December
Getting Businesses Off the Ground
12/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The
College of Engineering and Outreach College are jointly offering a class that
may be of interest to CTAHRites or clients: Startup 101, a hands-on workshop
that “introduces and simulates the startup experience.” It will be given on
Mondays and Wednesdays, January 26 through May 6, from noon to 1:15 at the UHM
Sakamaki Innovation Zone, D101. Participants will learn all about launching a
startup company, everything from market assessment and financing to legal
knowledge and fundraising, and beyond. The class is free to UHM undergrads, $75
for all others. Call 956-8400 or check here for more information.
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GMOs: How Do You Know?
12/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Is your
“non-GMO”-labeled food really 100-percent free of genetically modified
organisms? How is this categorization determined? Find out some of the
questions surrounding the labeling controversy in the latest Biotech in Focus
newsletter from Ania Wieczorek (TPSS)—as well as how many insect fragments are
acceptable in flour! You can also find back issues of the newsletter at the
Biotech in Focus website.
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Cutting-Edge Design
12/16/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Want to see the
wave of the tech future? You’re invited to attend the final design presentations
for students in BE 420 (Sensors and Instrumentation for Biological Systems), on
Thursday, December 18, from noon to 2:00 p.m. in Ag Engineering 123 (that’s the
room at the back of the machine shop between Gilmore and St. John). Students will
present design projects that can help users to trap mosquitoes, keep cool using
a wearable device, test for breadfruit ripeness, and other useful and exciting
pursuits. Check them out now—and when you see them in the Sharper Image catalogue, you’ll be able to say you saw them first!
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The Season for Science
12/16/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR In this season of giving, there’s an opportunity
for community service for any CTAHR students or faculty who are interested in
helping St. Ann’s School in Kane‘ohe with their Science Fair. The time
commitment is just a few hours on January
6, 2015, spent judging student projects. There will be around 32
students in the 6th through the 8th grades participating, for whom the school
hopes to have at least 10 volunteer judges. The students are often enthusiastic
about what they have done, and those who have been involved in this and similar
science fairs say that they find the experience satisfying and inspiring.
Please contact Halina Zaleski (HNFAS) at halina@hawaii.edu or Tony Ostrowski at
aostrowski808@yahoo.com for more information. They need to know by December 20, so put on your Santa hats and lab coats!
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Going Ballistic in Maui
12/16/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Maui County Administrator Cindy Reeves got
up close and personal with James Leary’s (NREM) Herbicide Ballistic Technology: she
rode shotgun on a helicopter ride to survey for and target the invasive miconia
overrunning Maui’s watershed areas. It was a wonderful experience, she says. She is pictured between Teya Penniman of the Maui
Invasive Species Council and James, who’s all suited up for the flight.
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Far Beyond Lederhosen
12/16/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andy
Reilly (FCS) will be teaching a study-abroad class this summer in Berlin. The
class, “Fashion in 20th Century Germany,” examines the political influences and
uses of clothing and fashion in this culture- and history-rich city. For
example, clothing was entertainment in the Weimar Era and social control in the
Nazi era, and when Germany was split it was propaganda for both sides. Now,
fashion in Berlin is big business. Andy’s also hoping to have his students work
on a book on Berlin street style, a companion piece to his recently published Honolulu Street Style. The students
would help with scouting residents to photograph and interview and with
photography, interviewing, and writing. He’s got a publisher but needs to help
defray costs, so he’s put together a campaign on Kickstarter to bring in
donations for this fashion-forward educational project. Good luck, Andy…or is
that “viel Glück”?
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The Water Disasterscape
12/16/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Chennat Gopalakrishnan (NREM, emeritus) edited the
January 2015 issue of the Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research, now out, on the topic
“Designing Water Disaster Management Policies: Theory and Empirics.” Gopal
explains that ossified governance structures, polycentric decision-making
entities, entropy-ridden institutions, cascading conflict scenarios,
deep-seated and wide-ranging internal feuds and precariously perched, top-heavy
decision agencies significantly add to the complexity of policy domains in the
water disasterscape. Such an intractable combination of essentially
incompatible forces and features renders the design and implementation of
effective and efficient disaster risk management policies an extraordinarily
challenging proposition. Against this bleak backdrop, well-intentioned policies
stumble into a collision course, making the emergence of workable policies
exceedingly difficult. This special issue helps to identify, examine, analyze
and assess the complex world of disaster management and to design robust,
effective, implementation-friendly, widely accessible and affordable policies.
It should be of considerable appeal to a large audience, in view of the
increasing intensity and frequency of water disasters in recent years globally.
Free access to some of the papers is available here.
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Cultural and Ecological Restoration
12/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Kawika Winter, the
director of Limahuli Garden and Preserve and the coordinator of Ha‘ena Makai
Watch, will be offering the latest installment of NREM’s ‘Imi ‘Ike Research
Seminar Series, taking place on Wednesday, December 10, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
in Sherman 103. Dr. Winter will be discussing “Conservation Past and Present:
Applying ‘Traditional Ecological Knowledge’ Philosophies to Contemporary
Conservation Practices on Kaua‘i.” An unintended consequence of applying
imported conservation philosophies, the presentation explains, is the
alienation of both Native and local Hawaiian communities from conservation
efforts in the resource management areas that they depend upon and are engaged
with. In order to reverse this trend, Dr. Winter suggests building conservation
programs founded in Hawaiian conservation philosophies so that communities can
embrace conservation efforts as part of overall efforts at cultural
restoration.
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Sweet and Bright
12/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR What says Christmas
like poinsettias and yummy baked goods? Well, now these two iconic avatars of
holiday delight have been combined into one sale, the Horticulture Club’s
Poinsettia and Bake Sale, happening on Wednesday, December 10, in St. John 10.
The sale will start at 10 a.m. and continue as long as there are any blooms or
cookies left to sell. Get yourself some cheer for eye and stomach!
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Kalo Call-Out
12/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR’s hybrid taro
varieties are favorably mentioned in a recent article and introduction to all
things taro in Kaua‘i’s Garden Island
newspaper—they’re “large, moist” and “ideal for making poi.” But whether you
choose a high-producing CTAHR hybrid, as many commercial poi producers do, or
whether you’d prefer to go with one of the traditional varieties that are also
grown in the college’s test plots, why not try some taro? Reading this article
is a good way to begin if you’re not sure how to enter the world of taro
consumption; then, start eating! You’ll be culturally, gastronomically, and
professionally glad you did.
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International Extension for Successful Collaboration
12/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Kheng Cheah is
back from China after spending half of November at
the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) in Hainan and the
Flower Research Institute of the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in
Kunming. The trip is part of ongoing cooperative research collaborations in
tissue culture, a continuation of her international Extension work in
opening new markets for Hawai‘i growers and establishing an international
tissue culture network. She gave presentations on woody
plant tissue culture and provided problem-solving, strategic planning, and
troubleshooting consultations on tissue culture protocol development to some
20 researchers engaged in individual projects with
tropical crops in both research centers. A trip highlight was the successful production of 30,000
tissue-cultured oil palm plants by researchers at the Rubber Research Institute,
CATAS. Over the last two years Kheng has provided training on technical and
project management aspects of oil palm tissue culture, contributing to their
success. Another highlight is the continuing development of FRI’s commercial
tissue-culture facility, currently producing 1 million plants per year and
planning to reach 30 million. This visit also served to overcome licensing obstacles
related to shipping, import/export procedures, and payments for three Hawai‘i
growers, and FRI is interested in licensing new plants from Hawai‘i breeders and
growers.
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Raining Weed-Doom From on High
12/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR For
those who are fascinated by James Leary’s (NREM) Herbicide Ballistic Technology
but aren’t exactly sure how it works or what its effects are, the recent
article in Dow AgroSciences’ newsletter Vistas
is a great—and deservedly laudatory—explanation of the genesis, deployment, and
successes of HBT. This technology, the article explains, allows
invasive-species managers to find and destroy Miconia and other weed species in
remote inaccessible areas where they are compromising the integrity of the
watershed and crowding out native species. The project has been going on for
less than three years, and as the article reports, “The results have been
phenomenal. Control levels for treated plants are near 100 percent. And…the
spread of Miconia is slowing down.” But James’s rate of success hasn’t slowed
down at all!
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Flee, Fruit Fly!
12/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Russell
Messing (PEPS) and Associate Dean Ken Grace have applied to the Hawai‘i
Department of Agriculture for a permit to release a biocontrol wasp into the
environment. The tiny wasp, Fopius
ceratitivorus, attacks the Mediterranean fruit fly, which causes millions
of dollars’ worth of crop damage in Hawai‘i. It lays its eggs in the young of
the medfly, and the larvae eat the young fly. Russell (pictured up a tree,
photo courtesy of Dan Rubinoff) first imported the wasp into quarantine and
spent several years testing its safety and efficacy, and his lab’s environmental
assessment found there would be no significant impact if the wasp were released
in the Islands. Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Messing
worked with colleagues from Florida and Texas conducting studies in Kenyan
coffee fields, where F. certitivorus
was found. Various strategies have been used to help control the medfly in
Hawai‘i, including pesticide-treated bait sprays, field sanitation, and the release
of sterile females to reduce reproduction, and Ken Grace argues that the wasp
is an additional tool that could be used. In Guatemalan coffee plantations,
field releases of the wasp resulted in a 50- to 60-percent reduction of the
medfly. The initial release of several hundred to 1,000 of the wasps would be
done at the Kaua‘i Agricultural Research Center, in the winter.
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Fact Finding on Pesticide Effects
12/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Mehana
Vaughn (NREM) will serve as one of three group selection advisers for a joint fact finding (JFF) group
convened by planner
and mediator Peter Adler, who will be facilitating a $100,000 process to examine possible health and environmental impacts
associated with the use of pesticides applied to genetically modified
agricultural products. The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Kaua‘i County are
partners in the project, providing funding and consultation support. The JFF method is an analytic deliberation
process designed to gather facts pertinent to a specific problem in a
disciplined manner, through courteous but rigorous evidence-based debate. Central
to the process is a carefully designed working group, which Mehana will help to assemble,
made up of experts who often have diverse political and policy opinions but who
are willing to engage in robust and healthy factual discussions. In this case, nine or more individuals who have pertinent
backgrounds, experience, or understanding of agriculture, environmental health,
epidemiology, toxicology, biostatistics, medicine, or other related disciplines
will be chosen to serve. The process should start in January 2015, if not sooner, and
be completed within 12 months.
