CTAHR News

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2013

May

4-H PR

5/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Two representatives of Hawai‘i’s 4-H groups are featured in Idaho’s 4-H State Newsletter. Zachary Matthews from East Hawai‘i and Jade Nakamoto from Kaua‘i are 4-H Ambassadors who recently attended the 4-H Ambassador Conference in Idaho and have nothing but good to say about it and about the 4-H agents and volunteers who made the trip and their continued involvement in 4-H possible. They’ve come back home with new skills and new ideas, and the renewed confidence to share them with their peers. The 4-H program also received some great publicity from Derek Kurisu’s cable show Living in Paradise, which details next month’s county livestock show and sale on June 14 and 15. This PR segment will run the entire month of May, but those without cable can also view the clip online (to see it, just fast-forward the clip to about the 6-minute mark).

Seeds of the Future

5/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

JB Friday and Jody Smith (NREM) have just posted a video for the Hawaii RREA project in which Jill Wagner, director of the Hawai‘i Island Native Seed Bank and owner of Future Forests Nursery, discusses how to collect and catalogue seeds of rare native trees and demonstrates the techniques for processing them for storage. Ms. Wagner stresses that in forest restoration it is important to plant seeds that have been collected as close to the planting site as possible, ideally from the same elevation and at least from the same ahupua‘a. For this reason the seeds collected from each tree are given their own accession number. She admits that at the moment she is doing the bulk of the Native Seed Bank’s collecting, but she envisions increased community involvement in the process, an outcome this instructive video may foster. As a bonus, the slack-key stylings of Skip Bittenbender (TPSS) add a pleasing counterpoint to the information.

Scholar of the Year, and Then Some

5/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Zachary Bergeron (MBBE) has been winning awards lately. First there was the award for the best oral presentation by a PhD student in CTAHR/COE’s 2013 Student Research Symposium, then the Helen Jones Farrar Award in Tropical Agriculture from the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation, and this was followed by his being honored at the ARCS Foundation’s Honolulu Chapter 2013 Scholar Awards Banquet on May 6 as one of two Scholars of the Year. And he’s just capped off this semester of achievements by earning his PhD! Zachary, here shown with Cheryl Ernst, president of ARCS’s Honolulu Chapter and CTAHR’s new events/public information officer, was recognized for the strength of his presentation, the quality of his research, and the profound potential benefit that his work has for society. The techniques he is developing to screen peptide toxins from endemic snails to counter the carriers of rat lung disease has potential applications in pharmaceutical as well as safer pesticide development. Zachary shares the Scholar of the Year award with Jonathan Whitney, a doctoral candidate in biology who was recognized for his work using gene sequencing to document speciation occurring in reef fish.

Don’t Let a Knowledge Gap Keep You From Implementing GAPs!

5/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The Risk Management Road Show Series continues with its latest installment on the Big Island: Farm Food Safety Training with Good Agricultural Practices. Effectively managing risk is important to all agricultural producers, and having an acceptable food safety program is in the best interests of consumers, buyers, and farmers. This workshop helps fresh produce growers of all types learn about Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and how to write and implement an effective, farm-specific food safety plan. With the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations to be in force in the near future, it’s never too soon to get started on implementing GAPs on your farm! CTAHR’s Farm GAPs coach Luisa Castro will also cover what most 3rd-party audit companies require. The training workshop will be offered at the following locations and times: Monday, May 20, 6:00–8:00 p.m. in the Waimea Civic Center Conference Room at 67-5189 Kamamalu Rd. in Kamuela (next to the Waimea Police Station); Tuesday, May 21, 6:00–8:00 p.m. in the Aupuni Center Conference Room at 101 Pauahi St., Hilo; and Wednesday, June 12, 5:30–7:30 p.m. in the Kona Cooperative Extension Service Conference Room at 79-7381 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kealakekua. Please call Didi or Perci at (808) 887-6183 to RSVP or email mddiaz@hawaii.edu.

Mysteries of the Sacred Lotus

5/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Robert Paull and Nancy Chen (TPSS) with their research group recently published a paper on the sequencing of the sacred lotus genome. The sacred lotus, which is known for its symbolism of purity, its seeds’ potential 1300-year longevity, and its extremely waterproof leaves—not to mention its candied roots enjoyed at Chinese New Year—also has important research implications. The genome shows evidence of slow evolution, stemming from a low mutation rate perhaps caused by the seeds’ longevity. Some of its more effective mutations deal with extracting nutrients from its aquatic environment, the lotus being originally a land plant that then moved to the water. Robert Paull and Nancy Chen were involved in this sequencing project; their role was to analyze and annotate the predicted genes in cell wall metabolism and modification and to determine their evolutionary relationships. This effort follows from their earlier collaborations on the papaya and Asian pear genomes, both of which led to peer-reviewed articles in Nature and Genome Research.

Native Insects, Introduced Habitats

5/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

It has often been assumed that most native Hawaiian insects have vanished from the highly disturbed agricultural ecosystems and invasive forests of the Island. This assumption was recently tested in a project led by Luc Leblanc (PEPS), curator of the UH Insect Museum and a member of the Rubinoff lab. Through surveys of endemic Hawaiian Drosophilidae, a group of flies with nearly 1,000 species, including 13 federally listed as endangered, the project revealed that species diversity and fly numbers were greatest in native forest areas, but half of the species also ventured into the adjacent invasive strawberry guava belt and plantation forests, almost 500m from native forest. More surprising, a number of species even persisted in orchards and nonnative forests as far as 10 km from native habitats. This suggests that more careful management of disturbed forest and a reassessment of its conservation value are in order. For more information, see the published article, and its associated online database.

Banquet Benefactors

5/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Check presentation at 2013 CTAHR Awards Banquet

A good time was had by all at CTAHR’s 25th Annual Awards Banquet on May 3: the 460 guests applauded—and waved signs for—the distinguished honorees, feasted on guava-glazed steak, admired—or grazed on—the living herb centerpieces, and laughed at the tribute videos to the Ka Lei Hano and Outstanding Alumnus award winners created by MC Derek Kurisu. It wasn’t all just fun and games and ‘ono food at the Banquet, though; thanks to sponsors and donors, CTAHR was able to present a check for $35,000 to the UH Foundation to create an endowment for the CTAHR Centennial Endowed Scholarship. This scholarship, which was first conceived in the year of CTAHR’s 100-year anniversary, will offer scholarships to students who are the first members of their families to attend college…and give them a chance to one day become Outstanding Alumni themselves. See more photos of the Banquet at the Flickr site created by Cheryl Ernst.

