Veterans, service members invited to attend the 72nd annual Hilo Orchid Show for free this weekend

The Rotary Club of Hilo and the Hilo Orchid Society have partnered to give back to veterans and first responders before the Hilo Orchid Show at the end of the month.

The Rotary Club of Hilo is supporting veterans, service members, and first responders, along with their families, with free tickets to the renowned Hilo Orchid Society Show. The three-day event features orchids grown across the island and will be held at Edith Kanakaʻole Multi-Purpose Stadium from Friday, July 24, to Sunday, July 26.

Veteran Honor Guard Commander Jeno Enocencio accepted the tickets on behalf of veterans and current service members living on Hawaiʻi Island. He and other members of the Veteran Honor Guard have been distributing them throughout the island’s communities.

“We did this last year and it was a great way to bring us together with the Hilo Orchid Society to give back to a deserving part of our population,” said John Regan, a member of the Rotary Club and the Orchid Society. “It’s going to be a wonderful event for everyone who attends.”

According to the Hilo Orchid Society, the Hilo Orchid Show is the largest and most comprehensive orchid show and sale in the state of Hawaiʻi. Orchid growers – both individual and commercial – will create intricate displays for their orchids.

Attendees can expect to see hundreds of varieties of cattleyas, dendrobiums, and hybrid orchids. Multiple commercial growers will sell live orchids at every price tier, and there will be workshops for attendees of all ages interested in learning more about orchids and flower cultivation in Hawaiʻi.

Judges from the American Orchid Society will evaluate the displays and orchids throughout the weekend.

The 72nd Hilo Orchid Show will take place from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium.