Hawaiʻi faces unique challenges in wildfire management, particularly due to the prevalence of more than 1 million acres of fire-prone non-native vegetation. University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Extension Specialist Clay Trauernicht is looking to go to the root of the issue: Could restoring ecosystems with non-invasive and native plants alleviate some of the threat?

Dictyota sp. is a seaweed native to Hawaiian waters that is notable for its ability to produce fucoidan and alginate. What are these compounds, you might ask? Why, they’re high-value ingredients with wide application in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food processing, medical, and dental industries.

In ancient Hawaiʻi, fishponds were remarkably successful in ensuring a steady supply of food. In modern times, these seafood “farms” can greatly relieve pressure on wild stocks and supplement market demands – especially local species that are increasingly important economically. 

Palapalai is an indigenous Hawaiian fern – one of the most important plants in hula – and Oʻahu Extension was proud to host a recent talk with Hawaiian fern specialist Kay Lynch. The UH Horticulture graduate (ʻ98), Master Gardener, and founder of Lāʻau Hawaiʻi, a Hawaiian fern propagation research nursery, spoke at CTAHR’s Urban Garden Center

As model (and incoming UH student) Makana Gomes sported various types of shirts, Andy Reilly of the Fashion Design and Merchandising program, Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences, educated the audience at the Honolulu Museum of Art on the relation between aloha shirts and personal identity.