FAMR Gets Wired

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Every year, Sony Electronics Inc. awards up to five sets of Sony VAIO Ultrabooks, HD camcorders, and other neat electronic gadgetry to outstanding undergraduate students at UH-Manoa. The awardees are selected by a committee appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Students based on several criteria, including academic excellence, need, and valuable service given to the community and/or campus as part of their college education. Impressively, two of the five UHM students selected to receive the Sony Technology Awards this year were FAMR majors: Lena Phomsouvanh and Stanley Chan. Lena, who will be the first in her family to graduate from college, volunteers at campus events, has worked with underprivileged minority youth, and currently assists elderly immigrants prepare for naturalization. Stanley has found his passion working with youth and volunteering in a cancer research study. Both plan to pursue graduate education after getting their bachelor’s degrees from CTAHR. Congratulations to Lena and Stanley for their superior academic performance and tireless voluntarism, and thanks to FCS’s Rick Caulfield for his strong letters of recommendation, which helped both outstanding students win the awards.

Advice for Advisors

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Congratulations to FAMR student Cheri Kau, who won 2nd place in both the oral and poster competitions, Social Science category, at UHM’s Spring 2013 Honors and Undergraduate Research Thesis Competition. And congratulations as well to her mentor, Lori Yancura! Cheri’s study surveyed UHM undergraduates to see if students who engage in life planning discussions with an academic advisor are more satisfied with the advising process than those who receive only academic advising for registration and career preparation. Results showed that those who did engage in life planning discussions with their advisors were more satisfied than those who did not. These results support developmental, holistic advising that focuses on assisting and supporting students in a multidimensional manner to reach beyond their graduation requirements. The Spring Symposium is sponsored by the Honors Program and Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program to showcase undergraduate research.

Food Education, Glorious Food Education

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

At its annual conference on April 25, the Hawaii Dietetic Association honored Cyndy Kahalewale, Hawaii Foods project coordinator, with the Outstanding Nutritionist Award. The HDA also presented a certificate of recognition to Sylvia Yuen for her outstanding support for the education of dietitians in Hawai‘i. Congratulations to both these exemplary foodies!

Sustainability at Kamehameha

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Kai Fox at Kamehameha Sustainability Fair

The Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program’s traveling team of Jari Sugano (PEPS), Jensen Uyeda (TPSS), Bradley Fox (MBBE, pictured), and Ted Radovich (TPSS) participated in Kamehameha School’s annual Sustainability Fair. Students and faculty learned about sustainable, do-it-yourself growing systems such as aquaponics, hydroponics, and taro cultivation. Participants also learned about the story behind CTAHR’s ‘Anahu’ tomato variety, developed by CTAHR plant breeder Jim Gilbert and named after Bill Anahu (Kamehameha HS, 1938) who died in serving in WWII as a fighter pilot. ‘Anahu’ is remains a popular parental line of tomato hybrids worldwide.

Showing Fashion Flair

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The 47th Annual APDM Senior Fashion Show, Zeitgeist, has been getting plenty of media buzz: it’s been featured on KITV News, in Honolulu Magazine’s fashion and lifestyle column Lei Chic, and on the entertainment website Nonstop Honolulu, as well as on the UH System website in a video by UH’s own Dan Meizenzahl. And the talent showcased in the event more than matches the notice it’s getting, with fashions ranging from futuristic urban warrior to retro-glam. Now, if there were only more events at which to wear such exciting styles—possibly next year’s fashion show!

Growing the Future

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Noelani kids harvesting vegetables at Magoon

Corn and beans are the stuff of excitement and triumph as the Noelani first-grade students make their final harvest. SOFT volunteers have been mentoring the students all semester as they planted and tended their own garden plots at Magoon Research Station, in the hopes that their interest will extend to a lifelong love of and appreciation for growing and the land.

Graduation Sendoff

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Over 200 CTAHR students, their families and friends, and CTAHR faculty and staff attended the CTAHR Convocation in the Campus Center Ballroom. This intimate celebration, emceed by Lisa Kitagawa-Akagi, began with congratulatory remarks from Dean Maria Gallo and CTAHR Alumni Association and Friends President Dr. Susan Miller. Student marshals Roberto Rodriguez (BE) and Shelley Wong (FSHN), selected for their academic achievements, leadership, and service to CTAHR and the University, were then called on stage to be recognized. Afterwards, graduating students active in CTAHR-affiliated student organizations were acknowledged for their participation, and the ceremony concluded with the individual recognition of 52 new graduates. Following the program were refreshments and a chance for family, friends, and mentors to mingle with the graduating students. Congratulations to the graduating students for achieving such a milestone, and good luck in your future endeavors! A big mahalo to all those who supported the students: thank you to SAPFB for partially funding this event, to the CTAHR Alumni Association and Friends for donating lei, to CTAHR scholarship recipients and student ambassadors for volunteering at the event, and to ASAO for providing the CTAHR memorabilia presented to the graduates and organizing this event.

Getting a Bead on Weeds

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Everyone is invited to the student design presentations for the BE 420 (Sensors and Instrumentation for Biological Systems) course taught by Dan Jenkins (MBBE). It will take place on Tuesday, May 7, at noon in AEI 123, the multi-purpose room at the back of the machine shop in AEI between Gilmore and St. John. The title of the project to be presented is “Integrated Datalogging and Delivery System for Herbicide Ballistic Technology,” and its objective is to automatically record locations of invasive plants targeted by herbicide ballistic technology during airborne operations. Thanks are due to James Leary (NREM) for providing ideas and funding for this project—as well as for inventing HBT in the first place! The presentation should be enjoyable, help showcase the ingenuity of our students, and stimulate additional ideas for collaborations. Food and beverages will be provided, but feel free to bring your own lunch as well.

GoFarm, Take Two

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The 2013 Go Farm AgCurious seminar will be held Tuesday, July 9, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Windward Community College. Register now by sending your name and contact number to info@gofarmhawaii.org, or call David Ringuette at (808) 236-9265. This is GoFarm’s second year, and by all accounts all stages of the first year’s class (pictured) have been a resounding success, so look for lots of enthusiastic participation in this program to educate and mentor beginning farmers.

The Wide World of Aquaponics

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

An Aquaponics in Hawai‘i Conference will be held on Saturday, May 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Windward Community College’s Hale Akoakoa. Hear from Hawai‘i’s commercial aquaponic producers, urban garden producers, aquaponic services, and community groups about the challenges and opportunities of aquaponic operations in Hawai‘i. Learn from CTAHR’s faculty about the latest developments in aquaponic research and extension being conducted by the College. Provide input as to the role aquaponics should play in increasing Hawai‘i’s self-reliance and producing our own food. There’s limited enrollment, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis; pre-payment will be required to participate in the conference. There are no refunds, but substitutions are allowed if the original person can’t attend. The Early Bird rate, available till May 8, is $79 per person for non-HAAA members, which includes a 1-year HAAA membership, and $64 per person for HAAA members or previous workshop attendees. After that it’s $99 for non-HAAA members, including a 1-year membership; $84 for members or previous attendees. Lunch will be included. This event is presented by WCC’s Career and Community Education, the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association, and CTAHR. For more information, please contact Clyde Tamaru (MBBE) at ctamaru@hawaii.edu.

