Those at the Kona Research Station got a first-hand lesson in the value of CPR and first aid when ag tech Nick Yamauchi used these skills to save Marc Meisner’s life during a medical emergency in the field. At the annual 2018 Hawai‘i County staff meeting held December 7 in Kona, Nick was awarded a certificate of commendation for his outstanding, life-saving aid.

Zhiqiang Cheng (PEPS) and Norman Nagata (TPSS, Maui CES) organized the 2018 Maui Turfgrass and Landscape Pest Management Workshop at CTAHR Maui Extension Office, including updates on important turfgrass and golf course pests such as frit fly, take-all patch, mini ring, rover ant, coconut rhinoceros beetle, and lobate lac scale.

Civil Beat recently published an article about the workshops CTAHR and the island Invasive Species Councils have conducted on how eco-tour operators can avoid spreading Rapid ‘Ohi‘a Death (ROD) and other pathogens, weeds, and pests. The workshop leaders include Extension forester J.B. Friday and ROD educational specialist Corie Yanger (both NREM).

Ken Leonhardt, Ilima Ho-Lastimosa, and Ted Radovich (all TPSS) represented CTAHR’s holiday spirit in fine style at the 2018 Waimanalo Christmas Parade, featuring Ken’s 1924 Model T and a “certified-organic” tractor loaded with gifts and cheerful candy-tossers that reminded onlookers of how long CTAHR’s been making life better for the community.

The seminars for the O‘ahu County Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Extension agent position have been completed, so please evaluate the two candidates, Amjad Ahmad and Mitchell Loo. CVs and some video presentations for candidates for junior/assistant Extension agents in Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Finance, and Livestock are available as well.