In September 1908, the opening of the College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts made it possible for Hawai‘i students to pursue a college degree without traveling to the mainland or abroad. One hundred years later, we honor our university, our flagship campus, and our founding college with Hawai‘i’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources: Celebrating the First 100 Years,     ... more >>

Hawai‘i’s geographic isolation has created an unsurpassed natural laboratory for many CTAHR students. However, long distances and high travel costs can make it difficult for students to participate in professional conferences where scientists present their findings and exchange ideas. To recreate that valuable experience, CTAHR faculty developed the annual Student Research Symposium. In th    ... more >>

For many java drinkers, coffee from Hawai‘i means coffee from Kona, a premier source of exceptional specialty coffees for more than a century. But as the sugar industry declined over the past several decades, Hawai‘i’s coffee cultivation spread beyond Kona to eleven other regions on five islands. Among these, a relative newcomer, Ka‘u, is developing a world-class reputation.    ... more >>

Hawai‘i has only 35 square miles of coastal lowland wetlands, but these narrow interfaces between land and ocean are vital. They help control flooding, hold back sediments that can smother downstream reefs, sequester carbon that might otherwise contribute to global warming, and absorb nutrients that can cause algal blooms and harm aquatic animals. Coastal wetlands also offer habitat to endangered    ... more >>

Of all the plants that Polynesian settlers brought to Hawai‘i, kalo (taro) may be the most important. The starchy corm is rich in energy, minerals, and fiber, and the leaves provide vitamins and minerals. Prior to western contact, Hawaiians developed between 150 and 300 kalo varieties and may have planted more than 20,000 acres. Today, less than 400 acres of kalo remain, and very few Hawaiian varieties    ... more >>

On a Friday evening, families come together for dinner. Parents and their children share a meal. Afterward, toddlers, youths, teens, and adults spend time with their peers, playing games and talking story. But this isn’t your usual pau hana gathering. The families are taking part in FETCH, the Family Education Training Center of Hawai‘i, and each participant, from the youngest to the eldest, is    ... more >>

In November 2008, a contest took place that once would have been possible only in the realm of science fiction. Eighty-four teams from 21 countries met at the iGEM Championship Jamboree, the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition. Representing the University of Hawai‘i were three CTAHR students—undergraduate Krystle Salazar, master’s student Margaret Ruzicka, and doctoral student    ... more >>

Sustainable agriculture means feeding today’s people and supporting today’s farmers while managing resources wisely to ensure we can also provide for future generations. This goal is at the heart of our college’s organic agriculture program. Whether you’re a commercial producer, a garden hobbyist, or a curious student, CTAHR can help you grow food while minimizing synthetic inputs and    ... more >>

How many O‘ahu commuters traveling west on the H1 have looked out the passenger window at CTAHR’s Pearl City Urban Garden Center and wished they were strolling through its orchards? The UGC’s tropical plant collections welcome more than 12,000 visitors each year, including 2,000 school children, but limited viewing hours have made it difficult for working people to enjoy this 30-acre oasis    ... more >>

When youths and adults pursue shared goals together, each group brings important assets to the team and takes home valuable lessons. This principle forms the basis for Engaging Youth, Serving Community, a 4-H program through which rural young people and adults gain experience, confidence, and leadership skills as they work in partnership to improve their communities. In 2005, CTAHR extension agents    ... more >>

Invasive plants in the understory of Hawai‘i’s forests jeopardize native biodiversity and limit the abundance of culturally significant native plants. Cynthia Nazario-Leary, a doctoral candidate studying with agroforestry professor Travis Idol, is investigating how forest restoration efforts can support Native Hawaiian cultural practices by providing new sources of native plants that can be    ... more >>

Hear the name "E. coli," and your next thought might be "spinach." In 2006, California-grown spinach contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 sickened nearly 200 individuals, causing over $77 million in industry losses and three deaths. An epidemic of foodborne illness linked to Hawai‘i produce could do lasting harm to our agricultural industry and our reputation as a safe tourist destination.    ... more >>

Kilauea is often called the world’s most active volcano. While its spectacular lava flows help draw 1.5 million visitors to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park each year, Kilauea also releases sulfur dioxide and other acid-forming gases that can create "vog" (volcanic smog). The opening of a new vent on March 12, 2008 dramatically increased these emissions, impacting communities nearby and downwind.    ... more >>