Know How to Share Your Organic Know-How?

5/6/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The Organic Agriculture at CTAHR website has been the landing place for online inquiries about organic agriculture research and extension efforts within CTAHR for many years now. Now available within the website is a listing of individuals in the Organic Agriculture Working Group. If you wish to be listed at this webpage, please contact Jody Smith at smithjos@hawaii.edu by May 15th with your name, field(s) of interest, and email address. Participation in the group is completely voluntary, and responsibilities are limited to answering questions from the public about organic agriculture within your particular area of expertise. Help spread the green word!

April

Student Winners

4/30/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The results for the CTAHR Entrepreneurial Competition and the CTAHR Aloha Shirt Design Contest are in! Congratulations to all of those who participated in both contests and, particularly, to those who won awards: in the Entrepreneurial Competition, 1st place went to Stephanie Chang and Norine Ornellas-Walsh for the Herb n’ Worm Box; 2nd place and Viewers’ Choice awards to Robert Saito for his Kid-N-Garden Tub; and 3rd place to Mitchell Loo for the Rubbish Can-A-Vision. Chloe Rivera won 1st place in the Aloha Shirt Design Contest (pictured); Savannah Tatreau and Gabrielle Sanehira won 2nd and 3rd place respectively. The winners of the competition will be recognized at the Awards Banquet, so come give them a round of applause!

Three for CTAHR

4/30/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Creighton Litton, Tom Apple, Maria Stewart

Three outstanding educators associated with CTAHR were celebrated at the 2013 UH-Manoa Awards Ceremony. Not only were Maria Stewart (HNFAS) and Creighton Litton (NREM) (pictured with Chancellor Apple) honored for their excellence in teaching; Joshua Irvine, who got his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biological Engineering from CTAHR, won the Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for a Graduate Assistant. Josh, who is now in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, served as a student ambassador for CTAHR while he was with the college and also was awarded funding to spend a semester studying abroad at Earth University in Costa Rica. Find out more about the award recipients and watch the ceremony here.

Clothing Against the Flames

4/30/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Shu Hwa Lin (APDM) and her colleagues have published the results of an assessment study on firefighters’ needs for their protective gear, “Exploration of Firefighter Turnout Gear Part 1: Identifying Male Firefighter User Needs,” in the Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management. They analyzed the types of protection that the gear should afford and the types of movement firefighters need to be able to make while wearing it, and they even had recommendations about how to make the gear more comfortable. This publication resulted from research conducted under the regional project #360R (NC170): Personal Protective Technologies for Current and Emerging Occupational and Environmental Hazards.

Fashion Passion

4/30/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Dean Gallo praised the talent at the 47th Annual APDM fashion show, “Zeitgeist: Spirit of the Times,” that was staged this past Sunday at the Waikiki Marriot. The senior student designers looked to fashion eras of the past for inspiration, mingling this homage with a fresh, cutting-edge creativity that gave rise to such stunning designs as these Jazz Age looks on the models pictured with Dr. Gallo.

A Forest Grows in Honolulu

4/30/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Travis Idol at groundbreaking ceremony of Children

Travis Idol (NREM) spoke at the recent Honolulu Zoo Children’s Discovery Forest groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by about 75 student volunteers, parents, and invited guests. Assisted by UH grad students, elementary school children helped to plant the seedlings that will form the basis of the Discovery Forest, which will be a representation of natural systems, creating a scene of Hawai‘i before the arrival of humans. The project, which stresses community involvement, will demonstrate culturally significant plant and tree species that once grew near traditional shoreline villages of O‘ahu and will provide habitat for Hawaiian plants, birds, and invertebrates. It is spearheaded by the Hawai‘i Forest Institute, of which Travis is president.

How Does Corn Know What Shape to Grow?

4/30/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Developmental corn geneticist Mike Muszynski will be presenting a talk on his exciting research on May 6th at 10:30 a.m. in Ag Science 219. Dr. Muszynski, of the Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology at Iowa State University, will speak on “Cytokinin signaling and leaf pattern formation in maize”: Pattern formation is key to generating the overall structure of different body parts, which create the characteristic shape of an organism, he explains, but exactly how the organism knows which pattern to make isn’t yet understood. Corn is a useful plant in which to study this, so come hear Dr. Muszynski’s latest insights on this important process from his study of maize.

Want to Do Your Taxes Better Next Year?

4/30/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Risk Management Hawaii is bringing back Michael Holl to give an updated lesson for farmers and ranchers about business taxes. This workshop is specifically designed to enable Hawai‘i farmers to lower their tax liabilities through a better understanding of business deductions, tax preparation and recordkeeping to minimize taxes and chances of an audit, business entities for your farm, how employment laws and independent contractor requirements affect your business, how to obtain relief from certain federal penalties, and special provisions in the tax code regarding farm income. President of Tax Services of Hawaii and Michael Holl and Associates, Michael is a renowned speaker who has presented numerous tax workshops on taxes on behalf of the IRS, for the SBA Women’s Business Center, the National Association of Tax Preparers, UH, KCC, and various non-profits and foundations. The workshop will be given on O‘ahu on May 1, 6:00–8:00 p.m., at Windward Community College. Then it will be offered on the Big Island on May 8, 6:00–8:00 p.m., at Waimea Civic Center Conference Room in Kamuela; May 9, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at Kainaliu Cooperative Extension Service conference room in Kona; May 22, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at Aupuni Center conference Room in Hilo; and May 23, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at Pahala Community Center in Pahala. There will be a workshop on Moloka‘i on June 5, 8:30–10:30 a.m., at Office of Hawaiian Affairs Conference Room, and on Maui on June 6, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at Maui County Farm Bureau (tentative location). Please call Didi or Perci at 887-6183 or email mddiaz@hawaii.edu to RSVP.

Do the Can-Can

4/23/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The 2013 Hawai‘i Foodbank drive is still going strong, so if you haven’t yet offered your support—or if you have and just want to recapture than great feeling—there’s still time! You have till Friday, April 26, to donate non-perishable food, buy a Foodbank T-shirt, or just give cash. Every little bit helps—$10 can buy enough food for 25 meals. Just remember that canned goods can’t be accepted if they’re more than 6 months past the expiration date. Get more information here—including forms for electronic fund transfers.

We All Scream for…Frozen Yogurt

4/23/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The Fashion Design and Merchandising Program is having a Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt Fundraiser! What better way to cool off from school stress? Just invite your friends and family to Menchie’s at Ward Warehouse, April 22 through April 28, and click here for a flyer that you can either print out or show on your phone upon purchase! It's easy and tasty, and all proceeds will benefit the FDM students.

