For almost two-thirds of children under age 6 in Hawai‘i, all of their residential parents are in the workforce. For families with two keiki, childcare is the single most expensive budget item after housing. No wonder childcare is a key issue in work–family conflicts. CTAHR’s Center on the Family, along with partners, recently sponsored an event for local business leaders to learn about how employers can include childcare needs in employee benefits.

There’s a laudatory article on the many benefits of 4-H in the May–June issue of the Hawai‘i Island-focused Ke Ola Magazine—appropriate, since “ola” can mean “health,” and that’s just what one of the four H’s stands for. State 4-H program leader Jeff Goodwin estimates that 4-H reaches about 1,300 kids on the Big Island alone!

Members of CTAHR teamed up with volunteers from WCCHC, Kamehameha Schools, Sacred Hearts Church, and Hoa Aina O Makaha to do some good on the West side. At ‘Ohana Night at Wai‘anae Elementary, a nutrition outreach event coordinated with Wai‘anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and Hawaii Foodbank, they were provided over 12,700 pounds of food, including 700 pounds of locally grown produce,to 581 community members in need of sustenance!

Travis Idol and Adel Youkhana (both NREM) recently published a helpful paper detailing an easy and accurate protocol for estimating coffee yield in Hawai‘i. “A Rapid Visual Estimation of Fruits per Lateral to Predict Coffee Yield in Hawaii,” published in Agroforestry Systems Journal, allows farmers to predict the amount of their crop, a crucial task and an ongoing challenge, with less cost, time and labor.

There are lots of varieties of won bok, also known as Napa cabbage. But which are the best for growing in Hawai‘i’s soils and microclimates, and, just as important, which make the best kimchi? You can get the answers at the Won Bok Variety Trial Field Day, which will be conveniently coupled with a Hands-On Kimchi Workshop. 

CTAHR alumnus Russell Galanti has joined O‘ahu Cooperative Extension as a junior Extension agent working with the ornamental landscaping, nursery crop, and floriculture industries. Russell has a master’s degree from TPSS in sustainable production and management of macadamia nut in Hawai‘i and focuses on horticulture practices, soil science and soil amendments, and plant physiology.

Maui 4-H students got to show how well they can deal with a disaster at the final simulation event for the My PI Hawai‘i Disaster Preparedness program on April 16. More than 160 youth from Baldwin High School CTE and JROTC programs participated in the 12-week program, developed by Maui County 4-H and youth development agent Nancy Ooki.

Forestry leaders from across the Pacific Islands for a workshop at UHM’s East-West Center co-hosted by the Pacific Islands Forestry Committee (PIFC) and the USDA Forest Service. CTAHR faculty and staff gave a number of workshops and talks on topics relevant to resource management and forest health here in Hawai‘i and throughout the rest of the Pacific. 

Ornamental ginger crops are dying off on O‘ahu, but there’s no clear reason why—or rather, no single cause. At least six producers have asked CTAHR experts for help, but no common denominator has yet been found. The problem has been going on for about five years now, and researchers and producers are asking the Legislature for funding to research causes of the dieback. 

‘Olena has anti-inflammatory and other health benefits, and it’s a growing new local crop. The ‘Olena (Turmeric) Field Day this past weekend taught participants about research trials and innovative production practices being conducted around Hawai‘i, after which they got to take home some organically grown turmeric to use or plant.

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.

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.

Know someone who wants to work in a beautiful environment and be an integral part of research and Extension that will help ag producers and members of the community throughout the state? Let them know that two agricultural research technician III positions are now open at Waiakea Station and Mealani Station on the Big Island.

Bright, cheerful, attractive to beneficial insects and birds, and great sources of food for animals and humans—sunflowers have it all! Find out about which varieties are the best to grow at a UH Maui Cooperative Extension floriculture field day on “Sunflower Cultivars for Cut Flower Production” on Thursday, April 18, at the UH Maui College Campus, CTAHR Co-op Extension Building.

Love 4-H? Raise your hand! The National 4-H Council is sponsoring the “Raise Your Hand” campaign to champion each state’s 4-H program. It will run from April 1 through May 15 this year, and the three states that get the most hands raised will receive $20,000, $10,000, and $5,000 respectively. Best of all, this year the results are prorated by state population, so Hawai‘i has a fair shot at these awards!

Sustainability in agriculture isn’t just about using practices that don’t harm the environment, crucial though that is; another important aspect is being able to make enough money to keep producing. That’s a big part of what agricultural economics focuses on, and CTAHR will be better equipped to help farmers with this now that Sarah Rehkamp (NREM) will soon be starting as the new assistant Extension agent in Ag Economics.

This year’s illustrious and deserving awardees for the 2019 CTAHR Banquet have been selected, including Dave Chun (left) for Ka Lei Hano and Barry Brennan (PEPS, right) for Outstanding Alumnus. To congratulate them in person and hear more about their impressive and helpful accomplishments, make sure that you come to the 2019 CTAHR Banquet!

Kids participating in Maui’s Big Brothers Big Sisters program took a literal field trip—to the GoFarm garden plots at UH-Maui College. GoFarm farm coach P.J. Oliveros showed the kids about farming, inspiring some with a new ambition: to become farmers when they grow up. GoFarm Hawai‘i is an extremely successful beginning farmer training program housed in CTAHR with classes throughout the Islands.

Fascinated by the idea of hydroponics but worry that it’s too complicated? Emeritus professor Bernie Kratky (TPSS) pioneered ways of designing non-circulating hydroponic systems that are easy to make and use. He recently released a new video, this one describing how to grow a variety of slow-bolting arugula, ‘Adagio’, in a non-circulating hydroponic tank.

CTAHR has roots around the world! Extension agent Sharon Motomura is a collaborator in the international Next Generation Cassava Breeding Project, which is working to identify and breed new varieties of cassava for smallholder farmers in Africa and around the world that specifically focuses on traits identified as desirable by the farmers and small producers themselves.