Hawaii residents are invited to have an “orchid experience” at a first-in-the-world Orchid Maze, the highlight of a special grand opening/kamaaina Saturday and Sunday at the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens in Volcano.
Hawaii residents are invited to have an “orchid experience” at a first-in-the-world Orchid Maze, the highlight of a special grand opening/kamaaina Saturday and Sunday at the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens in Volcano.
The unique, 8,000-square-foot maze allows visitors to follow a variety of paths through more than 500 blooming, colorful and fragrant orchids on a self-guided tour featuring educational exhibits, tips, growing instructions and interactive video kiosks.
There is a $3 admission charge to the maze, which includes an orchid planting with a plant that can be taken home plus a sampling of the garden’s original poha ice cream. The maze, which is enclosed and covered, will be open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
The orchid maze is the creation of company vice-president Takeshi Akatsuka, who took over this year as general manager of the gardens from his father and founder, Moriyasu Akatsuka. The special weekend event marks 42 years in business for the gardens, which now has the largest collection of orchids and tropical plants, including bromeliads and anthuriums, in Hawaii.
Among the many varieties of orchids are the more well-known Cattleya, phalaenopsis, odontoglossum, dendrobium, oncidium, miltonia and vanda species. There are as many as 2,000 other varieties, which are the result of 20 years of continuous hybridization by Moriyasu, who originally learned his skills while working in his homeland of Japan.
One of the orchids displayed is a rare paphiopedilum variety, which Moriyasu brought from its natural habitat in Thailand and is valued at $20,000. Called the “Volcano Queen,” this rare specimen can be seen only during the months April to July.
In addition to the orchid maze, the gardens offers a one-hour greenhouse tour every at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. The garden also has a special “photo-opp” area, a mini Zen garden, a bamboo orchid wall, and a large gift shop.
The garden will also hold an orchid sidewalk sale 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. July 30. Buyers may purchase a pre-priced box and fill the box with as many plants as it can hold.
Akatsuka Orchid Gardens is located between mile makers 22 and 23 on Highway 11 in Volcano.