Orchid show delights all five senses

The upcoming Hilo Orchid Society Orchid Show and Sale, Aug. 7-9, features thousands of beautiful and exotic orchids on display to delight the eye. But the show has something to cater to each of the senses:

Sight: The variety of orchid shapes, sizes and colors never fails to amaze. At noon Saturday, a fashion show by Nita Pilago’s Wahine Toa Designs will be another treat for the eye.

Smell: Many orchids are delightfully fragrant. In addition to floral scents, some orchids smell like lemon or coconut or cinnamon. A perennial favorite is Oncidium Sharry Baby, which smells like chocolate.

Taste: Don’t eat the orchids! In Turkey, they grind up orchid tubers to make a bland-tasting substance called salep. In Hilo, the show caters to American tastes with a food court featuring delicious food and beverages for sale from Hilo Coffee Mill.

Sound: While enjoying refreshments, show attendees can listen to music from a great lineup of local entertainers.

Touch: Attendees are asked to not touch the orchids in the exhibits. But there are plenty of touchable items in the sales area, including Hilo Orchid Society T-shirts, orchid pottery and orchid jewelry.

The 63rd annual show and sale, Orchids Avant-Garde, will take place Friday-Sunday at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium. Admission is $5, free for children 12 and younger.

For more information, visit www.hiloorchidsociety.org.