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Fashion Forward
12/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andy Reilly (FCS) has just published Key Concepts for the Fashion Industry,
the latest addition to the Understanding
Fashion series, which is aimed at providing students with introductory material
about the discipline. Andy’s breezy and readable textbook, the first of
its kind, covers theories, concepts, and hypotheses related to trends and
changes in fashions. The book is divided into four sections: the
individual’s influence on fashion change, society’s influence on fashion change,
culture’s influence on fashion change, and the industry’s influence on fashion
change, illustrated by enlivening discussions of famous fashion blunders, how
the Yakuza influenced style trends, and the shifting understanding of what
parts of the body are erogenous zones. Check it out—you’ll never look at a man
wearing socks with sandals the same way again!
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The College and Aquaponics
12/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Maria Gallo has
been appointed the new chair of the Center for Tropical and Subtropical
Aquaculture (CTSA) Board of Directors, an appointment that will work toward
enhancing the college’s working relationship with CTSA. Dean Gallo, pictured with CTSA’s Executive Director Cheng-Sheng Lee, will
succeed Dr. JoAnn Leong, who will continue to advise the Center. CTSA is one of
five regional aquaculture centers in the United States established and funded
by USDA NIFA that integrate individual and institutional expertise and
resources in support of commercial aquaculture development. CTSA was
established in 1986 and is jointly administered by the Oceanic Institute and the
University of Hawai‘i.
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Give the Gift of Recognition
12/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Santa’s already started making his list, so you should, too.
Who among your colleagues deserves recognition as an exemplary APT, civil service,
or Extension or research faculty member or demonstrates administrative
leadership potential? Nominations for CTAHR excellence and service awards
officially open in January, but it’s never too early to start thinking of who’s
been especially nice to the college and the community.
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Well Dressed for the Holidays
12/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Remember last year’s CTAHR Aloha Shirt Design Contest?
Fashion students vied in creating a fabric design incorporating the CTAHR
petroglyph spirit mark and a shirt style proudly fashioned from that material.
Well, the vision has finally become a reality: the winning concept—created by Chloe Rivera—chosen, the pattern
designed, the material milled, and the shirts made and shipped and waiting for
you in Gilmore 119! The fabric, an easy-care poly-cotton blend, melds images of
waterfalls and rainbows recalling Manoa, overlaid with the spirit mark. Both women’s
and men’s cuts, modeled here by Janis Morita and Carl Evensen, are available, though in limited quantities.
Pick up some spirit today!
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Cook Local, It Tastes Great!
12/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Hawai‘i’s first-ever statewide high school
recipe and cooking contest is being conducted as part of the Hawai‘i Department
of Agriculture’s “Buy Local, It Matters” campaign. CTAHR was an early
collaborator in creating the campaign to promote the use of local foods. The
contest drew an enthusiastic response of over 65 entries, but they’ve been
narrowed down to five finalists who will cook
their winning recipes, using locally grown or produced ingredients, for a panel
of three judges on Friday, December 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the certified
kitchen in AgSci 224. Dean Gallo will present a trophy to the winning student
chef, and the winning recipe will also be featured at Sheraton Waikiki’s
Kai Marketplace restaurant.
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November
Good Energy at the Energy House
11/25/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Hosts COF, FCS, and the
Energy House are delighted to announce that 82 people showed up for breakfast last
week to learn about the many useful and interesting projects that are
headquartered there. First they went on an outdoor tour with the aid of handy
maps showing the geographic distribution of staple food crops, many of which
are being grown in the surrounding gardens, and then went inside to marvel at
the eco-friendly construction of the cozy Little-House-That-Could. Then, having
worked up an appetite, they tucked in to the delightfully Parisian-inspired
fare while parlez-vous-ing with
fellow attendees. And a bon temps was
had by all!
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The Way to Give Thanks
11/25/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR’s annual Thanksgiving educational program and gathering at Waimanalo
Research Station was hosted, as per tradition, by the inimitable Roger
Corrales, station manager, ably assisted by his family and the rest of the
Station faculty and staff. The 60-plus participants enjoyed and were edified by
presentations by Steven Chiang on the GoFarm program and by community
coordinator Ilima Ho-Lastimosa on her recently expanded partnership with the
college, topped off by a tour of the Station’s taro plots and a demonstration
of traditional and modern methods of making poi (electric juicers, anyone?).
But the centerpiece (literally) of the celebration was the enormous roasted pig
hunted right at the Station, flanked by other local and Filipino delicacies and
the many desserts contributed by attendees. And the spirit of thanks was
definitely alive within everyone!
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Going Nuts for Fruits
11/25/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR TPSS will be interviewing three candidates for Assistant
Researcher in Sustainable Farming Systems with an Emphasis on Fruit & Nut
Production. Everyone is invited to attend the candidates’ iterations of the teaching
seminar “Introduction to Sustainable Management Practices in Tropical Fruit
& Nut Crops” on the following days: Dr. Eric Brennan on Wednesday, December 3; Ms. Alyssa Cho on Monday, December 8; and Dr. Wenjing Guan on Thursday, December 11. Each of these seminars will
be given at 10:30 a.m. at St. John 106. Everyone is also invited to attend the
candidates’ three versions of the research/Extension seminar “Developing a
Research and Outreach Program in Sustainable Farming Systems for Tropical
Fruits & Nuts” on the following days: Dr. Eric Brennan on Thursday, December 4; Ms. Alyssa Cho on Tuesday, December 9; and Dr. Wenjing Guan on Friday, December 12. Each of these seminars will
be given at 10:30 a.m. at USDA-ARS PBARC conference room in Hilo. Candidates’ CVs and information on remote access to these talks can be found on the CTAHR employee website.
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The ‘Rainbow’ Connection
11/18/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The focus of this
week’s Biotech in Focus is on the
origin and growth of Hawai‘i’s GMO papaya industry. The newsletter by Ania
Wieczorek (TPSS) argues that the Puna papaya industry probably would not exist
today without the work of CTAHR researchers, who in collaboration with Cornell,
USDA, and Upjohn Corporation created the ‘Rainbow’ papaya, which is resistant
to Papaya Ringspot Virus. The team
even won the prestigious Humboldt Prize in 2002 for their work! Read all about
it and check out back issues at the Biotech in Focus web page.
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Dietetics of Champions
11/18/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to
the newly graduated second class of dietetics interns! CTAHR’s Dietetic
Internship is accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics ACEND of the national
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and requires a
stunning 1,200 hours of experience, after which graduates are qualified
to take the Registered Dietitian’s Exam. The
internship provides dietetics graduates with an opportunity to increase their
knowledge of food and nutrition science, and to acquire competencies needed to
practice dietetics in a variety of settings including clinical, food service,
and community. The program offers a Community Concentration and focuses on
Hawai’i’s unique community. Through its activities, the internship will promote
education of students in the multicultural environment, service in a variety of
community settings and participation in various professional organizations. Pictured from left to right are the
2014 Dietetic Intern class and former UH graduates: Andie Kida, Elizabeth
Jimenez, Sara Carlson, Kali Ryan Morimoto, Savanna Sussman, Yun Chi Cheng, and
Christina Mariano.
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A Kona Odyssey
11/18/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Twenty-one CTAHR students and staff recently traveled to
Kona on the Big Island for the Eleventh Annual Meaningful Experience trip. They
first headed to the Mealani Research Station, where Marla Fergerstrom and other
staff members led the students on a tour of the facility’s tea, blueberries,
and cattle operations. After lunch at the locavorous Village Burger, the group
headed to the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm, where they learned the ideal
conditions in Kailua-Kona for raising these delicate creatures. The highlight
of the tour was when the seahorses curled around the participants’ fingers! The
day continued with teambuilding activities, led by MBBE alumna Malina Ivey. The
next morning, the group woke up early to head up to Kohala for a cultural tour
of this historic area, riding ATVs to places where King Kamehameha traveled.
The route included a secluded beach area, Parker Ranch, and a macadamia
orchard. Then everyone hiked down to a scenic black sand beach at the mouth of
Pololu Valley, where they relaxed a little before moving on to the final
activity of their trip: the Hawaii Wildlife Center. There, they learned about
the center’s efforts at helping injured birds recuperate and return to the
wild. It was an education- and fun-filled weekend! Thank yous go to Marla
Fergerstrom and the staff of Mealani Research Station for hosting the visit and
to ASUH and ASAO for supporting the students’ trip. Lastly, much mahalo goes to
the students who participated and made this experience meaningful for the
entire group.
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Big Plans in the Pacific
11/18/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Jim Hollyer—author,
ADAP leader, food safety expert, and CHL staffer—has entered a new and
illustrious phase in his career: he’s the new Associate Director for Extension and Associate
Dean of the University of Guam.
“Jim is one of the best examples of how one leads by instilling trust and
partnership among the extension family,” says Dean Yudin of the University of
Guam, who recruited Jim from his work in Japan. Find out more about this
globe-trotting Renaissance man here!
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Ear Ye, Ear Ye!
11/18/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Calling all corn-lovers for the event you await all year, the Great Corn Sale! Fresh, sweet, juicy, luscious CTAHR-grown corn...what could be better? This year the sale will take place on Tuesday, November 25, from 9:00 a.m. until sell-out, in the driveway between Ag Engineering and St. John. And the cost is only $2 for 5 ears! Just make sure you’re stocked up on plenty of butter and those handy little prongs to poke into the ears!
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The Best Read for Weeds
11/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Weed all about it! The Weed Science Society of America has selected
an article co-authored by NREM faculty James Leary, Linda Cox, and John
Yanagida as its Outstanding Paper of the Year in Invasive Plant Science and
Management. “Reducing Nascent Miconia (Miconia
calvescens DC) Patches With an Accelerated Intervention Strategy Utilizing
Herbicide Ballistic Technology (HBT)” was selected from all the papers
submitted from the end of 2013 to the third issue of 2014 for this honor. The proud
authors will be recognized at the 2015 Annual Meeting of the WSSA in Lexington, KY, in February.
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Happy Pies to You!
11/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Thanksgiving is almost here, and once again the FSHN Council
is having their annual Thanksgiving Bake Sale! The sale raises funds for FSHN
Council activities such the annual fall leadership retreat, guest speakers,
club activities, and subsidization to send students to the Hawai‘i Dietetics
Association's annual meeting in the spring. Get your pre-sale orders in now for
homemade apple crumble pie ($13) and pumpkin pie ($10)—the pre-order period ends
Friday, November 14. To place a pre-order for any of the pies, click on this
link and fill out the form. After you have placed your pre-order, please visit
Agricultural Science 216 to submit your payment. There you will find a
collection box with envelopes. Please submit payment by Friday, November 21,
4:00 p.m. The pie pick-up date is Monday, November 24, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
in the Agricultural Science building lobby.
