News and Events


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Bright Roots

Bright Roots 7 February 2018

Bright Roots

There will be an open house showcasing observations of a colorful carrot variety trial conducted at the Poamoho Research Station on Wednesday, February 28, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Malama ‘Ulu

Malama ‘Ulu 7 February 2018

Malama ‘Ulu

Natural Resources and Environmental Management grad student Blaire Langston is holding a workshop on Saturday, February 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in St. John 106 on how to participate in the ‘Ulu Phenology Project.

A Family (and Community) Man

A Family (and Community) Man 5 February 2018

A Family (and Community) Man

County Administrator Russell Messing was guest speaker at the recent Kaua‘i Association of Family and Community Education Achievement Day luncheon.

Isle Welcomes Isele

Isle Welcomes Isele 5 February 2018

Isle Welcomes Isele

Eli Isele joins CTAHR as the assistant Extension agent in sustainable agriculture in Hilo.

Oh Savannah!

Oh Savannah! 2 February 2018

Oh Savannah!

Recent Kansas State University graduate Savannah Katulski has bid goodbye to her mainland friends and joined CTAHR as livestock and 4-H Extension faculty member for Kaua‘i county.

Hot Topic

Hot Topic 2 February 2018

Hot Topic

CTAHR faculty and partners briefed elected officials and legislative staffers on the issue of wildfires in Hawai‘i on a field trip to the Waianae Mountains. 

Beefing Up 4-H Skills

Beefing Up 4-H Skills 2 February 2018

Beefing Up 4-H Skills

CTAHR livestock expert Kyle Caires is conducting clinics for 4-H youth on Hawai‘i and Maui islands.

No Beating this Bushe

No Beating this Bushe 2 February 2018

No Beating this Bushe

The floriculture and nursery industry honors CTAHR veteran and alumnus Brian Bushe for dedicated service to the college and the agricultural community in Hawai‘i.

Not Root-Knot

Not Root-Knot 2 February 2018

Not Root-Knot

Coffee farmers got the low-down on a root-knot nematode at a Kona research plot that's amassed 11 years of research data on the pest.

Forestry Find

Forestry Find 2 February 2018

Forestry Find

Check out the great new website for Hawai‘i Forestry Extension!

Aquaponics and Health

Aquaponics and Health 21 December 2017

Aquaponics and Health

CTAHR Community Coordinator Ilima Ho-Lastimosa is part of a multidisciplinary effort to address health disparities thorough backyard aquaponics.

Maui County Awardees

Maui County Awardees 21 December 2017

Maui County Awardees

Maui County Extension celebrated its 2017 award winners — Secretary Clarisse Baisa, to left in lei, for service to faculty and staff, and Research Technician Edwin Perez, at right in cap, winner of the Administrator’s Award.

Congratulations Shirley Han!

Congratulations Shirley Han! 21 December 2017

Congratulations Shirley Han!

Office Assistant Shirley Han, left, was recognized for her service to the Molokai Cooperative Extension staff at a December 2017 lunch hosted by Maui County Administrator Cynthia Reeves (in red).

Bee on Screen

Bee on Screen 14 November 2017

Bee on Screen

Videos on the life cycle of bees and apian role in the rise of flowering plants captured national entomology awards for a CTAHR-led team.

Good Breeding

Good Breeding 14 November 2017

Good Breeding

Bred under the direction of the Mealani Research Station staff, CTAHR bulls rank among the top 5% of Angus in the country and are free of a common genetic disorder.

GoFarm’s Weigert Rocks

GoFarm’s Weigert Rocks 14 November 2017

GoFarm’s Weigert Rocks

Agritourism expert and one of “five women rocking” the Hawai‘i food scene Pomai Weigert has joined GoFarm as an agbusiness consultant.

Elder Affairs Advisor

Elder Affairs Advisor 14 November 2017

Elder Affairs Advisor

Center on the Family Assistant Specialist Sarah Yuan has been re-appointed to the State’s Policy Advisory Board for Elder Affairs for a second four-year term.

New Kaua‘i Agent

New Kaua‘i Agent 26 October 2017

New Kaua‘i Agent

Emilie Kirk has joined the Kaua‘i County Cooperative Extension team as junior Extension agent and Master Gardener coordinator with a focus on edible crops, food safety and security, ag education and production, and leadership development.

Virus Free is Sweet

Virus Free is Sweet 23 October 2017

Virus Free is Sweet

CTAHR organized a sweetpotato growers meeting featuring mainland experts and yield-boosting virus-tested ‘Okinawan’ planting materials.

Ruminating on Peas

Ruminating on Peas 23 October 2017

Ruminating on Peas

Low-water, nitrogen-fixing, tasty cowpeas are a potential niche crop for Hawai‘i producers, as Junior Extension Agent Jensen Uyeda recently demonstrated.

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31 January 2024

Kicking Off 2024

UGC starts new plumeria collection and partnership

Kicking Off 2024

by Alberto Ricordi

Ninety percent of flowers used for lei-making are imported to Hawaiʻi, and the decreasing supply of local flowers is having a drastic impact on the lei industry statewide.

To address the growing chorus of lament from lei-flower growers, lei makers, and lei vendors, Extension has kicked off 2024 with a new plumeria collection at the Urban Garden Center. On January 6th, students from Kalani High School helped clean up the plot, amend the soil, and plant the first rooted cuttings. The work day was organized through a collaboration between CTAHR and the Lei Poinaʻole Project of BEHawaii.

The collection features 30+ varieties! We selected varieties considered good for lei, with traits such as long-lasting flowers, thick petals suitable for handling, and attractive scent and color. 

CTAHR receives frequent requests from plumeria growers, landscapers seeking new varieties, and lei groups. This new collection at UGC will be very important for the industry because the current supply cannot meet the demand, and because access to flowers and foliage to make lei is very important for the community.

The Lei Poina’ole Project was created by BEHawaii in response to concerns about the decreasing supply of local flowers. The partnership with CTAHR is meant to close that gap in the next five to six years. Collaborations like this will be key for the success of this project. 

More community work days and workshops will be offered in the near future. Want to be notified of upcoming activities and events? Sign up for the UGC Plumeria and Lei list. For questions, you can contact me directly at albertoh@hawaii.edu. Mahalo