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Standing Up to Disaster

Standing Up to Disaster 29 April 2019

Standing Up to Disaster

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.

Forests in the Middle of the Ocean

Forests in the Middle of the Ocean 23 April 2019

Forests in the Middle of the Ocean

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. 

Keeping the Ginger Flowering

Keeping the Ginger Flowering 23 April 2019

Keeping the Ginger Flowering

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. 

The Rhizomes Have It

The Rhizomes Have It 23 April 2019

The Rhizomes Have It

‘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.

My, Oh, Pomai!

My, Oh, Pomai! 12 April 2019

My, Oh, Pomai!

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.

ROD Roundtable

ROD Roundtable 12 April 2019

ROD Roundtable

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.

Get Technical About Ag

Get Technical About Ag 12 April 2019

Get Technical About Ag

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.

Let the Sunshine In

Let the Sunshine In 5 April 2019

Let the Sunshine In

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.

Raise Your Hand for Hawai‘i 4-H!

Raise Your Hand for Hawai‘i 4-H! 5 April 2019

Raise Your Hand for Hawai‘i 4-H!

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!

New Faces: Sarah Rehkamp

New Faces: Sarah Rehkamp 5 April 2019

New Faces: Sarah Rehkamp

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.

The Awards of Excellence

The Awards of Excellence 29 March 2019

The Awards of Excellence

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!

Getting Their Hands Dirty

Getting Their Hands Dirty 29 March 2019

Getting Their Hands Dirty

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.

Grow Easy

Grow Easy 6 March 2019

Grow Easy

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.

Mi Cassava Es Su Cassava

Mi Cassava Es Su Cassava 6 March 2019

Mi Cassava Es Su Cassava

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.

For Keiki and Community

For Keiki and Community 6 March 2019

For Keiki and Community

FCS is hiring two junior Extension agents, full time and temporary, to work with intergenerational and youth programs in Lihu‘e and Kona. The new agents should develop, deliver, and evaluate integrated and intergenerational education programs, including 4-H, that meet community needs and enhance the quality of life for stakeholders across the lifespan.

Familiar Faces in New Places: Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite

Familiar Faces in New Places: Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite 22 February 2019

Familiar Faces in New Places: Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite

Welcome to Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite (TPSS), who began her new career as the Maui County Edible Crops agent on Friday, February 15! Rosemary is right at home in the college, having previously worked as a junior researcher with Mark Wright (PEPS), primarily on integrated pest management of the macadamia felted coccid.

Buy Local Fish, It Matters

Buy Local Fish, It Matters 22 February 2019

Buy Local Fish, It Matters

Fish and other seafoods are integral to the Island diet, but sourcing that fish can be problematic. Aurora Saulo (TPSS) was recently interviewed for Hawaii News Now’s story on how imported frozen seafood can be contaminated with unwanted chemicals, where she explained that antibiotics and other violative drugs are often used.

Man on Fire

Man on Fire 22 February 2019

Man on Fire

Wildfires are a serious concern, in the Islands as well as on the Mainland. Wildland fire expert Clay Trauernicht (NREM) recently gave a presentation on this timely subject on Maui, in which he explained that since 72 percent of wildfires with known causes are accidental, that means they can be prevented, and the time for prevention is now!  

Fifty Years of Nutrition Success

Fifty Years of Nutrition Success 22 February 2019

Fifty Years of Nutrition Success

EFNEP, a successful nationwide community nutrition education program, is celebrating its 50th year in Hawai‘i! The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) helps limited-resource families acquire knowledge and skills and change attitudes and behavior to improve the nutritional well-being of the whole family. 

Make Every Day Ag Day

Make Every Day Ag Day 22 February 2019

Make Every Day Ag Day

O‘ahu Cooperative Extension joined with other CTAHR programs and statewide agricultural agencies to support the Hawaii Farm Bureau’s Ag Day at the Capitol. This educational event allows ag producers, organizations, and educators get to demonstrate just how crucial their work is to community, quality of life, and the economy and the environment of the Islands.

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11 May 2020

Go Ahead, Brighten My Day

CTAHR donates 400+ sunflowers to local hospitals

Go Ahead, Brighten My Day

Happy hues of orange and yellow radiate in the sunshine as Russell Galanti prepares to harvest his latest crop. The Extension agent in ornamental crops from the University of Hawaiʻi, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, has a big afternoon ahead. The sunʻs glare will soon ease into a soft, warm glow, making it less harsh on freshly cut sunflowers. That’s Russell’s cue to begin cutting, trimming, washing, and bundling the 400+ stalks he has tended to lovingly at the Oʻahu Urban Garden Center.

The sunflowers were planted earlier this year for the express purpose of creating beautiful table centerpieces for CTAHR’s 32nd Annual Banquet, an event scheduled more than 12 months ago to coincide with Spring 2020 graduation. But with everything cancelled due to COVID-19, there were no more tables to decorate, no guests to bring home the arrangements as party favors.

So Russell shifted gears, and CTAHR decided to donate the bright, morale-boosting sunflowers to O’ahu hospitals. Watch the awesome Sunflower Video here.

“Our healthcare professionals are the real heroes of Hawaiʻi,” says Russell. “These flowers are just us trying to say Mahalo! to doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists – everyone who is showing up for work in hospitals and braving the COVID-19 pandemic to keep our community safe.”

To account for the usual differences in germination rate, which vary depending on soil and weather conditions, Russell planted 550 sunflowers and chose the 400 best-looking blooms. Once they were trimmed and wrapped, he delivered the flowers to Pali Momi, Queen’s, Tripler, Kuakini, Straub, and Kapiʻolani. The medical centers are planning to distribute the sunflowers to nurses on the COVID-19 front lines.

“We hope these colorful flowers put a smile on the faces of hospital staff and patients,” says Russell. “It’s the least we can do for these courageous people fighting a global pandemic.”

View photos of the sunflowers at the Urban Garden Center.