Home >> Science & Nature >> Nature

Orchids of Hawaii

With just three endemic species, it may seem surprising that the Hawaiian islands have a longstanding association with orchids and a multi-million-dollar floriculture industry. The plant's success is entirely down to the enthusiasm of the early growers, who became passionately involved with the plants' upkeep and breeding. As an alternative to the commercial gardens, visitors can spot wild orchids in places such as the Volcano National Park and the wet forests of East Hawaii.

History
- The first people to grow orchids in Hawaii were the wealthy businessmen of the 1900s who viewed them as status symbols. Orchids were grown in large shade-houses using genetic material sourced from around the world by paid scouts. The laborers who tended the plants became increasingly devoted to the plants in their care and, in 1939, formed the Honolulu Orchid Society to share their knowledge and show their own plants, painstakingly grown in their own backyards. When the society traveled to St. Louis in 1957 to exhibit their display of 22,000 Hawaii-bred blooming plants, they would establish the island's reputation as the Orchid Center of the World.
Endemic Species
- Two of the three endemic species of orchid in Hawaii are so rare that they were never given a Hawaiian name, according to the Hana Hou website. The twayblade orchid (Liparis hawaiensis) is a small green-flowered plant usually found in mountainous rainforests between 2,000 and 5,000 feet. The jewel orchid (Anoectochilus sandvicensis) is the most common of the three orchids and lives in rainforests between 1,000 and 5,000 feet. The fringed orchid (Platanthera holochila) has greenish-yellow flowers and egg-shaped leaves. According to the Center for Plant Conservation, the plant is facing rapid decline and, as of 2010, was only known in five locations.
Naturalized Species
- Three varieties of Asian orchids have established themselves in the wild, according to the Huna website. The most common is the bamboo orchid (Arundina bambusaefolia), which grows up to 6 feet high and has a white and purple flower. The Philippine ground orchid (Spathoglottis plicata) has small purple flowers and a 3-foot-high stalk. The Chinese ground orchid (Phaius tankervilliae) grows to just over 4 feet and features a multicolored white, pink and brown flower.
Revenue
- According to the Hana Hou website, the annual sales of Hawaiian orchid products increased from $500,000 in 1970 to more than $23 million in 2003. The island's many commercial orchid farms send potted plants, single blossoms and cut flower stems to enthusiasts and collectors from around the world, leading to Hawaii becoming known as the "Orchid Isle."

Nature