Alumni News

Success breeds success, after all. GoFarm Hawaiʻi, the popular and highly effective CTAHR program, has received a pledge for $2 million from the cooperative American AgCredit. The funds will enable the beginning-farmer development training series to reach more Hawaiʻi residents who are interested in learning how to farm, as well as help increase our community’s access to local food. “We are extremely grateful for American AgCredit and CoBank’s support of our practical training program built around the real-world needs of tomorrow’s farmers,” says Janel Yamamoto, GoFarm Hawaiʻi director. “With their support, and the support of other key partners, we can help experienced farmers looking to expand and needing assistance to develop a business plan or proposal, as well as people new to agriculture, wanting to learn the basics of farming.”

Nicholas Comerford, CTAHR Dean, adds, “Hawaiʻi imports about 85–90% of its food, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions in food supply. Our GoFarm Hawaiʻi program addresses this by providing farmers with the tools they need to be successful, and expanding our local food supply — a necessity for our entire community.”

Read the UH News story.

1986: The Oprah Winfrey show debuts, the first Goodwill Games are held in Moscow, Halley's Comet buzzes past the Earth, and Randall Hamasaki begins a long career with CTAHR Extension. Randy, who retires after 34 years of service, “is an old-fashioned Extension agent who made farm visits to vegetable growers in Waimea, Hawaiʻi Island, and knows all his clientele by first names,” says Susan Miyasaka, Interim Hawaiʻi County Administrator. “In addition to vegetables, he worked with tea, blueberries, and olives. He also published prolifically – more than 40 CTAHR Extension papers.” 

Sharon Motomura-Wages, a fellow Extension agent, adds, “Randy will be missed by his peers and clients alike. He really cares about helping people and has built such an amazing rapport with his clientele. In working closely with Randy, I know what a great listener he is, and how he really understands the challenges that farmers face, whether agricultural, social, or economic. He did his best to provide them with real-life solutions.”

ʻE Komo Mai, Kylie

Starting in a week is Kylie Tavares, Sustainable Agriculture Agent with the Dept. of Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences, who is moving from Maui to join the Kamuela Extension Office on Hawaiʻi Island. She will assume responsibilities for edible crops in the Kohala to Honokaa geographic area. 

“Kylie has certainly made her mark with growers on Maui, for her expertise with both sustainable organic growing methods and as our Food Safety Modernization Act 2000 resident expert and educator,” says Cindy Reeves, Maui County Administrator. “She will be missed by her stakeholders and colleagues alike, but we all wish her well in her new position and are very happy she will remain a CTAHR colleague!”

Please wish Kylie a warm welcome. She can be reached at kylielw@hawaii.edu or 887-7626.

The July 2020 AgHui survey conducted by the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii was well received by public, private, and philanthropic sources – resulting in multiple projects across the state receiving funding support. As the 2021 Hawaii State Legislative session gets underway, ALFH has been asked to provide an update on proposed Ag projects – and that’s where you come in. So please complete this brief, 15-question survey about your current Ag projects in need of funding (grant, debt, or otherwise). The information will be made available to relevant stakeholders and policy makers and published on the ALFH website.

Got a novel research concept that may connect unique partners across various industries? Pioneering research that will solve pressing challenges in the food and agriculture industry? The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research is accepting pre-proposal applications for the 2021 cycle of its Seeding Solutions competitive grant program. “Here is an excellent grant opportunity for research support in six critical challenge areas: Soil Health, Sustainable Water Management, Next Generation Crops, Advanced Animal Systems, Urban Food Systems, and Health-Agriculture Nexus,” says Walter Bowen, CTAHR Associate Dean for Research.

“The deadline to submit pre-proposals is March 10,” Walter adds. “Note the 1:1 matching requirement. If you’re interested in this opportunity, I’ll be happy to discuss options for the matching requirement anytime.” FFAR encourages applications from Land Grant and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions.

Using a small concrete mixer and seawater hose, researchers were able to separate live worms from the surrounding sediment, right into a harvesting net – and then into the mouths of hungry shrimp. The result? A much higher production of commercial shrimp (151%) over feeding them with frozen worms. These and other ongoing projects highlight the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture’s 2020 Annual Progress Report Summaries.