If you haven’t yet registered for the celebration marking two important events in Cooperative Extension in Hawai‘i, now’s the time to do it—the deadline is October 26! There will be a celebration luncheon in honor of these historic milestones, and the CTAHR ‘ohana is invited to participate in commemorating Hawai’i’s past while looking toward the future!

Ag economist Matthew Loke (NREM) conducted a Survey on Farm Disasters caused by Kilauea’s recent eruptions. Results indicated a $27.9 million loss by 46 affected farmers and a displacement of 1,337 acres of arable land. The survey results will be used to seek federal, state, and county government assistance for  affected farmers.

CTAHR was well represented by a number of faculty presenters at the annual conference of the Landscape Industry Council of Hawaii. Dean Comerford kicked off the day with a talk describing his vision for landscaping and ornamentals over the next five years. Participating also were TPSS, PEPS, and NREM faculty, including Ken Leonhard (pictured).

In a column in the Star-Advertiser, junior Extension agent Emilie Kirk details how the “Farm-to-School Program Connects Kids to Food.” October is national Farm to School month, and it’s a great initiative. If you’re a parent, teacher, or school administrator, or know someone who is, you’ll find something of interest in this helpful article, so take a look!

You’ve heard about the great interdisciplinary project the Symphony of the Hawaiian Birds, spearheaded by Melissa Price (NREM), which brings together music, art, Native Hawaiian culture, and ecological awareness to celebrate the Islands’ native bird species. Now comes the first performance of the Symphony for the general public, on November 14.