Pomai Weigert of CTAHR’s GoFarm Hawai‘i has been selected by Pacific Business News as one of the “40 under 40” for 2019! The award recognizes young business professionals in Hawai‘i who demonstrate business excellence, contribute to the overall success of their organizations, stand out amongst colleagues and peers, and have strong community involvement.

It happened on April Fool’s Day, but those who promoted Nick Yamauchi to his new position were no fools! On April 1, Nick was hired as farm foreman at the Kona Research Station, after working there for almost 2 years as an agricultural technician III. He has been helping to conduct research on coffee and macadamia nuts, but now he’ll be responsible for the station operations more broadly.

JB Friday (NREM) joined Marian Chau of the Lyon Arboretum, Lisa Keith of USDA ARS, and Kumu Kehaulani Kekua of Kaua‘i for in-depth interviews about Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death on the PBS program Insights. The experts explained the recently discovered pathogens that cause it and how it is spread by burrowing ambrosia beetles that create fungus-imbued sawdust, which floats over forest canopies and infects other trees.

The USDA WS-NWRC Hawai‘i Field Station is recruiting a term research biologist to be stationed on Kaua‘i to lead the development of a management plan for the invasive rose-ringed parakeet. These birds are destroying farmers’ crops, as well as annoying people with their loud calls.

Students and recent grads interested in the establishment, development, and maintenance of a botanical garden have an awesome opportunity to gain valuable, practical experience in a tropical setting by working and learning at the National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) on Kaua‘i through their Fall Internship Program.