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Akatsuka Orchid Gardens
The Basics
Wind your way through the Orchid Maze at your own pace or book a guided Farm Tour and Tasting. If you are interested in a deep dive on the tropical flowers, join the latter for a chance to tour the greenhouse, learn about orchid cultivation, and get dirty by planting your own orchid souvenir. Mid-day tours include a locally sourced lunch served in the greenhouse topped off with handmade poha berry ice cream.
The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are a popular stop on many tours of the Big Island and can be visited alongside other nearby attractions such as Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Rainbow Falls, and black-sand beaches.
Things to Know Before You Go
The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are ideal for gardening enthusiasts and are a great rainy day activity for everyone.
You must book tours and greenhouse lunches in advance.
The Orchid Maze is free to enter and walk-ins are welcome.
The showroom and gift shop are accessible to wheelchair users.
How to Get There
The gardens are located between Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Highway 11 in the town of Volcano. If you have a car, the gardens are an easy stop on the way to the national park. You can also join a group tour that includes a visit to the gardens.
Trip ideas
When to Get There
The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens are open 10am to 4:30pm Monday through Saturday, and are closed Sunday and major holidays. Farm Tour and Tastings are offered Tuesday through Friday at 11am (lunch and ice cream included) and 2pm (includes ice cream but no lunch). Orchids bloom in the garden year-round, but to see a prized $20,000 orchid in bloom visit between May and August.
The Origins of the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens
The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens were founded in 1974 by Moriyasu Akatsuka, who developed his skills and love for orchids at his family-run orchid nursery in Japan prior to creating the farm in Hawaii. Akatsuka acquires plants from across the globe and cultivates hybrid offspring, breeding a unique collection of orchids that he displays and sells. His most famous orchid, named Volcano Queen, was brought to the Big Island from Thailand and is valued at $20,000.
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