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Farmer Suicides in India
11/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The new issue of Biotech in Focus tackles a difficult
subject: “What Are the Roots of Farmer Suicide in India?” India is the second
most populous country on earth, and it represented 21% of the world’s suicides
in 2010. This issue questions whether they were related to the use of
genetically engineered cotton. Previous editions of Biotech in Focus are
available at the website.
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Encouraging Exchange
11/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andrew Hashimoto (MBBE) visited Kyoto University’s Graduate
School of Agriculture this October to encourage GSA students to participate in
the CTAHR-GSA exchange program. GSA international committee chair Naoshi Kondo
as well as student affairs and research administration officers arranged an
information session for those interested in the program. More than ten GSA
students, including some from Bangladesh, China, Italy, and Kenya, attended the
session to learn about the exchange opportunities made available by the
agreement. Read more at the Kyoto University website.
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Bugs for Kids at Leeward
11/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR PEPS students and faculty displayed two exhibitions, “Bug
City” and “Worms and Germs,” at Leeward Community College’s Annual Discovery
Fair on November 1. Hundreds of children visited CTAHR booths with their
families to learn about insects, nematodes, and fungi while exploring many
other fun activities taking place at this event. Check out more pictures from
the LCC Discovery Fair!
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Park Designs for ‘Ohana
11/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andy Kaufman (TPSS) and his Residential Design Studio class
recently presented Master Plan Designs for a possible new park to be situated
next to the New Aiea Library at the old sugar mill site in Aiea. The class
presented four different master plan designs at the Aiea Community Association
meeting for a new “‘ohana-type” park called "Ka Ola O ‘Aiea,” which
translates to “The Life of Aiea.” The designs were so well received that the
class was asked to present at the Monthly Aiea Public Board this past Monday,
at which state senators and City Council members were in attendance. After the
presentations, it was requested that the designs be posted for public viewing
and comments in the library. Once comments have been received, the Community
Association wants to have the designs presented at the next legislative session
for funding the new park. Great vision!
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Food Behavior Guidelines on Limited Means
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Jinan Banna (HNFAS) and Opal Vanessa Buchthal (Public Health
Studies) were awarded a grant from the National Institutes of Health to fund
the project “Development of a Food Behavior Checklist for Limited-Resource
Filipinos.” As Filipino Americans are the most rapidly growing population
of immigrants in the U.S. and suffer disproportionately from a number of
chronic health conditions, culturally tailored nutrition education efforts are
necessary, as well as use of evaluation tools appropriate for this audience. The proposed research seeks to adapt and assess the face validity of a food
behavior checklist in Tagalog using a multi-step method involving translation
of an English-language tool, evaluation of content by a panel of experts, and
cognitive testing with the target population. Following this study, additional
assessment of validity and reliability will be performed to yield a rigorously
tested tool that may be used to evaluate the USDA’s nutrition education
programs and culturally tailored health interventions.
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Food Security Up Close
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR You’ll have an opportunity to meet Thomas Lumpkin, CTAHR’s
2014 Outstanding Alumnus, before his public talk on “Global Food Security by
2050: Challenges and Opportunities” on Monday, November 10, 1:30–2:30 p.m. for
faculty only, and 2:30–3:30 p.m. for faculty, staff, and students, in Gilmore
212. Dr. Lumpkin’s public talk will be in the Architecture auditorium at 4:00
p.m. Since 2008, Lumpkin has been director general of the International Maize
and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), an organization dedicated to sustainably
increasing agricultural productivity to ensure global food security and reduce
poverty. CIMMYT gained public attention when its chief scientist, Norman
Borlaug, received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for launching the green revolution
with a robust dwarf wheat hybrid that helped Mexico become self-sufficient in
grain production and dramatically increased yields in India and Pakistan. If
you’d like to meet Dr. Lumpkin, please RSVP to nrem@ctahr.hawaii.edu.
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Bring a Little Tree Into Your Life
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Ever feel the need for more greens? How about a new tree? The Urban Garden Center celebrates the trees with their 21st
Arbor Day Tree Give Away on Saturday, November 8, starting at 7:00 a.m. and
continuing until all the trees have happy homes. UCG volunteers have propagated
over 2,700 appropriate trees and shrubs for this year’s Arbor Day distribution.
Trees available include native species such as a‘ali‘i and koki‘o ‘ula ‘ula and
other trees such as Meyer lemon, fig, and Tahitian lime. O‘ahu Master Gardeners
and certified arborists will be on hand to assist the public with the tree
giveaway as well as a mini plant sale.
This year’s partners include Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), the
Kaulunani Program, the Urban Garden Center, the Wahiawa Botanical Gardens, and
the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. The trees are first come first served, and in past years, the trees were gone within a few
hours after the 7 am opening. Come down and get a tree!
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Remember When Everything was Covered in Mud?
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since the
Great Manoa Flood, and it is amazing how the UH community (and campus) has
recovered. Check out Doug Vincent's images from the damage caused by the flood of 2004 and read about the cleanup effort. It’s a
great reminder of how the CTAHR ‘ohana can come together in times of unexpected
adversity.
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Celebrating Aquaponics
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The fall issue of UH Magazine features aquaponics expert
Clyde Tamaru (MBBE) and new Waimanalo community coordinator Ilima Ho-Lastimosa
and their work with sustainable agriculture. The article talks about several
successful aquaponics ventures including Mari’s Garden, Ho‘oulu Pacific, and
the Waiawa Correctional Facility farm. UH
Magazine is a bi-annual publication that is distributed to more than 145,000
readers, all of whom also got a chance to see the full-page ad CTAHR placed in this issue, featuring six exceptional stories celebrating our students and alumni.
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Exploring the Poamoho Fields
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR More than 50 people attended the Poamoho Research Station's
field day on October 25. The field day was coordinated by CTAHR’s Sustainable
and Organic Agriculture Program (SOAP) and Center for Rural Agricultural
Training and Entrepreneurship (CRATE), and the USDA NRCS. NRCS Acting Director
of the Pacific Islands Area Craig Derickson presented CTAHR's Cooperative
Extension with a certificate of appreciation for working with farmers and
ranchers to implement cover crops and soil health practices. Participants got
to see the great work being done at the station and learned about soil health
and pest management. Check out the pictures here!
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United Against the Ants
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Volunteers from the GoFarm Hawai‘i program surveyed areas in
Waimanalo for little fire ants on November 1, which was designated as Stop Little Fire Ant Day. In
addition to looking for the invasive pest, volunteers also tested areas to make
sure current infestations don’t spread. Experts believe the invasive species
found its way to O‘ahu from the Big Island, but they don’t want it to find its
way around this island! Infestations in both Waimanalo and Mililani-Mauka have already
been discovered. Watch KHON’s video about LFA and the brave GoFarm Hawai‘i
volunteers.
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Guiding Hawai‘i’s Agribusiness
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Former CES Assistant Director
Yukio “Yuki” Kitagawa has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the
Agribusiness Development Corporation. The mission of the ADC is to acquire and
manage, in partnership with farmers, ranchers, and aquaculture groups, selected
high-value lands, water systems, and infrastructure for commercial agricultural
use, as well as to direct research into areas that will lead to the development
of new crops and markets and lower production costs. Yuki currently serves on
the Hawaii Agriculture Resource Center Board of Directors and the City &
County of Honolulu Agriculture Development Task Force.
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Digesting for Science!
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR On October 25, Punahou School
hosted the 13th annual Astronaut Lacy Veach Day of Discovery, promoting STEM to
4th- through 12th-grade students and their parents. 600 participants from 70
schools statewide attended the event. Maria Stewart (HNFAS) and two CTAHR undergrad
students, Christine Badua (pictured with two students) and Jennifer Lum (both FSHN) presented two hands-on
workshops for the participants in which they explored how the digestive system
breaks down nutrients. This marks the
second year that HNFAS participated in this event. Great job, current CTAHR and
future scientists!
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Keeping Our Kiwikiu
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Meet the woman who cares for the kiwikiu (Maui parrotbill)!
Hanna Mounce, interim project coordinator for the Maui Forest Bird Recovery
Project, will present “Recovery of the Kiwikiu” on Wednesday, November 12, at 3:30
p.m. in Sherman 103 as part of the NREM ‘Imi ‘Ike Series. The presentation will
describe her hands-on experiences working with Hawaiian honeycreepers and
report on key research findings about factors limiting the kiwikiu population. This
is also your last chance to purchase plush kiwikiu toys! Your $15 purchase goes
towards habitat management for the kiwikiu as well as to NREM GSO. To purchase
a kiwikiu stuffed animal, contact Katie Wilson at kawils65@hawaii.edu or Jody
Smith at smithjos@hawaii.edu.
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Bringing the Community Together
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The
Waimanalo Research Station welcomes Ilima Ho-Lastimosa as the new community
coordinator for the Waimanalo Learning Center. Ilima is a lifelong resident of
Waimanalo and a Master Gardener, and she has extensive hands-on experience in
community development. She is already busy strengthening our existing
relationships and developing new ones. In addition to her duties as the
community coordinator, Ilima is currently a master’s candidate in the UH School
of Social Work with a focus on behavioral and mental health, as well as the
executive director and director of operations for God’s Country Waimanalo, the
Waimanalo Ahupua‘a coalition that works to perpetuate traditional Hawaiian
culture. Welcome, Ilima! CTAHR and the Station are lucky to have you!
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Keeping Diets Healthy
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Alumna
Shelley Wong (FSHN) is keeping her eye on what people eat. She works as a clinical
dietitian at the UCSF Medical Center, where she previously did an internship as
a dietetics graduate. Her internship included rotations in adult and pediatric
units within the medical center as well as outpatient, community, and
management/food service rotations. In September she passed her Registered
Dietitian Exam to become Shelley Wong, RD. She’s enthusiastic about the change: “I’m
responsible for my own learning and must make decisions using my best judgment.
It’s a big change from being an intern but an exciting and necessary step
forward in my journey to becoming a proficient RD!”
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Rooted to Tradition
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR High temperatures didn’t keep a crowd of taro
growers and enthusiasts from participating in the recent 2014 Moloka‘i Taro
Variety Field Day, where they were able to evaluate the taste of 9 different
varieties of taro and the poi made from them, as well as kulolo made from 7
varieties. The favored variety for taro and kulolo was Haokea; the best poi was
made from Piialii. Participants also were able to take home more kalo to eat,
huli to grow their own, and even some young ulu trees to plant. Extension agent
Alton Arakaki, the organizer of the event, stressed that everyone should think
about increasing their intake of the indigenous carbohydrate food sources that
were highlighted during the Field Day. “Many of the varieties I select for my
taste testing are relatively unknown to consumers today,” Alton explains,
because when poi-making moved to factories, manufacturers wanted only certain
varieties. However, he adds, “By reintroducing traditional varieties that
have lost their presence today, we might find value in producing them in
gardens and farms for their commercial, health and cultural values.”
