Alumni News

The coffee berry borer has spread to Kauaʻi, a new “trap-jaw” nuisance ant species and pest snails have arrived, and invasive sugar-feeding ants and subterranean termites need managing. Who you gonna call? How about an Invasive Pest Mini-Conference?

“Life was going well before the stay-at-home orders,” says Sonia. “I was making a good living, working at two different restaurants in Waikīkī. My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me, so I feel like something is wrong if I can’t work.” But these days, Sonia has been unemployed. Both restaurants, which largely serve tourists, opted to close their doors rather than keep take-out services going.

The only fire-risk alert system actively in place in Hawaiʻi is the National Weather Service’s “Red Flag Warning System” – which is based on a single weather station on Oʻahu. The danger, of course, is that warnings may not represent conditions across the state. Or, a warning may not be declared, despite high-risk conditions elsewhere.

Lower Puna has felt the stinging triple punch of hurricane, lava, and now, pandemic. Enter Mike DuPonte and a new deep-litter piggery.

Organic food sales topped $50 billion in 2018, but to meet consumer demand, farmers may need to use essential oils to battle pests and diseases that often accompany organic crop growth. Solutions to improve the feasibility and long-term profitability of organic fruit production is the basis of a nearly $2 million Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative grant from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.