ABOUT US
We are the Hawai‘i Bromeliad Society. Bromeliads grow naturally in many tropical and subtropical regions, but for generations a variety indigenous to South America has meant Hawai‘i to much of the world. Cultivated commercially for over 150 years, Ananas comosus—the pineapple—has played a key role in the development of the modern multicultural state of Hawai‘i. The Hawai‘i Bromeliad Society hasn’t been around for quite that long—we were founded in 1977—but we are now in our fifth decade of promoting, growing, and educating ourselves and the community about bromeliads.
In his 1978 New Year’s Greeting, then Bromeliad Society President Brian Hepton wrote, “We are a young, enthusiastic, but still inexperienced society with much to learn. . . . We are indeed very fortunate to live in Hawai‘i, to be blessed with a beautiful climate—ideal for growing bromeliads. . . . The success of this society is very dependent on the members, help is always needed. So don’t be afraid to volunteer. Suggestions and criticism are also important, so speak up. . . . My thanks to the bromeliads and the people who grow them.”
That description holds just as true today. Our activities reflect the skill, interest, and dedication of our members. HBS officers and committee leaders for 2023 include President Aziz Agis, Treasurer Dolores Roldan, Membership Chair Chris Taylor, Corresponding Secretary Karen Rohter, Recording Secretary Stanley Schab, Hospitality Chair Faith Kodama, and Library Chair Leslie Morishige.
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Terese Leber |
Meet HBS member Terese Leber. Terese Leber was born and raised in that world center of bromeliad cultivation: the San Fernando Valley! So years later, it was certainly no shock to her when she moved to Costa Rica, where she did two tours in the Peace Corps, and then continued to live through most of the 1970s. Following some government work in Medellin, Colombia, she landed in Honolulu, as a graduate student in the University of Hawai‘i’s School of Library Science. Soon after graduating, she was hired as a Librarian by the East-West Center, where she worked for over 30 years. In the mid-1980s, Terese moved to Pälolo Valley, to a hillside with poor soil, spotty drainage, and lots of rocks—perfect bromeliad country! She now shares her back yard with hundreds of Neos—what she calls corriente or common varieties—a few huge Aechmea blanchetiana, and assorted Tillandsia, and since joining the HBS, some nice auction-bought Vriesea and Billbergia!
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Featured Member: Lynette Wageman |
As one of our featured looks at past and current members of the Hawai‘i Bromeliad Society, we are pleased to highlight Lynette Wageman, an HBS member for over 40 years and Conference chair for “Bromeliads in Paradise,” the Bromeliad Society International’s 2014 World Bromeliad Conference. Born in Trinidad, Lynette made her way through the British school system (where “public school” actually means “private”), and spent several years teaching kindergarten, before she decided to attend Park College in Missouri, on a work study program. Lynette majored in French and Spanish, hoping to get a teaching degree. Finances were so tight, however, that she worked two jobs, and thus was unable to take off for student teaching. One of her jobs was working as an assistant to the Head of the French and Spanish department. The other was a job was in the college library. This latter experience was to come in handy.
Lynette met her future husband, Jim Wageman, at college. Jim joined the US Army, where he worked in intelligence and trained in languages, especially Czech. While Jim was stationed in Germany, they took advantage of long weekends to travel to several European countries. It was in Germany that Lynette learned to cook—which may be the first time anyone has ever said that!
After leaving the Army, Jim accepted a teaching assistant position at the University of Hawai‘i, and thus they moved to Mänoa. Here’s where Lynette’s library experience really came in handy. She was able to secure a position with the East-West Center library staff, and what cinched it for her was her ability to read Hindi! While working there, she decided to take one course in the new library science program. After interviewing all the prospective students, the Dean offered Lynette a teaching assistant position, so she got her library science degree on scholarship! Years later, when the East West Center library merged with UH’s Hamilton Library, Lynette went along as a librarian with the Asia collection. After several years, she accepted the position of Director of the Asia collection, where she stayed until she retired.
So how did Lynette get interested in bromeliads? It was at a plant show at the Neal Blaisdell Centter where she saw her first bromeliad—a Tillandsia cyanea. A coworker introduced her to the HBS, and over the years, Lynette has served as HBS President, Vice President and Program Chair, and Librarian. She is also active in the University of Hawai‘i Women’s Campus Club, the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i, and Lyon Arboretum. One very busy lady!
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