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Lots of Love for Larvae
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Samir
Khanal (MBBE) is leading the joint effort between CTAHR’s Bioenergy and Environment
Research group and the bioconversion company ProtaCulture, an alum of the Ag
Incubator, to convert food waste into biodiesel products and animal/fish feed
through harvesting black soldier fly larvae. The partnership was selected for a
grant from Energy Excelerator, a non-profit group focused on helping startups
solve the world’s energy challenges. “The major challenge of producing
renewable energy, especially biofuel and animal feed, is the availability of
local bioresources,” says Samir. “However, Hawai‘i produces a significant
amount of food wastes, which primarily go to the landfill. This innovative
project not only aims to provide biodiesel locally at different islands using
various organic wastes, but also to produce feed for local poultry and
aquaculture industries.” Sounds like a win-win! Find out more here.
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How We Feel About Renewable Energy
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Center on the Family recently published a research brief
entitled “Public Attitudes About Renewable Energy in Hawai‘i” that is
now available for download. The report, using data gathered in the course of a project by Andrew
Hashimoto (MBBE) to research high-yield feedstock and biomass technology,
highlights findings from a representative survey of 1,214 Hawai‘i residents
conducted for the purpose of assessing public attitudes about different
technologies for generating electricity. Renewable energy (RE) technologies
were very highly favored: 97% of the public supported increased development of
at least some forms of RE in our state. Solar and wind power were the most
widely accepted forms of RE (garnering 92% and 86% favorable opinions, respectively),
followed by hydroelectric (76%) and geothermal power (75%). Municipal waste
(58%) and biomass combustion (53%) were less widely endorsed but were still
acceptable to the majority of residents. Only a small segment of the public endorsed
conventional sources of energy generation—nuclear (22%), oil (13%), and coal
(12%). There were modest differences in attitudes as a function of age, gender,
and education, but no differences across counties. Support for RE was motivated
by concerns for environmental protection, sustainability, and energy
independence and by frustration with local energy prices. Let’s hope that the powers-that-be in the state are listening!
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Cleaning/Composting Combo
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Sometimes green can get even greener! On September 27, a group of students from NREM/PEPS 210
Introduction to Environmental Science participated in a clean-up event that
removed invasive algae from Kane‘ohe Bay. More than one ton of algae was
gathered and taken to the Waimanalo Research Station for use in compost. These
algae are high in minerals that are difficult to find in the environment and can be used to make some sweet, bioactive soil amendment. In fact, CTAHR
has been employing these algae for more than 3 years—and helping to make the bay a happier place for native sea creatures and plants at the same time. The student
group enjoyed their day at this service learning activity. Great job!
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Global Food Access and GMOs
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The new issues of Biotech in Focus look at global access to
food and GMO use worldwide. Issue 18, Hunger in a World of Food, discusses the
imbalance of food access around the world and the issues that create and
perpetuate food insecurity. Issue 19, GMOs Go Global, addresses how GM crops
have altered the agricultural landscape around the world. And as always, check
out the many informative back issues at the Biotech in Focus website.
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Nobel Laureate's Contributions to Natural Resource Management
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Chennat Gopalakrishnan (NREM, Emeritus) has edited a symposium on
economist Elinor Ostrom, 2009 Nobel Laureate in Economics, in the
Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research. The symposium highlights Ostrom’s
pioneering contributions to multiple aspects of natural resource management and
policy, with special reference to common-pool resources such as fisheries and
forests. It features seven original papers by leading natural resource
economists and policy analysts, offering their thoughts and insights on
Ostrom's contributions, in which they examine how her work has impacted the
discourse on natural resource management, planning, governance, and
institutional design. The papers should
be of special interest to CTAHR researchers who are engaged
in research pertaining to natural resource and environmental management. Free access to some of the
papers is available at the journal website.
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Representing Hawai‘i in China
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Retired CTAHR food science professor Wai-Kit Nip is representing the
Chinese community in Hawai‘i at the 2014 Commissioners’ Conference of the
Overseas Community Affairs Council, a major annual event bringing together
overseas Chinese leaders from around the world. Wai-Kit is in his third year as a commissioner, having been appointed by President Ma Yin-jeou of the Republic of
China (Taiwan). At the conference, more than 200 commissioners and overseas
representatives from around the world will meet in Taipei, Taiwan to contribute
suggestions on overseas community affairs policy. This year, for the first time, the commissioners
will visit ministries focusing on national issues of particular interest to discuss their opinions and ideas. Region-based discussions will also be held during the conference, allowing for focus on local issues
pertinent to overseas Chinese in different areas. In addition to his
international community work, Wai-Kit was honored last year as an Outstanding
Alumnus by the National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan. Congratulations,
Wai-Kit, on your international honor!
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4-H Blasts Off for Science!
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR If you thought you saw small spacecraft flying through the air around the
Extension offices on Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, Kona, and Hilo on Friday, October 10, you weren’t imagining things; you were witness to young aerospace engineers building and testing their
rockets. The 4-H participants were given the task of building a rocket
that they could launch and that would hit a target many miles away so they could deliver food to a
remote area in case of a disaster.
Sixty-five budding scientists and humanitarians from Hawai‘i joined the million other 4-H kids from
across the nation in participating in the 4-H National Youth Science Day. This was also the first statewide Polycom
conference: each office set
up their Polycom system so 4-H’ers could gather around the TV for an overview of this national project that gathered youth from all states. They were
given instructions on building the launcher and how to make their rockets, and then each group of three 4-H participants was given a kit
to build a launcher and the materials to build a rocket. The fun part was testing their skills at flying
their rocket so it would hit their designated target. And the next time a hurricane leaves part of the state stranded, perhaps the students will be sending them rockets with aid!
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Mealani Magic!
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Mealani’s Taste of the Hawaiian Range successfully held
its 19th annual celebration of local agriculture at the Hilton Waikoloa Village
on September 26, with more than 2000 participants. This event is more than just about grinding on
delicious dishes made by approximately 30 local chefs – it’s about educating the
public, chefs, and students about the sustainability, health, and environmental
benefits of eating locally raised meats, fruits, and vegetables. The event is also the largest zero-waste event on
Hawai‘i Island, with all generated waste separated into recycling/reuse
streams. Extension Agent Glenn Fukumoto
presented a “Primer on Local Beef” to Hawai‘i Community College culinary
students about the challenges facing ranchers trying to sustainably raise
cattle on Big Island pastures. Then,
later during the main food-grazing event, pre-veterinary program students
Jessica Wood, Tyler Smith, and Melissa Dumas (left to right) conducted
a consumer survey to determine whether attendees had developed an increased
awareness of Island-raised animal products and other locally produced
vegetables and fruits. The survey
indicated that 91% of respondents agreed that this event raised their awareness
of locally produced animals and that 80% do buy locally produced meats, even if they cost more. Sixty-four percent indicated
that they eat beef several times a week. For more information about pasture-raised
beef, sustainability, and recipes, go to the Taste It Blog!
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CTAHR Blooming Strong on Maui
11/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The recent Maui County Fair showcased a
strong CTAHR presence, from Master Gardeners, who checked in exhibits for
the competitions and sold plants and honey, to the speakers providing talks
throughout the fair on topics including plant health care, fruit fly
management, container gardening, little red fire ants, the coconut rhinoceros
beetle, and the creative uses of flowers. And less than a week after the excitement of the Fair, on Friday, October 10, Maui
Extension conducted a Centennial Celebration, complete with the ceremonial planting of two hibiscus
plants: the ‘Minnie Lee II’, the designated Centennial flower, and the ‘Charlotte Nakamura’ hibiscus honoring the
retired Extension agent after whom it was named. ‘Charlotte’ (the hibiscus) was
bred by Mrs. Edith Izumi, member of the Maui University Homemakers Organization,
as a gift to Charlotte (the person) for her many years of service to the
community. The Centennial Planting event was attended by Dean Gallo; numerous Extension
supporters; Master Gardeners; 4-H’ers; current and retired Maui CTAHR faculty and staff;
neighbor island guests; and representatives from the Maui
Farm Bureau, Maui Association of Family and Community Education, Maui Office of
Economic Opportunity, and Maui Aquaponics. Check out the Maui
Centennial celebration and the two new lovely hibiscus plants!
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Avian Influenza Analysis
11/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Chinh C. Tran (NREM) will be
defending his PhD dissertation “Geospatial and Computational Economic Analyses
for the Occurrence Prediction, Economic Impacts and Prevention of Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza Subtype H5N1: Case Studies in the Red River Delta of
Vietnam” on Wednesday, November 5, at 9:30 a.m. in Sherman 111. Highly
Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) subtype H5N1 poses severe threats to both
animals and humans. This dissertation looks at how to improve disease detection
and prevention and evaluate the potential economic consequences to smallholder
producers in the Red River Delta of Vietnam through a series of three essays:
spatial and temporal occurrences of HPAI H5N1, economic impacts, and vaccination
policies.
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Watershed, Climate Change, and Invasive Species
11/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Ayron M. Strauch (NREM) will be
speaking on the “Consequences of Climate Change and Invasive Species on
Tropical Island Watershed Hydrology: Hawai‘i Island as a Model System” on
Wednesday, November 5, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Sherman 103 as part of the
NREM ‘Imi ‘Ike Series. Polycom will be available as well. Ayron is also a
hydrologist with the Commission on Water Resource Management for the Department
of Land and Natural Resources.
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October
The Mealybug-Virus Connection
10/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Kishore Dey (PEPS) defends his PhD dissertation, “Further
Characterization and Detection of Pineapple Mealybug Wilt Associated With
Viruses (PMWaVs),” on Friday, October 31, at 10:00 a.m. in Gilmore 301. The members
of Kishore’s committee are John Hu, Steve Ferreira, Ming Li Wang, Brent Sipes,
and Richard Manshardt.
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To Satellites and Beyond!
10/14/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Join Tomoaki Miura (NREM) for his seminar “Developing a New
Satellite Program—What We Do for It” on Wednesday, October 15, at 3:30 p.m. in
Sherman 103. The current weather forecasting systems in the U.S. routinely utilize
remotely sensed data obtained from satellite sensors operated by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), while one significant tool
used in the U.S. Global Change Research program is a set of global satellite
sensors developed by NASA. Since 2011, Tomoaki has served on a joint NOAA-NASA science team for the development of the next generation satellite
program of the U.S. Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS). In this seminar, he
will present an overview of the JPSS program and discuss his roles within it.
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Woo-hoo! Food Day!
10/14/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Food is fabulous, so join the UH Dietetic Interns in
celebrating the fourth annual Food Day on Thursday, October 23, from 11:00 am to
1:30 p.m. at the Manoa Campus Center Ballroom.
