Former Hawaiian Airlines employee Aubrey Hansen now spends his days caring for orchids and experimenting with breeding hybrids. He gradually is learning the operation of his father-in-law's 34-year-old business, Hilo Orchid Farm, in preparation for taking it over.
James Fang founded Hilo Orchid Farm in 1991, starting as a small, local nursery and growing into a major supplier of orchids across the United States. Now, the internationally recognized wholesale nursery cares for about 600 different species of the flowering plants. Located on 36 acres of land, the farm has five acres devoted to greenhouses that incorporate modern technology and cutting-edge breeding programs to produce high-quality plants at competitive prices.
"I really love the daily work," Hansen said. "I'm out in the greenhouses every day, working with plants, being around nice flowers, working with my hands and seeing the progress in front of my eyes.
While it can be taxing running a wholesale business, "I have enjoyed the process of working with my father-in-law and learning as much as I can from him."
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