It was a sad day when I heard about the closing of Del Monte Fresh Produce Hawaii Inc. With Del Monte's closure comes the closure of Kunia Camp, and very soon a whole community and its history will be gone forever.

In the early 1950s, a group of employees of Del Monte, then known as California Packing Corp., formed the organization that became Kunia Orchid Society. From its humble beginnings of 12 members who focused on anthuriums, the society has grown into an orchid club of more than 100 members. At the foot of the majestic Wai'anae Mountains, the Kunia Orchid Society has been hosting its annual orchid show at the rustic Kunia Gymnasium for 53 years! This year will be the last, and they would like it to be memorable.

In 2006, more than 5,000 people attended this special event. It's hard to imagine that so many people would come out to the country and drive through a dusty and sometime muddy pineapple field just to experience this show. Maybe they came to see the island's best orchids being displayed by seven different orchid clubs, or maybe it's the wide array of ethnic foods and vegetables sold in front of the gym, or the Leilehua High School Athletic Department's 'ono kiawe-broiled chicken, or maybe it's the quaint setting and being able to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The various orchid societies will compete for trophies and, of course, bragging rights. The Honolulu Orchid Society's certified judges will be on hand to judge plants and displays.

Whenever there is an orchid show, there has to be a plant sale, and this will be a good one. Here, you will find phalaenopsis, honohono, nobiles, cattleyas and nonorchids, too, such as anthuriums, tropicals and cacti. I always seem to buy way too much because I always find something unusual at this sale. But who cares, it's better than blowing the money in Las Vegas, right?

One of the other attractions is the Sogetsu Ikebana Hawai'i branch, which will display its unique floral arrangements. There will be a full slate of educational lectures, too. And hourly door prizes. There also will be a special prize of a huge basket of orchids for the 2,007th visitor. So come spend a day in the country, and be part of history as the Kunia Orchid Society celebrates "The End of an Era."