Food Day is a nationwide event to build awareness of healthy,
affordable, and sustainable foods. Learn
from guest speakers about natural farming, sustainability, and recycling tips;
visit booths and participate in activities; win a free prize by playing fun
games; and enjoy healthy food samples! For more information and to RSVP, visit
the Food Day at UH Manoa web page. Hooray for food!
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Get Educated About Educating
10/14/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Staff, faculty,
post-docs, and grad students who are interested in current instructional
approaches are invited to the latest installments in this fall’s Instructional
Innovations Workshop Series. In the second workshop of the series, Kavita
Rao, of the College of Education, will speak on “Universal Instructional Design”
on Wednesday, October 15, 3:30–4:30 p.m. in Ag Sci 219. Dr. Rao will be
discussing educational approaches that address more learning styles than
conventional lecturing does, a timely and important subject. Also added to workshop
schedule is a presentation by Jinan Banna (HNFAS) on Wednesday, October 22, also 3:30–4:30 p.m. in Ag
Sci 219. Jinan’s topic is qualitative data analysis, which is
particularly useful for individuals who wish to use eCAFE or other survey data
for research purposes.
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Help the One Who’s Helped You
10/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The
deadline to nominate outstanding CTAHR instructional faculty for a 2015 UH
Excellence in Teaching Award is less than a week away—next Monday, October 13! Please
take a moment (5 minutes, max) to nominate an exceptional CTAHR teacher.
Teaching awards will be made in the following categories: Board of Regents’
Medal for Excellence in Teaching, Frances Davis Award for Excellence in
Undergraduate Teaching, and Chancellor’s Citation for Meritorious Teaching—pictured
is Loriena Yancura (FCS), last year’s winner for the Chancellor’s Citation. Any
full-time faculty member with instructional responsibilities and a record of
outstanding teaching at UH during the last three years is eligible (previous
recipients of Board of Regents awards are not eligible for the same award). And
the faculty member selected by the college to be considered for the UH award
will be eligible to receive CTAHR’s Excellence in Teaching Award, which will be
presented at CTAHR’s upcoming Annual Awards Banquet, May 8, 2015. Help
recognize CTAHR’s best!
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Skin Tumors and Tomato Pathogens
10/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Not one but two MBBE
PhD candidates will defend their dissertations on Tuesday, October 14! First, Lauren
Fonseca, whose committee chair is Joe Ramos, will present “The Role of RasGRP1
in Ras-Induced Human Epidermal Neoplasia” at 11:00 a.m. at the UH Cancer Center’s
Sullivan Conference Center. Then Jared Yasuhara-Bell, whose committee chair is Anne
Alvarez, will present “Establishment and Validation Loop-Mediated Amplification
(LAMP) for Specific Detection of Tomato Bacterial Pathogen Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis” at 1:30 p.m. in AgSci 210 (pictured: C. michiganensis itself). A feast of
dissertation defenses!
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Just How Much Are That Pancit and Kalbi Worth?
10/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Aurora
Saulo (TPSS), Howard Moskowitz, and Nadejda Livshits of iNovum will present the
seminar “Will It Sell in Peoria?” on Friday, October 10, at 3:00 p.m. in St.
John 106. With the demographic composition of the U.S. constantly shifting, the
notion of a traditional “white majority” is changing as well. Increasing
minority populations mean that people are being exposed to many new foods and
food customs and practices, some of which have now become part of Americans’
everyday diet. This seminar explores the behavioral economics of these “mainstream
ethnic foods” from the point of view of the customer. What is their dollar
value? The presentation introduces Mind Genomics and its application in terms
of understanding the dollar value of the food experience. Hawai‘i knows a
little something when it comes to embracing food from other cultures, so come for
a serving of science after your lunch!
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A Great Gathering of Master Gardeners
10/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Calling
all green thumbs, toes, elbows, etc.! Kaua‘i may be the Garden Isle, but Maui is where the UH Master Gardener Statewide
Conference will be taking place, October 24–26. The theme, in conjunction with
the centennial of Cooperative Extension, is “Celebrating 100 Years ~ Extending
Knowledge and Changing Lives.” The three-day conference includes a choice of
three amazing Maui tours; a conference banquet complete with awards ceremony;
and advanced training in a variety of topics, including honeybees, aquaponics,
grafting, fruit tree management, ethnobotany, and school gardens. And as
always, the conference is a great opportunity to meet with fellow Master
Gardeners from around the state and catch up on the great work they do. Check
out the conference website for details, or download the conference brochure,
and register for your place at the Master Gardener Statewide Conference today.
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Stuffed Birds Help Real Birds, Take Two
10/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The kiwikiu, or Maui parrotbill, is one of Maui’s critically
endangered honeycreepers and needs your help! This fall semester, the NREM Graduate
Student Organization is selling kiwikiu plush toys for only $15 on behalf of
the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. The Recovery Project teamed up with Wild
Republic to design the plush kiwikiu to sing the bird's actual song—how cool is
that! Proceeds will go towards habitat management for the kiwikiu and other
endangered Maui birds and also towards NREM GSO. If you are interested in
purchasing a kiwikiu stuffed animal, please contact Katie Wilson
kawils65@hawaii.edu or Jody Smith smithjos@hawaii.edu. Add an adorable kiwikiu
(toy) to your collection to help keep a kiwikiu (real bird!) in the forest!
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CTAHR Is an Upholder of Core Responsiblities
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Interim Chancellor Robert Bley-Vroman’s first talk to the
Manoa campus on September 2 twice touched on CTAHR while defining the university’s six core
responsibilities. Bley-Vroman cited sustainable tropical agriculture as one of the niche
areas Manoa should focus on in embracing a research university’s
responsibility for advancing knowledge. He also added that Manoa’s responsibility of service to
the community is one of engaged scholarship, giving as an example of this, “You don’t just do
tropical agriculture research, you have to be out there helping farmers.” The
other core responsibilities are providing a high-quality undergraduate liberal
arts education, offering a wide range of undergraduate specializations and
majors, offering specialized graduate education in areas that are in strong
demand or build on our unique strengths, and serving the world as a beacon of
what a university should be. He pledged to take questions at a second campus
talk next month.
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Back With a Bash!
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The CTAHR ‘ohana welcomed in the new fall semester with the
26th annual Welcome Back Ice Cream Bash, complete
with costumes, ice-cream eating competitions, cold water bucket challenges, and of course, ice
cream and popsicles generously provided by Meadow Gold Dairies of Hawai‘i. Competing
in this year’s contests were (l to r) Jordie Ocenar (PEPS), Benny Ron (HNFAS),
Kellie Kong (Admin), Sheldon Arakawa (MBBE), Ashley Perreira (FCS), and Jonathan
Marshall (NREM). Congratulations to Kellie Kong as Demeter, Greek goddess of
the harvest, for winning the costume contest and to HNFAS’s Benny Ron for
scavenging for M&Ms in his ice cream with lightning speed and downing the
contents of his ice cream bowl in record time! This year’s beneficiary for
monetary donations was the FSHN Council, which will use the funds to support numerous conferences,
service projects, and leadership development opportunities. The Council agreed to douse a member in
icy water for every $35 raised, and with more than $250 collected, there was lots of dousing! Thank-yous go to all who attended the bash, the contestants,
and especially those who donated. Big mahalos go out to
Meadow Gold Dairies for its continuous support of CTAHR; Ryan
Kurasaki, Joannie Dobbs, and the HNFAS and NREM departments for the use of
their facilities; Ray Uchida of the O‘ahu Extension Office and Lito Cacho and
Richard Fisher of Pearl City Urban Garden Center for tent coverage; and the tireless ice
cream scoopers. Lastly, a thank you is due to co-emcees Jason McMurray and Vanessa
Pulido and the rest of the planning committee, scholarship recipients, ASAO,
and all who made the Bash a smashing success!
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CTAHR, Represent!
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Associate Dean Ken Grace, Tessie Amore (TPSS), the Magoon
Research Station’s anthurium plants and shadehouse, and the Waimanalo taro plots all represent CTAHR in the latest
UH Manoa commercial. Over the next two years, the institutional spot will air
nationally when the Rainbow Warriors play football on major television networks
like CBS Sports, ESPN, etc. The university recently took advantage of a great
opportunity to advertise on the Duke’s Ocean Fest surfing competition, and the commercial will reach an estimated 8.2 million households
over the course of the year on the surfing channel. UH Manoa is also advertising in local movie
theaters, so be sure to look for CTAHR people and places during the previews throughout
the upcoming holiday blockbuster period. And of course, we'll see them both on the
jumbotrons at Aloha Stadium and the Stan Sheriff Center Arena. Take advantage of this good excuse to kick back and watch some sports and movies...after all, you’re supporting the college!
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Hotel Hydroponics
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Kaua‘i CTAHR Extension staff has teamed up with Kaua‘i Community College and the
Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa on a plan to include freshly grown produce
from the resort’s own hydroponic gardens in their guest menu. The hydroponic garden project, which was featured in
an article in The Garden Isle, will be constructed right on the grounds of the resort.
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Yes! We Have Uploaded Bananas!
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR If you missed the 2014 Banana Mini-Conference, you can still
check out the great presentations online at the Banana Research Update page.
The presentations include common pests in banana production, an overview of
the newly registered pesticide Movento and other products in the pipeline for future registration,
BBTV resistance screenings on existing and newly introduced banana cultivars in
Hawai‘i, current status and future perspectives on development of a BBTV-resistant
banana, and an Integrated Pest
Management program for banana: from BBTV and nematodes to Black Sigatoka. Soak up that
banana research!
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These Swords Can’t Fight Drought
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Nothing is more iconic of Haleakala than the silversword.
But while this lovely plant has survived hungry goats and over-eager tourists,
climate change might be its most formidable challenge yet. A study by Paul
Krushelnycky (PEPS) that looked at 30 years of data shows a steady decline in
silverswords from the early 1990s. Paul linked the decline to climate data; as
summers got drier, the silversword population thinned. Paul is currently
looking for genetic variations among plants to see which can best tolerate
drought conditions, as well as at the effects of elevation on silversword survival.
Read more about Paul’s work with silverswords at The Maui News or the Maui
Invasive Species Committee website.
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It’s All Happening at the Zoo
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Laura Schulman, coordinator of the Buy Local—It Matters
program, and Alvin Huang (both HNFAS) took their educational display to the
Honolulu Zoo on September 6. It was part of the Hawaii Food and Wine Festival’s
Keiki in the Kitchen: Food, Fitness and Fun day. In addition to yummy local
foods, Laura invited people to compare local and mainland eggs in a freshness
test, proving once again that local products rule! Animal Sciences student Cody
Morden, who is a zoo volunteer, showed off a huge local egg—an ostrich egg!—and
the replica of a giraffe vertabra.