Zachary and the Snails

4/23/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Right after being selected for CTAHR’s Best PhD Oral Presentation award in this month’s CTAHR/COE Student Research Symposium, Zachary Bergeron (PhD candidate, MBBE), will be honored again, with the prestigious 2013 ARCS Farrar Award in Tropical Agriculture from ARCS’s Honolulu chapter. For more than half a century, the Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Foundation has advanced science and technology in America by providing financial awards to academically outstanding US citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering, and medical research. Zachary (left, with mentor Jon-Paul Bingham, MBBE) delivered an oral and poster presentation at the 2013 ARCS Symposium, “Development of a Fluorescent Assay Platform for the Identification of Potential Pharmaceutical and Pesticide Candidates.” Zachary is developing a fluorescent ligand-based assay for screening bioactive peptide toxins from local sea snails that prey on mollusks, with the goal of engineering biodegradable molluscicides that can be used for crop protection. The Farrar Award will be conferred to Zachary at the ARCS Scholar Award Banquet on May 6. At that time the ARCS Scholar of the Year Award, for which Zachary is also in the running, will be announced as well.

Is There Life After CTAHR?

4/23/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Students and employers gathered in Gilmore Hall last week for the Careers after CTAHR Workshop, which focused on careers related to the fields of study of Family Resources (FAMR), Animal Sciences (ANSC), and Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN). Local professionals, many of them CTAHR alumni, came from a diverse array of companies and organizations, including US Customs and Border Protection, USDA APHIS, the Honolulu Zoo, The Plaza at Moanalua, KCC’s TRIO program, Coalition for a Drug-Free Hawaii, Center on the Family, Meadow Gold Dairies, and Sodexo. Students learned about potential internship/career opportunities, personal career pathways and experiences of those working in jobs related to their fields of study, and tips on how to prepare themselves for the workforce. After the workshop sessions, students had a chance to mingle and network with employers during the refreshment session. Thank you to all of the professionals who volunteered their time to share their valuable knowledge and experiences with our students, ASAO for organizing this event, CTAHR student volunteers, and to the students who attended this event.

Symposium Sizzle

4/23/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Dean Gallo at CTAHR/COE Research Symposium

For the third year in a row, CTAHR teamed with the College of Engineering (COE) for this year’s 25th annual Student Research Symposium. One of the main goals of the Symposium is to give students the experience of presenting their work in a friendly yet professional setting, similar to national and international conferences. Students at UH have few opportunities to present their scholarly work in professional conferences due to the geographic isolation of Hawai‘i and the high cost of travel to attend conferences outside the state. Through travel grant awards, the symposium also enables graduate students to compete for funding to share their research findings at professional conferences outside Hawai‘i. This year, more than 300 students, faculty, staff, and guests gathered at the Ag Sci building for a lively, scholarly exchange over the 139 poster and oral presentations by undergraduate and graduate students in all six CTAHR departments and three departments in COE. The topics spanned all stages of the process of research and development as well as all types of student learning, including discovery; advanced diagnostics and laboratory testing; design, validation and field testing; and adoption of new methods and technologies. The caliber of the students’ work was truly impressive. Attendees enjoyed a short welcome by CTAHR’s Dean Gallo and mingled outdoors, with dinner served under a spacious tent. Thank you to those whose hard work made this event successful, including the student participants and faculty advisor/mentors, judges and moderators, staff and student volunteers, members of the Symposium Coordinating Committee, and to SAPFB for funding part of this event. Big congratulations to the award recipients, who will be recognized at CTAHR’s Awards Banquet on May 3!

Gone Buggy

4/23/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Ka Mea Kolo, CTAHR’s entomology club, got to share space with some oversized arthropods at the Bishop Museum’s Science Alive! Family Sunday last month. The outreach event coincided with the Museum’s Xtreme BUGS exhibit of huge, animatronic insects, but Ka Mea Kolo members offered a better sense of scale with their booth, which featured monarch caterpillars and other insects for the visitors to marvel over. CTAHR was also represented by booths from NREM and MBBE’s Biotechnology Outreach program, both showing how learning, especially about science, can be fun as well as useful.

Banquet Bonanza

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Monday, April 22, is the deadline to register for the CTAHR Awards Banquet on May 3, so make sure to do so if you haven’t yet ensured your place amongst the merrymaking crowd. Laugh at MC Derek Kurisu’s hilarious videos paying tribute to award winners Dennis Teranishi and Wayne Iwaoka (HNFAS), vie over who gets to take home the beautiful CTAHR-grown flower arrangements, and pay tribute to the student winners of scholarships, the CTAHR Entrepreneurial Competition, and the CTAHR-COE Student Symposium!

Food Movers

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The SOFT student group and TPSS GSO are partnering on a Sustainable Agriculture Lecture Series that explores issues of importance to Island agriculture. On Thursday, April 18, at 3:30 p.m. in BusAd A102 they present “Food Movement,” on distributing locally produced foods. Featured at this event will be O‘ahu Fresh representative Lisa, who will discuss her organization, which provides delivery of food from famers’ markets; Vivian Best, who runs Give It Fresh Today (GIFT), which collects donations of fresh food at farmers’ markets to give to the hungry; Lynette Larson, representative of the natural foods coop Kokua, and Jill Nordby, who will discuss the mobile Holoholo General Store. The next lecture will be on sustainable land stewardship on April 25.

Thanks for All the Fish

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The staff at the He‘eia Fishpond recently expressed their gratitude for Clyde Tamaru’s generous donation of moi fingerlings to their fishpond. The transfer went smoothly and appears to have been a success in terms of fish survival. Almost 300 fingerlings at an average fork length of 114mm were released, and workers at the fishpond have high hopes that they will flourish in their new home.

Science Fair Synergy

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

In a quantum leap from last year’s count of eight, this year 19 CTAHR faculty and graduate students volunteered as judges in the 56th Hawaii State Science and Engineering Fair, April 7-9, at the Hawaii Convention Center, where they got to marvel at the accomplishments of hundreds of Hawai‘i’s best and brightest middle- and high-school students. With funding from USDA-NIFA, CTAHR presented a $500 award on behalf of all campuses in the UH system to Ariana Kim, a 9th grader at St. Andrew’s Priory, who presented results from research performed under the mentorship of HNFAS’s Soojin Jun and Food Science graduate student Kara Yamada (both shown flanking Aliana alongside her award-winning poster) and Priory teacher Michael Grech. Ariana’s project, “Microwire Biosensor: Novel Detection of Escherichia coli,” shows great promise for increasing the accuracy and speed of testing for E. coli, one of the most common causes of foodborne illness. CTAHR was hardly alone in recognizing the excellence of Ariana’s research—she was also selected to represent Hawai‘i at next month’s International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona. The CTAHR Alumni Association also presented $100 awards to two high school students at the Fair. Mahalo to the many CTAHR faculty, staff, and students who generously mentored the next generation of scientists and engineers participating in this year’s Fair.

