Frank Thrall is one of Hawai'i's cherished orchid ambassadors.

His "Host" badge allows him to work the floor at most of the orchid shows, giving him access to the many visitors who may be intrigued by orchids but are afraid to get involved. With all of Thrall's experience, he can direct folks toward an orchid society in their area, or even point out sources of help on their computers.

An admitted "dabbler," Thrall started growing orchids in 1983, after retiring from his career with the Coast Guard. His love of orchids started when he realized that if he presented his wife, Pat, with a blooming orchid plant, it would keep him out of the "doghouse" for whatever careless remark or an unthinking action he may have done.

Initially, the orchids did the trick, but soon they were wilting and dying in the backyard. How could Thrall be so heartless to allow "her" orchids to die? Thrall really wanted to bring the beautiful orchids alive and bring them back to their former glory.

In 1984, Thrall enrolled himself in the late Robert Aoki's 10-week orchid culture course. The course was taught in a very casual manner in Aoki's 'Aiea carport, surrounded by his bountiful collection of vandas and dendrobiums. On the first night of instruction, to make a point on how hardy an orchid plant really was, Aoki uprooted a large vanda and threw it up into the rafters of the carport, assuring the class that the vanda would still be alive and capable of full recovery at the end of the course.

To say the least, Thrall was hooked. He soon joined the 'Aiea Orchid Society, because Aoki told him to. Shortly thereafter, Thrall joined the Hawai'i Kai Orchid Society, because that's where he lived. He has since added Kaimuki, Windward, Honolulu, Pacific, Manoa, Species Club, and the Kunia Orchid societies. He is also a member of the national organization, the American Orchid Society.

Thrall's involvement with the societies grew and soon he was the program director and safari chairman of the Hawai'i Kai and Kaimuki societies. This allowed him to meet and rub elbows with some the "legends" in Hawaiian orchid history - Roy Fukumura, Miya Miyasato, Milton Warne, John Yee, Ted Sumida, Joe Yasuda, Dr. Tom and Henrietta Fujiwara, and Wilbur Chang were just a few of the people that influenced Frank. All left lasting impressions of their dedication, imagination and morality on him.

Later, under doctor's orders to give up tobacco, Thrall and his wife agreed to quit the habit. Upon mentioning this to Nora Tokunaga during a visit to H&R Nurseries, she pointed out that they might fit into the nursery's nonsmoking environment.

Soon Pat Thrall was working with Hilda Takamatsu, planting orchid community pots, and Frank Thrall began helping Roy Tokunaga in repotting orchids. For two mornings a week for 20 years, Frank Thrall was privileged to listen as Tokunaga talked about the creation of new orchid hybrids, watched how Tokunaga selected orchids to use for breeding, and took part in the experimentation in different orchid potting mediums and fertilizers.

Today, Thrall is content with growing and showing his collection of more than 300 orchids and spreading the gospel of the orchid lifestyle he has come to enjoy. Depsite the degree of commitment, he can visualize no other hobby that could provide a more enjoyable return than the appreciation and the growing of orchids.

So why get involved with so many organizations?

Thrall says, "I have found that orchid society meetings are more friendly, more interesting and cheaper than movies. Since the clubs provide the refreshments, you don't even have to buy the popcorn!"

Join Thrall and others at the Kaimuki Orchid Society Show this weekend. Other notable things to see there include the miniature Japanese village display, oshibana, ikebana and bonsai displays. There will also be workshops, a garden shop, orchid repotting, food and, of course, a great orchid sale.

Scot Mitamura is an orchid horticulturist for the Honolulu botanical gardens. Reach him at hbg@honolulu.gov.