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Hort Around the World
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR TPSS graduate students Peter Toves (pictured) and Jeana
Cadby presented their research at the International Horticultural Congress held
in Brisbane, Australia during the summer. Peter, whose major professor is
Teresita Amore, presented a digital poster on “Spathe pH for Color Engineering
of Anthurium.” Jeana, whose major professor is Bob Paull, presented a paper
entitled “The Effect of Invasive Seaweed (Eucheuma spp.) Soil Amendment
on Leafy Vegetable Growth and Quality.” This was a wonderful opportunity for
students to network with professionals and share cutting-edge research in
horticulture. It was a truly global event, featuring over 2,400 papers by
researchers representing over 100 countries. It highlighted the importance of
horticulture in supplying fruits, vegetables, flowers, and greenery for
improved human health and happiness!
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A Growing Tradition
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The SOFT club is keeping up its fertile tradition of collaboration
with Noelani Elementary School—this year’s first planting is now taking root at
Magoon. SOFT students Michi Atkinson Sweeny and Mitchell Loo (TPSS) are heading
this semester’s keiki learning garden project with an exciting plan for
companion gardening—growing plants that like to be together. It’s lucky that
the first-graders like to be together, too—Michi and Mitchell point out that
because this year there are four classes, instead of three, “we discovered that
the 1st graders work quite well in close quarters...literally! Thanks everyone
for their time, energy, and support, including all the Noelani teachers and UH
student volunteers and faculty who assisted with the 1st grade garden program
this past Wednesday morning.”
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Sorry, Albizia, You Have to Go
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Lyon Arboretum is removing 12 albizia trees that tower
over the main trail and throughout the garden of the popular UH Manoa facility. Albizias are a fast-growing invasive species that
are very large and have extremely heavy, long limbs. “This particular species
is very prone to suddenly having branches break and fall,” said Carl Evensen,
the Lyon Arboretum interim director. “In the process, they will destroy and crush
everything beneath the trees, and we need to remove that hazard.” This is, of course, the tree that caused so much trouble in Puna in the wake of the recent hurricane. Lyon is lucky to have Carl on hand to keep its plants and people safe! Check out the
video of the trees at the Arboretum.
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‘Ukulele in the Peace Garden
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Oh, the peaceful sound of the ‘ukulele. Musical educators and ‘ukulele ambassadors Roy and Kathy
Sakuma were honored as the 2014 Distinguished Peacemakers of the Year at Peace
Day Hawai‘i at the Urban Garden Center on September 21. This year’s theme was
“Creating Cultures of Peace through Art” in support of educational awareness of
how engaging in artistic activities and cultivating artistic expression
nurtures the spirit of peace from within. Roy Sakuma and Kathy Sakuma have
dedicated their lives to peace education by teaching and perpetuating the Aloha
spirit through the art form of the ‘ukulele. As musical educators, they have
both taught countless children, adults, and seniors important lessons about discipline, artistry, and a
respect for both their own lives and those of others. For over 44 years, they have
brought people of all ages from around the world to celebrate laughter, love,
and hope at the annual ‘Ukulele Festival in Kapi‘olani Park. Play it!
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CTAHR Science Ready to XLR8
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The group comprised of Daniel Jenkins (MBBE) and Diagenetix Inc. is one of the
first seven cohorts of XLR8UH, a major commitment to transform the university’s
world-class research and talent into viable products and businesses. Diagenetix
Inc., founded by MBBE alumnus Ryo Kubota and other UH alumni, develops hand-held instruments for agricultural producers to enable detection of
everything from plant disease to the sex of a papaya. “XLR8UH” is the name of the
university’s first Proof of Concept Center. The focus is on investing in
innovative ideas and providing a launch pad for commercialization. “I think to
have a business environment and have the university facilitate, having the
mentorship and the business community back up these ventures, is really
important in order to really develop these commercial products,” said Daniel.
UH faculty, students, and alumni can apply with their research to be part of the
XLR8UH program. Check out the video about the project!
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Student Leaders for Health
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to the five CTAHR students who participated
in the Health Occupation Students of America National Leadership Conference!
All five students either won medals or placed in the top 10 in their competitive
events. Kathren Bulaquena (FSHN) placed 3rd in Nutrition, Samantha
De Leon (FSHN) placed 6th in Medical Reading, Carramae Madayag
(ANSC) placed 3rd in Veterinary Science, Chelsie Smyth (FAMR) won
gold in Public Health, and Harold Smyth (ANSC, pictured) won gold in Health Issues Exam
and placed 8th in CPR/First Aid.
The conference was held in June at Disney World in Orlando and was
attended by nearly 8,000 people from around the nation. Great job, everyone!
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Extension Development and Networking
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Extension educators Joan Chong (FCS) and Julia Zee (HNFAS) recently
attended the National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
2014 Annual Session in Lexington, Kentucky, and “met” US Senators Hoke
Smith (D-GA) and Asbury Lever (D-SC), eponyms of the well-known Smith-Lever funds, who introduced the legislation that
established the Cooperative Extension System in 1914. Joan and Julia had the opportunity
to network with over 600 Extension professionals from across the U.S. and attend
professional development sessions on a myriad of topics. Joan also received the
NEAFCS Continued Excellence Award, which recognizes members for active
involvement in professional improvement programs, promotion of professional
development, and leadership. Congratulations, Joan!
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And Now, a CTAHR Centennial Scholar
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to Maili Sabo (FSHN), the first recipient of
CTAHR’s Centennial Scholarship. The scholarship, which reached endowment status just last year, assists incoming freshmen and transfer students who are
first-generation college students pursue a bachelor’s degree in one of the college’s nine
undergraduate majors. Maili, a freshmen from Orange County, California, is
majoring in FSHN with a focus on sports and wellness. An athlete throughout
her life, participating on the swim team and water polo team and serving as a
pool lifeguard, Maili knew that she wanted to do something related to fitness,
coaching, sports, and nutrition. The Sports and Wellness track in FSHN is a
perfect fit for her. Maili’s mother moved from Hawai‘i to California many years
ago, but her lasting fondness for the Islands resulted in Maili’s having a name
with a local flavor. Throughout her childhood, Maili visited Hawai‘i often and
has grown to love the Islands. She moved here in August to attend college and
is having the experience of her life. Congratulations to Maili on this
scholarship!
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New Caretakers of the Forest
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR’s Forestry Extension program congratulates its third
class of Forest Stewards (pictured here, the inaugural class)! Despite delays due to Hurricane Iselle and cancellations due to impending lava
flows, eleven participants successfully completed a 30-hour intensive training
program held September 18th through the 21st at Kilauea Military Camp, in Hawai‘i Volcanoes
National Park. Morning and evening sessions were taught by J.B. Friday (NREM,
forestry), Clay Trauernicht (NREM, wildfire science), Faith Inman-Narahari
(NREM, koa forestry), and other local experts. Participants, all of whom own or
manage forest lands, learned about topics including Hawaiian culture and
natural history, wildlife habitat, invasive species, forest management and
protection, koa forestry, agroforestry, taxes, estate planning, and financial
matters. Afternoon field trips to local managed private forests provided
valuable experiences to balance the class sessions. The new graduates are
committed to giving back to their local communities through activities such as
hosting field days on their own property and other efforts to help landowners
manage their forests.
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They’ve Got It Covered With Cover Crops
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR PI Koon-Hui Wang (PEPS) and collaborators
Archana Pant, Ted Radovich, Nguyen Hue, Jari Sugano, Jensen Uyeda (all TPSS)
and Nick Andrew (Oregon State University) were recently awarded
$474,043 through USDA’s Conservation Innovation Grants to promote the use of a Cover Crop Calculator for the Tropics as a Nitrogen
Management Tool and the use of Cover Crops for Soil Health Management
Guidelines. Leguminous cover crops can contribute significant amounts of nitrogen
to crop production, but farmers need a better tool to accurately estimate the
nitrogen contribution so as to precisely reduce fertilizer rates.
A simple calculator to address this issue was developed, and this project will
expand on and modify this technology for tropical climates and soil types in
the Pacific Islands. The overall goal of this project is to increase the
incentive for farmers in Hawai‘i and the Pacific Islands to adopt cover cropping
into their farming systems. Recipients of USDA’s Conservation Innovation
Grants demonstrate innovative approaches to improve soil health, air and water
quality, conserve energy, and enhance wildlife habitat in balance with
productive agricultural systems.
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Get Ready to GoFarm!
10/3/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR New farmer education begins again at Leeward CC as the
GoFarm Hawai‘i program launches a new cohort with the free AgCurious seminar on
Tuesday, October 7, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the GT building 105. GoFarm alumni
will be on hand to discuss what’s great about the program, and inspired
participants can apply for AgXposure, a hands-on learning experience on
educational and research farms. AgXposure students also take comprehensive
classes about all aspects of the business and science of sustainable farming. If
you or someone you know is looking for a career or supplemental income in
sustainable farming, wants to play an active role in the sustainable, local
food movement on O‘ahu, and wants a get-your-hands-dirty opportunity to give it
a try, satisfy that AgCuriosity at Leeward! Please confirm your attendance at
the AgCurious seminar by emailing Lynne Constantinides at linne@hawaii.edu or calling 455-0401.
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September
Promote, Promote, Promote
9/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Got great research and want to share it with the world? The
UH Foundation presents the workshop “Communicating Your Research to Funders and
the Media” on Wednesday, October 1, at 12:00 noon in POST 723. This discussion is
appropriate for both new faculty and longtime research staff interested in
expanding their funding horizons and better communicating their work. It will be led by a representative from the
Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and UH Foundation’s Corporate and
Foundation Relations office. The workshop covers how to approach corporate and foundation
funders and, having approached them, how to present your work to them; the types of research and creative scholarship that make the news; and how
to get help preparing and pitching a story about your work to the media. Seats
are limited, so RSVP today!
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Model Islands and Island-Dwellers
9/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Peter Vitousek of Stanford University will speak on
“Islands as Models for Understanding Ecosystems and Human-Environment
Interactions” on Wednesday, October 1, at 3:30 p.m. in St. John 11. This presentation
is part of the ‘Imi ‘Ike NREM Research Seminar Series. As Dr. Vitousek explains, islands have long been
used as models for understanding evolution and speciation—and they can
contribute as much to understanding human-environment interactions. The islands
of Polynesia—particularly Hawai‘i—are especially useful, as a well-defined
people and culture discovered and colonized an extraordinary diverse array of
islands and found ways of living that were shaped in part by
the characteristics of their islands, even as they also shaped the lands they
discovered. There will also be a discussion on the
rain-fed field systems of Hawai‘i Nui and Maui as examples of how societies
shaped land and land shaped societies in the pre-Contact Pacific.