Scat!

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Two NREM undergraduates were featured in a recent KITV News segment about the growing population of feral cats at the Hawai‘i Kai Park and Ride. Anela Whisenhunt (left) and Stephanie Nagai have been conducting a month-long survey of area residents to see what they think should be done about the cats, which now number about 100 and which are becoming a nuisance and even a possible hazard.

New Faces: Cheryl Ernst

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

OCS is pleased to welcome Cheryl Ernst as its new events/public information officer. Prior to joining OCS, Cheryl served as director for Creative Services in the UH System’s External Affairs and University Relations Office, and she has 25 years of progressively responsible public relations roles at UH. Welcome, Cheryl!

Veteran Designer

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Junior Trevor Manu, who has worked for HNFAS since his freshman year, was just named the 2013 Student Employee of the Year for Categories A1-A3 Student Assistant. Trevor, who is a Fine Arts major with an emphasis in Graphic Design, is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, and his job as student assistant was his first civilian job after leaving the Marines. Besides helping out in the HNFAS office, Trevor uses his skills as a graphic artist to help with the HNFAS and other departments’ web pages. Trevor says, “Considering this would be my first civilian job after getting out of the Marines, I was worried that my skills would not translate properly. My apprehensions were quickly dispersed, however. Working at HNFAS has not only allowed me to carry over my skills into a civilian world setting but also develop new skills that will help me professionally.” We are delighted to have such a capable young man as Trevor as part our HNFAS ‘ohana.

Malama na Pua‘a

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The Animal Welfare Research Priorities for the Spring Call Proposals for 2013 is now available on the www.pork.org National Pork Board’s website. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, May 21, at 5:00 pm CST. For questions about the funding history of the National Pork Board, click here; if you have questions specific to the content of your proposal, please contact the program manager for Animal Welfare, Sherrie Niekamp, at sniekamp@pork.org or (515) 223-2533.

What to Wear While Starting a New Business

4/17/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

It’s not too late to cast your vote! CTAHR students now have the opportunity to demonstrate their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit in two competitions—CTAHR’s Entrepreneurial Competition and CTAHR’s Aloha Shirt Design Competition—and you have the opportunity to help determine the winners! In the CTAHR Entrepreneurial Competition, CTAHR students or teams led by CTAHR students were challenged to share their ideas on a new product or a repurposed existing product made with biological materials from Hawai‘i. Here are the four YouTube video entries—your vote will help the judges determine the winning entries for the following prizes: 1st place: $1000, 2nd place: $500, 3rd place: $250, and viewers’ choice: $100.

In the CTAHR Aloha Shirt Design Competition, APDM majors were challenged to create men’s and women’s Aloha shirt designs incorporating “CTAHR” and/or the CTAHR spirit mark and suitable for professional wear. The designs also had to reflect or connect with Hawai‘i agriculture or natural landscapes. Here are the designs created by the four APDM finalists. Your vote will determine the winning entries in the CTAHR Aloha Shirt Design Competition for the following prizes: 1st place: $500, 2nd place: $300 prize, 3rd place: $100 prize. Voting will close at 4 pm, Thursday, April 18, so get voting!

Leading Ladies of Leadership

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The College was well aware that Sylvia Yuen, former Interim Dean of CTAHR, was outstanding. It seems clear that the YWCA of O‘ahu agrees, as they’ve selected her as one of four to be honored at their 2013 LeaderLuncheon on Wednesday, June 19, along with a local artist, a public health educator and lawyer, and the CEO of Kamehameha Schools. Register now to attend the luncheon, where you can support and applaud her as she continues to demonstrate her commitment to furthering community members’ well-being throughout the state, and be able to say you knew her when!

CTAHR Teaches How to Do It

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Congratulations to CTAHR faculty for winning the top two teaching awards at UH-Manoa. Maria Stewart (HNFAS) won the 2013 Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and Creighton Litton (NREM) won the 2013 Board of Regents’ Excellence in Teaching Award! The college is honored to have two such pedagogical superstars in its midst!

Got Nutrient Info?

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The “Got Nutrients?” website project created and written by Joannie Dobbs and Alan Titchenal (both HNFAS) is heading into its fifth year of sending out “Daily Tips” on nutrition, fitness, and health, with over 1,500 tips archived on the project website. Now there’s a new public service announcement video for the website showing on television. The PSA targets the older generation, but the tips are beneficial to all ages—and you can sign up at the website to get them every day in your email. And with the large and growing number of daily tips linked to both popular articles and research abstracts, keyword searches of the website can provide a large number of links to related content of interest. Check it out—good nutrition benefits everybody!

Let Them Eat Fish

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

As part of their series on “Feeding Ourselves: Hawai‘i’s Food Future,” Hawai‘i Public Radio recently did a segment on aquaponics that highlighted the important work Clyde Tamaru (MBBE) and CTAHR are doing both within the college and in partnership with community organizations such as God’s Country Waimanalo. As Clyde points out, urban gardens are going to be very important components in the state’s future food security, and aquaponics is a great way to make the most of small amounts of space.

Ag at the Legislature

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Dr. Villalobos at 2013 Ag at the Capitol

This year’s Ag Day at the State Capitol, co-sponsored by Senator Nishihara and Representative Wooley, brought Hawai‘i’s food and agriculture industries together in an impressive display of unity. CTAHR was amongst over 40 exhibitors at this year’s event. The college’s UH Honeybee Project (including Ethel Villalobos, PEPS, pictured), Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program, Master Gardeners Program, and Aquaculture Hub were on hand to answer questions from legislators and their staff. They even ran into CTAHR alumnus Tyler Jones, who’s now with the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.

An Ocean of Trash

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Lesley Jantz, a 2012 NREM alumna who now works as a fishery biologist with NMFS-NOAA, did her thesis work on the ingestion of marine debris by longnose lancetfish in the North Pacific Ocean with committee members Greg Bruland and Chris Lepczyck. She was recently interviewed by CNN concerning this study for a news story on Japan tsunami marine debris in Hawai‘i at the 2nd anniversary of the great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. She dissected several stomachs from longnose lancetfish, bigeye tuna, and yellowfin tuna, pulling out pieces of plastic up to a foot square. Almost half of the 24 lancetfish analyzed had ingested plastic, along with two of the tuna. Eating plastic isn’t a problem only for the fish, Lesley explained; chemicals from the plastic may get into the flesh of the lancetfish and into the tuna that eat them, which then poses a risk for humans consuming the tuna. Though he’s not identified by name, work done on ingestion of plastics by NREM student Andrew Titmus, who works in the HPU lab, is also discussed in the interview.

