
Nov. 22 6:00 pm – AOS judging, 875 Komohana St
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The following events require advance signup and payment:
​Oct. 13 – HOS Fall Nursery Tour 
​Dec. 15 – HOS Holiday Party & Luncheon

$8000 Donated to Volcano Relief

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 the 2018 orchid show to volcano disaster relief.  We raised $8000, which was donated as follows:
  • $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.
  • $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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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.