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Put the Info in the Graphic, and Mix It All Up
9/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Add some graphics to your info at the next Distance
Education Workshop on Infographics, on Thursday, October 23, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. in Gilmore 212. Learn how to
combine text, images, and data with Piktochart and ThingLink, and find out all about digital
images and copyright issues. You’ll need a laptop, an idea for an infographic,
the data to support it, and a nice lunch. There will be online access for neighbor island attendees, with details closer to the event. In the meantime, if you’re ready to combine words with text, please RSVP by October 16.
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Speaking of Plant Doctors
9/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Program this date into your smartphone: Scot Nelson (PEPS) will speak on his app The Plant Doctor onFriday, October 3, at 1:30 p.m. in St. John 302. The Plant Doctor provides
interactive diagnosis for plant diseases in gardens, landscapes, nurseries, and
farms. It’s been used around the world from Guam to Scandinavia, Russia to
South Africa, and, of course, here in Hawai‘i. It’s free and available for both
iOS and Android smartphone users, so check it out!
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No Better Taste than the Hawaiian Range
9/23/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Mealani’s A Taste of the Hawaiian Range will be celebrating
its 19th year with approximately 30 chefs featuring creative dishes of
pasture-raised meat and locally produced fruits and vegetables. It’s all happening Friday, September
26, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Hilton Waikoloa on the Island of Hawai‘i. Exhibitors will
show off their artisanal products ranging from coffee to tea to honey, and
there will be a Cooking Pasture-Raised Beef 101 demonstration by Chef Peter
Abarcar Jr. of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel at 3:00 p.m. This is Hawai‘i
Island’s premier food-grazing event, which seeks to educate students, chefs, and
the public on the importance of supporting local agriculture. Check out the website for tickets and more
information.
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How to Prevent Wildfires and Manage an Ahupua‘a
9/16/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Two times the information—this week there will be two speakers in the ‘Imi
‘Ike: Natural Resources and Environmental Management Departmental Seminar
Series. Come to Sherman 103 on Wednesday, September 17, from 3:30 to 4:30, and
you’ll get hear all about two exciting projects from NREM faculty: Kirsten
Oleson will discuss ridge-to-reef ecosystem service modeling, and then Clay
Trauernicht will tell about wildfire increase and prevention. It promises to be
an exciting pair of seminars, so come on by.
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FSHN Council Retreat a Smashing Success!
9/16/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Twenty-eight students recently attended the FSHN Council Leadership
and Diversity Retreat at Camp Kokokahi in Kaneohe. Twenty-four were prospective
or current FSHN students, while 4 students represented Kinesiology, Business,
and Pre-Nursing. Students bonded and learned interpersonal and leadership
skills through the guidance of extraordinary mentors and also had the
opportunity to personally reflect upon themselves. Activities were led by Dr.
Lori Ideta, Assistant Vice Chancellor of Students and Dean of Students at UHM,
and Mr. Rouel Velasco, Student Life Coordinator at UHWO. Activities included
the Blind Trust Walk, True Colors, and the “Where I'm From” narrative. Students
also had the opportunity to cook one of the delicious meals planned by C.N. Lee
or Soojin Jun (both HNFAS) or the FSHN Council Board members. Kim chee fried rice,
pancit, and an elaborate pasta bar were on the weekend’s menu. Incredible
mentors facilitated purposeful life skills experiences such as building
relationships, teamwork, ho‘oponopono,
and preparing nutritional meals. Special thanks are due to the USDA-NIFA-funded
Agribusiness Education, Training and Incubation Project, CTAHR Academic and
Student Affairs Office, and Student Activity and Program Fee Board for partial
funding for this event! Big mahalos also go to Lori Ideta, Rouel Velasco, C.N.
Lee, Soojin Jun, and FSHN Council Board members for making this event a
success!
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Feed Your Curiosity
9/16/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR If you’re interested in becoming a production farmer in
Hawai‘i, you should attend one of the two upcoming AgCurious seminars! You’ll
get to find out what it’s really like to be in ag in Hawai‘i and hear all about
the experiences of farmers and former and present GoFarm Hawaii students.
Applications for the next cohort of students for the GoFarm Hawai‘i beginning
farmer training program will be handed out at this seminar (it’s free,
but you need to register). The AgCurious seminar for the GoFarm Hawai‘i at Windward
Community College program is on September 17, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the
WCC’s Hale Akoakoa building, room 105. RSVP by emailing your name to windward@gofarmhawaii.org or calling 236-9265.
The AgCurious seminar for the GoFarm Hawai‘i at Leeward
Community College program is on October 7, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. (note the later
start time) at LCC (96-045 Ala Ike St., Aiea) in the GT bldg (lower level),
Room 105.
RSVP by emailing your name to leeward@gofarmhawaii.org or calling 455-0401.
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Still Celebrating the Centennial!
9/9/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The National Institute of Food and Agriculture has extended an invitation
to join Director Sonny Ramaswamy at an event celebrating 100 years of
Cooperative Extension in the United States. Dr. Ramaswamy will present his
vision for Extension in the 21st century on September 10 from 8:00
to 9:00 a.m. (HST) at USDA’s Whitten Building. The event will be available in
streaming format. As the nation moves toward a new global economy,
Cooperative Extension’s role will continue to evolve to meet the challenges
facing society. Hear this enlightening presentation by Dr. Ramaswamy and learn
more about the importance role that Cooperative Extension plays and will continue to play in communities
across the nation.
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From CTAHR to Environmental Law
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR PEPS alumnus Matthew Alan Sylva has continued going strong
since he won the CTAHR Award for Merit for Undergraduates for Oral
Presentations at the CTAHR/COE Symposium in April, and first place for Natural
Sciences Presentations at the Honors/UROP Symposium in May based on his work
with wiliwili trees. Matthew spent his summer working with Native Hawaiian
plants at the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethno-Botanical Garden in Kealakekua before
embarking on the next phase of his educational journey: the William S.
Richardson School of Law, where he will work toward a certificate in
environmental law. “I would say that my mentor and thesis adviser Dr. Leyla
Kaufman has been crucial to helping me to get where I am today,” Matthew says. “I
wouldn't have been able to conduct such a fascinating thesis out in the field,
on a neighbor island, with such autonomy (especially as an undergrad) under
anyone else within CTAHR. Both she and Dr. Mark Wright are inspirations to me.
They're so smart and accomplished, but never make you feel too intimidated, and
they are unbelievably helpful and nice.” Praise is due to all three!
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Speaking of Organic Seeds in New York
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Farm coach Jay Bost and banana expert Gabe Sachter-Smith (both
TPSS graduate students) presented at the Student Organic Seed Symposium this August
in Ithaca, New York. There they shared experiences in applying their work
towards moving agriculture in the direction of increased sustainability and
regionalism. Jay was also one of the event organizers. The theme for this
year’s symposium was “Regional Adaptation for Sustainable Food and Seed Systems,”
and the event assembled a diverse interdisciplinary group of speakers and
graduate students, with a focus on plant breeding and related disciplines.
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When Two Plants Love Each Other…
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The new issue of Biotech
in Focus examines the question, “Is there potential for movement of genes
between genetically modified plants and others?” The bulletin explores how
plants reproduce, and what kind of hybrids can result from the combination of
GM and wild plants. Check out the new issue and all the archived issues of
Biotech in Focus on the website!
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Quality Information on Water Quality Safety for Farms
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Jari Sugano (PEPS) and Jensen Uyeda (TPSS) have released
their preliminary findings on food safety and water quality in the publication “Evaluations
of Various Pathogen Remediation Strategies for Soil and Soilless Farming
Systems in Anticipation of the New Food Safety Guidelines.” The objective of
the study was to evaluate various pathogen reduction steps for soil and
soilless farmers to consider when E. coli
action thresholds are surpassed in non-contact irrigation water. The study is
ongoing to help farmers maintain their best individualized on-farm operating
procedures.
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Big Reaction for the Bioreactor
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Eunsung Kan (MBBE, pictured) mentored and supervised the first
prize-winning graduate student team of Rommel Yanos, Bertram Booker, and Stuart
Watson at the August 16 Ma Ka Hana Ka ‘Ike 3rd annual ‘IKE Scholars Symposium.
The topic of their presentation was “Carbon Dioxide Sequestration in a Novel Bioreactor.”
The judges, comprised of UH faculty, UH administration, professional engineers,
industry representatives, and UH graduate students, chose the MBBE presentation
from among the 11 entries in the symposium. The symposium featured student
presentations of projects supported through ‘IKE both in the Summer Engineering
Experiences (SEEs) and Undergraduate Research Experiences (URE). ‘IKE students
hail from six UH campuses. Congratulations, Eunsung, Rommel, Bertram and
Stuart!
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Hort Hot Shot
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Robert Paull (TPSS) was elected a Fellow of the American
Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS) for his outstanding contributions to
horticulture and the Society. ASHS promotes and encourages national and
international interest in scientific research and education in horticulture in
all its branches, and the ASHS Fellows Award is the highest honor bestowed on a
member. Bob received the award at the annual meeting held in Orlando, Florida.
As if that were not sufficient, Bob was also named a Fellow of the
International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) for his outstanding
contributions to horticultural science worldwide! ISHS is the world’s leading
independent organization of horticultural scientists. We clearly have a
horticultural star in our midst!
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Digestible Science
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Nothing brings people together like sharing food. Or, in this case, sharing about how the digestive system breaks down food. On July 31, Maria Stewart
(HNFAS) organized an activity for the 'Iolani/Ritsumeikan Super Science Fair
Exchange to learn about the science of nutrition. Sixteen high school students from
Iolani High School in Honolulu and Ritsumeikan High School in Kyoto, Japan,
participated in a series of lab activities that demonstrated how the digestive
system works. The students
are part of the Super Science Fair Exchange program for high-achieving high
school students who wish to pursue careers in science. Mark Lindsay, the teacher from Iolani School,
reported that the students really enjoyed the lab and presentation, especially
the hands-on activities and the explanation of the chemical and physical changes that nutrients undergo during digestion. The science of digestion...yummy!
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Here’s to 4-H and ‘Minnie Lee’!