What’s Eating the Trees?

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

William Haines (PEPS) is keeping watch over the koa forests. In January 2013, a helicopter flyover above Hilo and the Hamakua coast on the Big Island showed that 25,000 acres of koa trees had been defoliated, and the area is still increasing in size. Koa is the most important native hardwood for agroforestry, conservation, and restoration, and it’s also the preferred food of caterpillars of the endemic koa looper moth. Koa loopers experience natural population outbreaks, which have been documented since the late 1800s; these outbreaks produce mass defoliations, while native birds have been reported flocking in large numbers to feed on the abundant caterpillars. Past outbreaks indicate that most trees recover from defoliation to resprout leaves within a year, but mortality rates of 35% have been recorded in unhealthy forests. And this is the largest outbreak of koa looper ever seen. No one knows what triggers outbreaks, or how they are brought back under control. William Haines has been monitoring caterpillar populations on the ground, in cooperation with the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and local US Forest Service staff, with the goal of tracking the outbreak and learning more about the biology of the caterpillar and its native and non-native predators and parasitoids, as well as monitoring the impacts on and recovery of koa trees. Check out more of his photos of the looper and the damage it causes.

Cone of Power

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Jon-Paul Bingham’s (MBBE) research on cone snail toxins was recently featured in an ABC news story. Jon-Paul explains that the cone snail’s venom, though potentially fatal to humans, has one positive side effect: its victims don’t feel any pain. Isolating the chemical compound that makes this possible has led to the creation of a pain-relieving drug a thousand times stronger than morphine…that isn’t addictive. Jon-Paul points out that while some drugs are like skeleton keys, which may have both the desired effect and a number of unintended and even deleterious side effects, compounds made from cone snail venom are targeted and specific. This is also what makes them so deadly…something those in Jon-Paul’s lab must never forget.

Be Aware, Be Very Aware

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The Urban Garden Center brought together more than 600 elementary students and their teachers with exhibitors from CTAHR and other ag-related agencies and businesses at the 2013 O‘ahu Agriculture and Environmental Awareness Day hosted by the O‘ahu Cooperative Extension Office and Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Also on hand were news crews from KITV and Hawaii News Now. Students got to see an aquaponics display and experience the heartbeat of a baby pig (pictured here with Halina Zaleski, HNFAS) with ultrasound; other crowd-pleasing exhibits included compost-creating worms, invasive species-sniffing beagles, and an artificial cow with which to demonstrate artificial insemination. The annual event serves a two-fold purpose: To create a greater awareness and understanding of agriculture and the environment among today’s students, teachers, and the general public; and to introduce students to career opportunities in agriculture and environmental studies throughout the state. The Urban Garden Center’s Second Saturday event featured many of the same exhibitors on the following day. Thank you to the UGC staff and volunteers; CTAHR faculty, students, and staff; community members and company representatives; and Golden Key, for volunteering for this event. Funding support was provided by USDA-NIFA through the Agribusiness Education, Training and Incubation (AETI) Program.

Moths to the Rescue

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

CTAHR is featured, and Mark Thorne (HNFAS) quoted, in a recent Maui News article about the fireweed moths that have been released on the Big Island and will soon be released on Maui. The invasive fireweed, which has been crowding out forage for cattle and can even be toxic to them, is the favored food of this moth’s larvae—so much so that researchers have confirmed that the introduced insect won’t eat anything else but this noxious plant. And we say they’re welcome to it!

Cool Kulanui

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Did you know that up to 40 percent of some agricultural crops can’t be sold? The fruits and vegetables might be too small, too green, too ripe, too scabby, or just not shaped appealingly. These are the seconds, or culls. And the processing of value-added foods also often creates edible byproducts that may not get used. This is where Kulanui comes in. After Wayne Iwaoka, Stuart Nakamoto, and Alvin Huang (all HNFAS) got the idea to challenge students to come up with their own value-added products using byproducts and culls, Kulanui was born. Now the company markets foods made by CTAHR and other UH students out of these previously unused products, as well as beauty products made from local beeswax. There’s a new UH News video about Kulanui, which also features CTAHR alumna Jennifer Shido (pictured), Kulanui’s enthusiastic project manager. Kulanui products are available in most campus bookstores and at all Rainbowtique locations.

Help on the Road

4/15/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

LIFE and Risk Management Hawaii have two installments of their very popular farmer education “road show” coming up: On April 19, there’s the Floriculture and Nursery Pest Control Field Day, which will tell all about management strategies for thrips, snow scale, ants, and more, and will also discuss the pest-abatement hot shower treatment for ornamentals. The field day is 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Cal-Hawaii Foliage Growers in Keaau; to RSVP, call Andrew at (808) 981-5199 or email kawabataa@ctahr.hawaii.edu. And on Saturday, April 27, you can find out about fruit flies, banana moths, and Korean Natural Farming at the Orchard Growers Field Day—how to control the first two and how to harness the unique and ecologically conscious principles of the third. This is a great opportunity to learn more about two major pests and a major breakthrough! It’s 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m at CTAHR’s Kona Research Station; call Gina at (808) 322-4892 or email ginab@hawaii.edu to reserve your spot.

Borlaug’s Heirs

4/10/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

CTAHR alumnus Abdul Rashid has been honored with the 2013 IFA Norman Borlaug Award for excellence in crop nutrition research. This award is offered annually to an individual whose work has led to significant progress in crop nutrition and has been communicated successfully to farmers as practical recommendations. It consists of an invitation to receive the award during IFA’s Annual Conference in Chicago, a handsome cash prize, and sponsorship to another conference anywhere in the world. Dr. Rashid, an East-West Center scholar, earned his PhD in soil science from CTAHR, and his fertilizer-use technologies have been adopted in Pakistan for improved soil fertility and the optimization of crop nutrition.

To Infinity and Beyond…

4/10/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Last month military-connected teens from around the island participated in the “To Infinity and Beyond…Your Journey After High School” day camp, held on the grounds of the UHM campus. Army Reserve Child, Youth and School Services along with CTAHR program Operation: Military Kids hosted this full-day event to give military youth the opportunity to learn more about campus life. With the help of the UH Office of Admissions, Manoa Career Center, and Student Housing Services, the day campers got to meet college students, take a campus tour, explore different college degrees, and learn about tools that will help them become successful in the workforce.

One-Stop Shop

4/10/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Almost 150 farmers, agency representatives, and interested members of the public gathered at the hugely successful agricultural outreach workshop in Kahuku this weekend, probably the highest attendance for a workshop by immigrant family farm operators. Farmers from as far as the Big Island and Maui showed up to what one participant called a “one-stop shop” road show event to learn about safe pesticide use, food safety, land opportunities, and more. The ag agencies were also represented, and legislators were present. CTAHR partnered with Jason Shitanishi of USDA FSA to create this illuminating and convivial event, and a good and helpful time was had by all.

