Makawao’s Andy Okada poses with his Best in Show-winning orchid Thursday at the Maui Mall on the final day of the Maui Orchid Society’s annual Valentine’s Day Orchid Show. Okada said he has been joking with people that the tiny, bulbous flowers on the Mediocalcar decoratum are ohelo berries. “It sure doesn’t look like an orchid,” he said. Okada won a slew of ribbons at the show, which drew 191 entries. Besides Best in Show, two other plants of his received national awards from the American Orchid Society, one a Certificate of Cultural Merit and the other a Certificate of Cultural Excellence. In his five years growing orchids, Okada has won 26 national awards. The Easter Orchid Show is the next Maui Orchid Society event scheduled at Maui Maui. The show, which also includes orchid sales, is set to run April 9-11.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos