Windward Club Filling King Gym With Orchids

As veteran orchid growers and great fans of the dendrobium Violet Yamaji ‘Nalo’ (pictured), Emily and Walter Yamada have plenty to share with the crowds at the annual Windward Orchid Society show this weekend at King Intermediate School. Photo by Karen Kim.

If you think orchids are dainty little things that come with pins for proms, meet Walter and Emily Yamada and think again.

The Kailua couple will bring their award-winning “Den. Violet Yamaji (Nalo)” plant to this weekend’s spring orchid show in Kaneohe (along with others), but Walter said it will take “several strong guys” to lift the pot and haul it into King Intermediate School gym for display Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“It has an average of eight-to-10 purple flowers on more than 60 spikes right now,” he declared proudly, three weeks ago, “and most should still be in bloom for our show. The plant stands about 5 feet tall and is just as wide.”

The Yamadas have been active in Windward Orchid Society since 1993 and have been growing orchids for more than 40 years. So with preparations for the group’s 34th annual spring orchid show in full swing, they are among the many devoted volunteers who transform the gym into a wonderland of creative exhibits, sales tables and lessons for the public.

What Walter likes about WOS, for example, is how it eases one’s way into the orchid world.

“The members are friendly and helpful,” he explained. “Those who are more knowledgeable than you always share their experiences and information on how to grow healthy plants. We are always learning.”

With the theme “Gorgeous Colors of Orchids,” WOS’ 34th annual orchid and plant show/sale runs from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Educational workshops are scheduled each day, starting at 10 a.m. and covering general and specific flower topics, including the Yamadas’ favorite, the fragrant cattleya.

Admission is free, but donations are welcome. For more information, call 383-9487.

A few words of advice: It’s well-known that people catching the “orchid bug” tend to collect more and more and more of them, so make sure you have enough room in the yard. The Yamadas’ 10,000-square-foot Kailua property already is full-up.

And for those who simply can’t get enough, the 60th annual Kunia Orchid Society show also is open Friday and Saturday (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Sunday (9-4) at Leilehua High School gym in Wahiawa.