Be a Contender

4/10/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

If you didn’t get a chance to attend Dean’s Distinguished Lecturer Dr. Irani’s Extension workshop on “Dealing with Contentious Public Issues and Public Opinion: The Role of 21st Century Extension and How We Get There,” you’ll be glad to know that it’s available online here, just in case you have any contentious public you need to deal with. You’ll be even more glad to know it can be found on the CTAHR employee webpage as well.

They’re Banking on Us!

4/10/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The Hawai‘i Foodbank’s 24th Annual Food Drive has begun, and everyone is invited to participate in continuing a proud CTAHR tradition of helping Hawai‘i’s needy and preventing hunger. The Foodbank’s goal is to provide one million meals, so let’s make sure we’re one of the biggest donating units at UH again, following last year’s outstanding effort and contributions. To find out more about UH-Manoa’s food drive, check here.

Growing All Over

4/10/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The SOFT student group and TPSS GSO are partnering on a Sustainable Agriculture Lecture Series that will explore issues of importance to Island agriculture. Thursday, April 11, at 3:30 p.m. in BusAd A102 they present “Farm to Table,” a look at the connections between the farmer and the consumer, including food service. Leyla Caugos and Kendra Ozaki of Grow Hawaii will discuss the use of local foods in schools; Nat Bletter of Madre Chocolate will discuss the uniqueness of Hawaiian chocolate and the local cacao industry; and Hunter Haskins will describe his work with FarmRoof, which allows produce to be grown on the roofs of buildings, including restaurants. Upcoming lectures will be on distributing locally produced foods, on April 18, and sustainable land stewardship, on April 25.

Help Is on the Road

4/10/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

LIFE and Risk Management Hawaii have three installments of their very popular farmer education “road show” coming up: On Thursday, April 11, growers can get important information on Insect and Mite Pests of Crops from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Waimea Civic Center in Kamuela. Be sure to bring your pesticide card to get 2 credits toward recertification, and call Didi or Perci at (808) 887-6183 or email mddiaz@hawaii.edu to RSVP. Then, on April 19, there’s the Floriculture and Nursery Pest Control Field Day, which will tell all about management strategies for thrips, snow scale, ants, and more, and will also discuss the pest-abatement hot shower treatment for ornamentals. The field day is 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Cal-Hawaii Foliage Growers in Keaau; to RSVP, call Andrew at (808) 981-5199 or email kawabataa@ctahr.hawaii.edu. And on Saturday, April 27, you can find out about fruit flies, banana moths, and Korean Natural Farming at the Orchard Growers Field Day—how to control the first two and how to harness the unique and ecologically conscious principles of the third. This is a great opportunity to learn more about two major pests and a major breakthrough! It’s 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m at CTAHR’s Kona Research Station; call Gina at (808) 322-4892 or email ginab@hawaii.edu to reserve your spot.

Clothed in History

4/2/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

In honor of UHM Costume Museum Week, APDM will be offering a costume exhibition and craft sale in Miller 112, April 1–5 and 7. Admire the Japanese wedding gown all week and the Chinese dragon robe and Western-style tea party frock on April 7, while browsing a fun collection of crafts, clothing, fashion books, and tote bags. Be there or risk a fashion faux pas!

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!

4/2/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

It may be time to start stepping up that exercise regimen…it’s just a little over a month till CTAHR’s 25th Annual Awards Banquet! Not only will we want to make sure we still fit into our evening finery, in honor of the banquet’s Silver Anniversary…we’ll also want to get our appetites revved up for all the tasty treats on offer that night. Here are the vital stats for the evening: date, May 3; time, 5:30 for the no-host cocktails and 6:30 for the start of the program; chances to laugh and applaud and talk story with friends…countless. Need more specifics or want to register? Just visit the website!

A Farm Information Extravaganza

4/2/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Worker looking at pesticide safety poster

CTAHR LIFE is partnering with USDA, the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Health, and the Laotian Farmers Association of Hawaii to offer the Farmer’s Resource Workshop this Saturday, April 6, where a wide array of information will be available to local farmers. Extension agent Jari Sugano will be discussing Integrated Pest Management and sprayer calibration, while Jim Hollyer and the On-Farm Food Safety team will explain the new Federal Food Safety Modernization Act and introduce their brand-new comprehensive pesticide information poster. There will be lots more useful information and great Thai food on offer as well! It’s at You Soukaseum’s Farm Warehouse in Kahuku from 3 to 6 p.m. Coming from Haleiwa, take the farm access road shortly after Kahuku High School; from town the access road comes shortly after the Malaekahana State Recreation Area/Gunstock Ranch. Take the access road 0.8 mi. to the warehouse. For more information, you can contact Jari at 622-4185 or suganoj@ctahr.hawaii.edu or Jason Shitanishi at 483-8600 or jason.shitanishi@hi.usda.gov.

March

Aquaponics Workshop Catches a Big Crowd

3/20/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Over 100 participants took part in the tilapia workshop co-sponsored by CTAHR and the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture held last Saturday at WCC. The workshop was enthusiastically received, as indicated by a 91.0 overall approval rating from the respondents. Because of the large turnout, Clyde Tamaru and his co-presenters were able to obtain stakeholder input on to how to increase and diversify Hawai‘i’s tilapia industry, providing some target areas for future collaborative efforts for all parties concerned. Tilapia burgers, anyone?

Go, Bananas!

3/20/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Need some retail therapy? You’re in luck—the Horticulture Society will be holding not one, but two sales! The banana sale will be held on Thursday, March 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the driveway between Ag Engineering and St. John, and the flowering plant sale will take the stage on Friday, March 22, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in St. John 10-B, on the ground level. All bananas are locally grown, and all flowers are from local nurseries!

Extension Workshop Has a Home

3/20/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

It’s not always easy to make complex scientific concepts understandable for public audiences or present controversial issues without being divisive. Find out how from a master, Dr. Tracy Irani! The first speaker in the Dean’s Distinguished Lectureship Series will be offering a brown-bag extension workshop to CTAHR faculty and staff, “Dealing With Contentious Public Issues and Public Opinion: The Role of 21st-Century Extension and How We Get There,” on April 1, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., in AgSci 219, with a Q&A session to follow. On April 2, 2:00–3:00 p.m. in Kuykendall 101, she’ll give a public lecture, “Bridging the Green Divide: The Role of Public Issues Education in Enhancing Public Understanding of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and the Land Grant System.” A Q&A session wil follow this as well, and refreshments will be served. The lecture will also be offered via UH Halawai (Adobe Connect). Participants with UH usernames can log in here; participants without UH usernames (guests) can visit here.

