HONOLULU–The Hawai‘i Tourism Authority (HTA), the state’s tourism agency, has partnered with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society for this year’s Hawai‘i-themed Philadelphia International Flower Show. “Hawai‘i: Islands of Aloha” will open on March 4-11, 2012 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.

The annual flower show, a Philadelphia tradition since 1829, is the largest and oldest indoor flower show in the world. Also known as the Nation’s Flower Show, this year’s event will attract approximately 250,000 attendees and will showcase the beautiful flora and fauna of Hawai‘i.

“The Philadelphia Flower Show is a unique opportunity to promote the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands and share the Aloha Spirit of our people on the East Coast,” said Mike McCartney, president and CEO of the HTA. “This region is an important market to Hawai‘i’s tourism economy, and the flower show, which follows the recent announcements of new direct routes from Honolulu to Washington D.C. and New York, will help to attract visitors from this region to the warm and inviting Hawaiian Islands.”

Hawai‘i will be well represented in Philadelphia with a delegation of 153 to participate in the show. Coordinating the show effort for HTA is its North America marketing contractor the Hawai‘i Visitors and Convention Bureau along with the island chapters’ visitor bureaus. Representatives from all islands are scheduled to attend, including the City and County of Honolulu, County of Maui, Hawai‘i and Kaua‘i, as well as each of the islands visitors’ bureaus to provide attendees an opportunity to learn about the unique attributes of each of the islands and
draw visitors to experience Hawai‘i first-hand.

The Philadelphia Convention Center’s main entrance will welcome attendees with tropical floral displays, leading them to the Hawai‘i Village where they will be greeted by more tropical flowers found in the Hawaiian Islands, such as anthurium, orchids and more. They will also be surrounded by our greatest resource, the people of Hawai‘i through Hawaiian entertainment with hula, live Hawaiian music and Hawaiian folklore, and the opportunity to learn to make lei. Experts in Hawaiian culture, hula, native plants and history will also be teaching attendees about their respective interests to provide an authentic Hawaiian experience.

“This was a tremendous opportunity to bring Hawai‘i-grown and Hawai‘i-made businesses together to present their goods and products at the flower show,” said Michael Inouye, president of Hawai‘i Tropical Flower Council. “We collaborated with the HTA, four counties, visitors’ bureaus and Hawai‘i Food Manufacturers Association to showcase Hawai‘i’s unique floral culture that enhances tourism and commerce for the state.”

The Hawai‘i Tropical Flower Council is the umbrella organization that represents all flower growers across the state, together with more than 20 local businesses, including Green Point Nurseries, Orchid Alley Kaua‘i and Sweet Paradise Chocolatier, they will be promoting and selling their plants, flowers, crafts and products to thousands of attendees during the week on a vast national stage for the duration of the show.

For more information on the Philadelphia International Flower Show, visit www.theflowershow.com.

Established in 1998, the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, the state’s tourism agency, is responsible for strategically managing tourism to optimize benefits for Hawai‘i that integrates the interest of visitors, the community and visitor industry. Tourism is our state’s leading economic driver and largest employer and the HTA continually works to ensure its sustainability well into the future.

For more information on the HTA, please visit www.hawaiitourismauthority.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@HawaiiHTA).