Final preparations were underway when Deanne “Dee Dee” Gorospe showed up with a pair of Grammatophyllum Hi‘imanu specimens Wednesday afternoon at Vidinha Stadium.
“I’ve got to go to work,” Gorospe said. “I have the Hanalei bus run so I can’t be late. I even left them on wagons so they can move it to where they need to place.”
The Grammatophyllum are part of the Garden Island Orchid Society’s orchid wonderland that is just one segment of the Kauai County Farm Bureau Fair that opens at 6 tonight.
“This particular variety is Hi‘imanu that means ‘sting ray,’” Gorospe said. “The bigger one has 57 spikes, and the littler one has 29 spikes. We put these up every year, except last year when my husband became ill. He would be so proud to see these.”
The orchid show and sale is just one part of the fair that also opens at 6 p.m. Friday, then at noon Saturday and Sunday, and running through midnight all four nights.
“We’re hoping there is a crowd Thursday night,” said Tricia Yamashita, event coordinator. “Friday is a holiday and there is no school, so hopefully the families will come out to enjoy everything the fair has to offer.”
The fruit and vegetable exhibit will have results of its judging available for viewing when everything is still fresh.
“It’s just so hot,” Yamashita said. “We could use a little more wind, but we’re not complaining. It’s not raining.”
Food booths manned by different organizations will be at the fair.
Rides and the midway from EK Fernandez light up the skies and flavor the full line of entertainment that includes keiki showcases and talent shows.
The commercial tent features more than 60 vendors offering material ranging from educational to whimsical.
More excitement will fill the air when the Kauai 4-H clubs host their annual livestock competitions and petting zoo.
Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for keiki 4-12 and $5 for seniors.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