Cyber Banquet

3/20/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Can’t wait for the Silver Anniversary Awards Banquet on May 3? Get a taste of the coming excitement at the Banquet’s all-new redesigned website! Read the bios of Ka Lei Hano awardee Dennis Teranishi and Outstanding Alumnus Wayne Iwaoka, check out the Banquet program, and even find out more about the history of the event. And keep checking back as the date draws nearer, for even more information.

Help for Native Plants

3/13/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Gaoussou Diarra will defend his PhD thesis, “Optimizing Fertilization and Root Symbioses to Improve Seedling Performance in Abandoned Pastures of Hawaii,” on Thursday, March 21, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. in Sherman Lab 103. Pictured here with his committee chair Travis Idol (NREM), Gaoussou reports on the combination of two separately promoted greenhouse management techniques, exponential fertilization and mycorrhizal inoculation, to improve the vigor and establishment of native species such as mamane and koa, which suffer low survival after outplanting due to competition with pasture grasses, periodic drought, and cold nighttime temperatures. These species need to be outplanted and nurtured because cattle ranching has led to the conversion of much of the Hawaiian forest lands, which included koa and mamane, into pasture. Gaoussou highly recommends these techniques, as they produce larger, more vigorous, and more resilient seedlings.

Pick Tea

3/13/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Growers, you know that new crops and products are a diversification strategy to manage risk. Did you ever consider growing tea? Tea growers and aspiring tea growers are invited to attend a Hands–On Tea Propagation Workshop presented by LIFE and Risk Management Hawaii on the Big Island on Wednesday, March 20, 5:30–7:00 pm, with registration starting at 5:00 p.m. The workshop, hosted by Andrea Kawabata, Ryan Tsutsui, Randy Hamasaki, and Stuart T. Nakamoto, will be held at the UHM-CTAHR Kainaliu CES Office at 79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway. Space is limited to the first 30 to preregister for this event, and cost is $30 cash or check (payable to RCUH 2352) at the door. Here you’ll get a chance to learn about the work CTAHR is doing with tea and find out how to propagate tea using cuttings. Participants will receive a planting tray and about 50 Oasis cubes so they can select and prepare their own cuttings in a classroom setting. They will also be introduced to the in-ground method that is more useful (and economical) for large numbers of cuttings. Please call Gina (on the Big Island) at (808) 322-4892 or email ginab@hawaii.edu to reserve your spot and for last-minute updates. Remember to bring your own shears!

It’s Not Too Late

3/13/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Just a reminder that THIS FRIDAY, March 15, is the deadline for submitting abstracts for the 25th Annual CTAHR Student Research Symposium, which will take place on April 12–13. More information can be found at the Symposium website, which also offers downloadable forms and instructions for preparing and submitting abstracts and oral and poster presentations.

Bridging That Divide

3/13/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

The first speaker for CTAHR’s Dean’s Distinguished Lectureship Series, Dr. Tracy Irani, will be giving a talk to the University community focusing on work conducted by the Center for Public Issues Education at the University of Florida (UF)/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). The talk is entitled “Bridging the Green Divide: The Role of Public Issues Education in Enhancing Public Understanding of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Land Grant System.” It will be given from 2 to 3 p.m. in Kuykendall 101, followed by a Q&A period, and refreshments will be provided. The talk will also be offered via UH Halawai (Adobe Connect) for UH faculty, staff, and students. Also save the date for Dr. Irani’s brown-bag extension workshop on Monday, April 1, “Dealing with Contentious Public Issues and Public Opinion: The Role of 21st-Century Extension and How We Get There.” The workshop will run 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m., with Q&A to follow, 1:30–2:00 p.m. Location to be announced. Dr. Irani is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communication in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UF in Gainesville, Florida. The aim of the Dean’s Distinguished Lectureship Series, a new initiative of Dean Gallo, is to bring outstanding scholars in food and energy systems, urban and natural ecosystems, human, animal and plant health, and family and consumer vitality to the University to share their expertise in a spirit of collaboration and knowledge building.

A Banquet to Remember

3/4/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Full registration information isn’t available yet, but here’s a quick reminder to save the date for the CTAHR Awards Banquet! It’s the silver anniversary of the event, marking a quarter-century of celebrating the best and brightest in the college and among our community partners. This year’s star-studded event will take place on May 3 in the Ala Moana Hotel’s Hibiscus Ballroom, with cocktails starting at 5:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more information, and don’t miss it!

Shakespeare’s Loss Is CTAHR’s Gain

3/4/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Makana Aloha Lariosa Agcaoili, a freshman majoring in Plant and Environmental Biotechnology, was planning to be an English teacher. But then he got involved with Hawai‘i FFA (Future Farmers of America) Association, of which he’s now president. He encountered companies like Monsanto and Pioneer and became fascinated by the work. CTAHR was the logical place to learn more, Makana says, as the college and FFA are similar in their focus on agriculture and leadership. Conservation is also important: “I grew up always surrounded by nature. I wanted to make sure that our beautiful islands stay this gorgeous for future generations, and what better way than to be in a position to help keep plants healthy and strong, farmers prospering, and everyone happy?” he asks. Makana is one of CTAHR’s Dean’s Scholars, recipient of the most prestigious four-year scholarship the college offers. He’s also a member of the UH-Manoa Peer Review Board, an ambassador for Pahoa AVID, and in the Honors program. One of the most fun events he’s helped with was CTAHR’s Texas Hold’em Competition last semester. More challenging and even more rewarding was helping at the General CTSO State Convention, which brings together a number of student leadership organizations, and planning the Hawai’i FFA State Convention. “For this convention, I had to plan activities, speakers, and also write several speeches. I spent a lot of sleepless nights…but it was worth it!” Makana says serving in CTAHR and FFA have taught him about time and stress management and the importance of asking for help. But his greatest insight, and piece of advice? “Don’t be afraid to do something you never thought of before,” he advises others who might think they’re sure of what they want to do when they grow up. “You never know until you try, and isn’t that what college is all about?”

Soup for You!

3/4/2013 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR

Here’s something to warm your belly and the cockles of your heart on these chilly days: The FSHN Council will be having a Soup Fundraiser on Monday, March 11, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in AgiSci 219. They’ll be selling 8 different regional and ethnic soups, breads, and desserts. Proceeds from the Soup Fundraiser will help fund the FSHN Council's Annual Leadership Retreat and provide refreshments at the Council’s monthly meetings. Questions? Just email Katie Jones at joneska@hawaii.edu. The Food Science Human Nutrition (FSHN) Council is a student organization that strives to nurture students’ interest in dietetics, research, community wellness, and nutrition. It provides the opportunity for students to network with other students, faculty, and professionals in food science, nutrition, and other health-related fields. In addition to enhancing fellowship and facilitating communication, members are exposed to career information, scholarship opportunities, and community service activities.