Alumni News

What is the key factor allowing Hawaiʻi’s small, family-run floriculture operations to compete with the giants in the marketplace? It’s CTAHR’s research and development program under the direction of Dr. Tessie Amore. In last Sunday’s Star Advertiser, long-time CTAHR supporter Eric Tanouye authored an insightful and articulate op-ed about the current state of our floriculture industry. As president of both the 300+ member Hawaiʻi Floriculture and Nursery Association (HFNA) and his own Green Point Nurseries on the Big Island, Tanouye gave special attention to a “professional advisory team” that is fostering collaboration between growers, designers, and scientists.
Led by Tessie of the Dept. of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, HFNA, and renowned floral designers from Canada, California and Hawaii, the team will work together to keep the industry vibrant when so many growers are aging out of the workforce.
Read the full article, Nurture a beautiful industry in Hawaii.

If improving sustainable agriculture and food security for Hawaiʻi through research or innovative programing is your thing, invite your undergrad students to join CTAHR’s Food Systems Working Group. Students will work with UH faculty and high school students to explore and identify a potential project on food security and sustainability in Hawaiʻi, as well as apply for funding from the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP). The deadline to apply is March 3.

“Our working group seeks to help address food security in Hawaiʻi,” says Sothy Eng of the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences. “We are looking for students who want to be part of the solution! The proposed food systems projects should contribute to one of three major global challenges: population health, economic development, or environmental sustainability.”

The Food Systems Working Group notes that “A food systems approach to food and health encompasses many intricately related factors in getting food from farm to consumer. This includes the inputs, mechanisms, and structures for food production, processing, distribution, acquisition, preparation, and consumption, as well as the farmers, ranchers, fishers, workers, governments, institutional purchasers, communities, and consumers who participate in that system — and their contributions to overall health.

This approach recognizes that complex systems have many inputs and outputs. Health and other outcomes must emerge from the system as a whole, not by focusing on any single component. Interacting parts work synergistically, each as a complement to the other and each supporting the system as a whole.”

Learn more CTAHR’s Food Systems Working Group. For questions, contact Sothy.

The next round of GoFarm Hawaiʻi for Windward Oʻahu (Waimānalo) will begin on March 15 – and the GoFarm Hawaiʻi Team would love to have your help in reaching potential participants who are looking to improve their farming production and agribusiness skills! Please forward and share with your networks: AgCurious Online Webinar: March 15 @ 5:30pm. The first step to learn more about our beginning farmer training program and how to apply. Hear from GoFarm Hawaiʻi grads about their experience and current farm endeavors. Register here. (Attendance is required to apply for AgXposure/AgXcel.)

AgXposure: March 30 - April 27. Visit local farms to learn and get exposure to farm work (Wednesday evenings (online) and Saturdays).

AgXcel: May 11 - November 19. Learn farm production and business skills from our coaching team during Wednesday evening (online) and Saturday field classes. Plant, manage, and market your own 7-week CSA vegetable production at our farm site in Waimānalo.

More details are available on the GoFarm Hawaiʻi website.

Please join me in congratulating Waimānalo Farm Manager Roger Corrales, who retired Feb. 1 after 32 years of service to CTAHR. Roger started with CTAHR in 1990 as an Agricultural Technician III and within a few years was promoted to Agricultural Technician IV, then Farm Manager in 1992. Roger oversaw and managed 128 acres of prime agricultural land at Waimānalo Research Station (WRS) and the adjoining 281 acres above WRS, the Meadow Gold property. Roger provided training and mentoring opportunities for WRS and Waialee agricultural technicians. He helped many faculty, including myself, advance up the ranks with research-generated information developed at WRS.

The Fashion Show Production Team, run by students of the Fashion Design and Merchandising Program of the Dept. of Family and Consumer Sciences, wants you! to donate your unused/unworn clothing and accessories. Items must be in good condition and washed/clean. All donations will be used to support FDM’s Rainbow Bazaar Pop-Up, which will be happening on campus Feb. 22. All proceeds from this thrift shop will go toward a successful 56^th Annual Fashion Show!

“Give your clothes a second life and save them from landfills; one person’s trash is another person’s treasure!” says undergrad Allison Parten.

Please deliver to the labeled bin in Miller Hall. For questions, contact Olivia at omaguire@hawaii.edu, Aubrey at aubreyvi@hawaii.edu, or Jada at jrogers3@hawaii.edu.

Stay tuned for details on the upcoming 56^th Annual Fashion Show!