CTAHR alumnus and environmental leader Charles “Chipper” Wichman, president of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, received the Garden Club of America’s 2018 Medal of Honor.

CTAHR logged another successful and enjoyable Awards Banquet last Friday, when almost 350 guests and award-winners gathered at the Ala Moana Hotel for food, fun, and the chance to cheer students, faculty, and staff who have distinguished themselves in the past year.

Emilie Kirk and Russell Messing represented CTAHR and the Kaua‘i Extension team, helping to provide information when hundreds of rural families and farmers showed up seeking answers and assistance at a flood-recovery community meeting on May 3 in Hanalei town.

Despite the earthquakes and volcanic activity, over 30 interested growers showed up at the Komohana Extension Office or participated online in the first-ever Giant Fruit & Vegetable Seminar, for contestants planning to enter the 2018 Hawaii 4-H Giant Fruit & Vegetable Contest.

In honor of Arbor Day, Andy Kaufman (TPSS) assisted a class of first- and second-graders to plant a hala tree on the UH campus; then, in honor of ‘Ohi‘a Lehua Day, he assisted a class of third- and fourth-graders to plant ‘ohi‘a trees on the Mid-Pacific campus.