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Nice to see you again, ‘Minnie Lee’! 4-H Extension Agents (L-R clockwise) Claire Nakatsuka (O‘ahu),
Kate Everett (Maui), Joan Chong (Kona), Becky Settlage (Hilo), Laura Kawamura
(Kaua‘i), Rose Saito (O‘ahu), and Steve Nagano (O‘ahu), met at the Urban Garden Center August 1 for a meeting and to
plant a ‘Minnie Lee II’ hibiscus to commemorate Cooperative Extension's
Centennial. Its
caretaker will be Aubin Stremler, a UGC volunteer. Kaua‘i administrator Roy Yamakawa provided the
plant, but how it got there was a long, strange trip! The original ‘Minnie Lee’, the Extension hibiscus and the official flower of the
Hawai‘i Extension Homemaker’s Council, was bred by A.M. Bush on Maui in 1929 and named for the wife and daughter of William Lloyd, who formally established Hawai‘i’s
Extension Service. Although a thousand
cuttings were distributed to 4-H’ers back in the 1930s, it was nowhere to be
found by the ’90s. So Terry Sekioka, a now-retired CTAHR
plant breeder, taught the University Extension (UE) ladies on Kaua‘i how to breed hibiscus, and Mrs. Hisayo Niitani, one of the charter members of
Kaua‘i UE, successfully made a cross between the initial parents to produce ‘Minnie Lee
II’ and distributed it to UE club ladies on Kaua‘i. Then, to produce the plant at UGC, one of those plants was grafted! So, as it says in the song
dedicated to ‘Minnie Lee’, “here’s to the yellow hibiscus, our aloha for farm and
for home”...and here’s to those who made sure she’s still blooming!
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Sharing and Learning in Hong Kong
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR students Tyler Daguay (PEPS), Miho
Fujii (FSHN), Felicia Geronimo (TPSS), and Kelli Zakimi (FSHN), along with Sylvia
Trinh of the Academic and Student Affairs Office, are back from 10 days in Hong Kong spent learning about agriculture and food issues. They arrived at the Wing Lung
Ecological Farm located on the outskirts of Hong Kong, where Hong Kong campers
joined them for the work-camp experience. Students helped to weed, till, repair
various facilities, uproot trees, and do pest control management during
their stay. After Wing Lung, they journeyed to other farms stretched across the
region. First was a Buddhist organic farm experimenting with different crops to
see which ones fare well in Hong Kong weather. They then traveled to Ping Che,
where locals were on a mission to revive the regional culture and arts. The CTAHR group shared their own Hawai‘i culture with the villagers and
other international work-campers. The students’ last tour was the rice fields
in Long Valley, where the group harvested, milled, sifted, and bagged rice.
Thanks are due to the VolTra organization in Hong Kong for organizing the study tour and to Bird
Tang, Anson, Chun-On Lai, and Stephanie Chan for hosting the CTAHR group and
going out of their way to make the experience so enjoyable. Thanks also go out to everyone the group met on their adventure,
including KK and the friendly Ping Che residents, the volunteers, and the farmers they visited. Mahalo to ASAO for supporting these adventurous students, and to the students themselves, who made this experience meaningful for everyone they encountered in Hong Kong!
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Exploring the Global Mosaic in Taiwan
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR alumna Jasmine
Asuncion (FAMR) was one of two UH students/alumnae selected for Mosaic Taiwan, a
three-week fellowship program led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Taiwan. The program selected 30 scholars from across the country. Mosaic Taiwan provides
young students and professionals with an interest in global affairs with the
opportunity to explore the beauty of Taiwan’s natural environment and to
better understand its culture and society through extensive exchanges with
local leaders from various fields. This year’s program ran from June 15 to July
5, during which the participants took part in team-building and leadership-development
exercises; tours of various businesses, museums, and cultural sites; and meet-and-greet
sessions with government officials, educators, community representatives and
young leaders in Taiwan. They even got to meet President Ma Ying-jeou and Vice President Wu
Den-yih! Most important, they also got to contribute to Taiwan's cultural mosaic.
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Floriculture Fantastic
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to PhD
student Emily Lloyd (TPSS), who was awarded the John Carew Memorial Scholarship
from the American Floral Endowment! The American Floral Endowment is an
independent, nonprofit organization that funds research and scholarships in
floriculture and environmental horticulture for the benefit of growers,
wholesalers, retailers, allied industry organizations, and the general public.
Emily was drawn to the intersection of aesthetics and science in the production
of ornamentals, which inspired her to research them for her doctorate. We know her research and her success will continue to flower!
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Hort Hall of Famer
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andrew Kawabata (TPSS) was
honored with the 2014 MIDPAC Hall of Fame award at the Hawai‘i MidPac
Horticultural Conference & Expo held July 23-25 at the Hapuna Prince
Hotel. Andrew's clients nominated and
selected him for this honor. The MidPac Conference is an annual event that
brings together growers and buyers of Hawai‘i's ornamental products. The Hawai‘i Export Nursery Association (HENA),
Hawaii Floriculture and Nursery Association (HFNA), and Orchid Growers of
Hawai‘i (OGOH) partnered to organize this year's event with the able assistance
of Andrew and Kelvin Sewake (PEPS). Congratulations, Andrew!
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GoFarm on Kaua‘i!
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The GoFarm Hawai‘i program
received $25,000 in support of their program at Kaua‘i Community College from
the Doc Buyers Fund at Hawai‘i Community Foundation. GoFarm Hawai‘i began
training beginning farmers on Kaua‘i this year and is looking forward to
continuing to develop new farmers to meet Hawai‘i’s need for more commercial
farmers with the support of this most recent funding. GoFarm Hawai‘i also
receives financial support from Kamehameha Schools, the Ulupono Initiative, and
the U.S. Department of Labor. Read more about Kaua‘i’s GoFarm program at
Midweek Kaua‘i.
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No Beef With Beef
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Alan Titchenal and Joannie Dobbs (both
HNFAS) share beef facts in their Health Options column for the Star Advertiser.
Beef provides protein as well as iron and zinc, they explain, two vital minerals that are
often lacking in many diets. Beef cattle are also an important part of
Hawai‘i’s agriculture and can benefit the health of pasture lands when managed
properly. Read more about beef at Alan and Joannie’s website.
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Perfect Pesticide Practices
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Collaborators from PEPS, NREM, and HNFAS, along with UH Hilo and the Hawaii Department of Ag, have published Good
Agricultural Practices: A Best Practices Kit for Safe, Legal, and Effective
Pesticide Application in Hawai‘i. The project was spearheaded by Jim Hollyer (HNFAS), Donna Meyer, and Fred Brooks (both PEPS). The kit includes guidelines for choosing the proper spray
nozzle, a checklist of responsibilities for the safe use of pesticides on
farms, an example of a pesticide label, basic guidance on the use of personal
protective equipment, an onsite pesticide registry log for pesticide use on
various types of plants, and a pesticide application log for Hawai‘i
conventional and organic farms. The kit incorporates information from the handy pesticide education
wall charts, if you don’t happen to have four feet of wall space handy for the originals. It’s an invaluable guide for a variety of
plant-oriented industries in Hawai‘i. Spray safely and responsibly!
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Beloved Plant Guide by Beloved Plant Expert Back in Print
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Some wisdom never changes, but it’s always good to supplement it with new information. Gardening expert and
former CTAHR publicist Fortunato Teho’s Plants of Hawai‘i—How to Grow
Them, originally published in
1971, has been reprinted by Petroglyph Press, now with Integrated Pest Management, earth-friendly recipes for pest control,
and a list of current gardening resources. The book is an easy-to-read guide offering a description of each plant and its
origins, as well as information about propagation, culture, and pest control. In
1927, Fortunato was the first Filipino to graduate from UH, earning a
bachelor’s degree in agricultural technology. He worked as a publicist for UH’s
College of Tropical Agriculture for 25 years and became the voice of gardening
in Hawai‘i for decades, creating and producing more than 700 radio and
television programs as well as countless articles for various publications. The
first run of Plants of Hawai‘i—How to Grow Them sold more than 50,000 copies
before going out of print.
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Sharing English and Food Science
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR
‘Ono! Oishii! Science! CTAHR students Alex Navarro, Jay Gibson, Jennie Yano, Saya Kataoka, Flora Wang,
and Ross Villiger (HNFAS) and Allie Kim (MBBE) volunteered with the Nihon University Summer Program August 6
and 11. The CTAHR student volunteers participated in English conversation as
part of the Nihon University students’ English language courses at UH. The 16
students from Nihon University are spending 10 days in Hawai‘i studying English and
topics in Food Science and Human Nutrition at UH.
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Pulling for Puna!
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Big Island CTAHR Extension is
lending a helping hand with hurricane relief in Puna. A big mahalo to Extension
agents Becky Settlage for leading the CTAHR and East Hawai‘i 4-H’er charge, and
Sharon Motomura for helping to bag ice for East Hawai‘i 4-H to distribute to
families in need in the Puna area!
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After the Storm
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Whew! It looks like Hawai‘i County
research stations escaped major damage from Hurricane Iselle. Volcano, Kona,
and Lalamilo reported no damage, and Mealani reported downed branches on an electric
fence, which were cleared, and a tree leaning into power lines. Waiakea Station
had the most serious damage, with a 20 x 30-foot section of the roof of a tractor garage peeled off and many broken tree branches and toppled trees. No injuries, though!
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Way Cool, Wekiu!
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Jesse Eiben and Dan Rubinoff
(both PEPS) published “Application of Agriculture-Developed Demographic
Analysis for the Conservation of the Hawaiian Alpine Wekiu Bug” in the August
issue of the highly prestigious journal Conservation Biology. Jesse and Dan developed a series of laboratory
experiments to study rare and difficult-to-access insects such as the wekiu
bug, shown here scavenging a fly head. By studying insects in the lab, they were able to develop
“life tables,” which represent population growth parameters, environmental
models for wekiu bug life cycles, and demographic changes. The experiments can
be used to help conservation efforts of rare insects by allowing researchers to
optimize their field monitoring methods and timing. That means there are fewer
potential impacts on the summit from looking for the insects at the wrong
times and more efficient and cost-effective field work. Most importantly, if
there are ever negative impacts to the population of the wekiu bug, researchers
and land managers would be able to discover this decline faster and could
predict when the bugs would likely recover. Read more about the wekiu bug at
Conservation Biology.
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Style on the Radio
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andy Reilly (FCS) and Malie Moran
took to the Hawai‘i Public Radio airwaves to discuss Honolulu’s street fashion and their recent book,
Honolulu Street Style. The book includes a fabulous collection of photographs and goes into the diverse global trends that
influence Hawai‘i, as well as the unique local neighborhood cultures that put
their own spin on fashion. Honolulu Street Style is available from your
favorite bookseller.
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4-H “Makes the Best Better” on the Big Island
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR In the wake of the recent Hurricane Iselle, East Hawai‘i
4-H’ers and their families have devoted countless volunteer hours in the past 12 days
to helping hurricane victims. 4-H families helped to serve hot meals to those
in need and collected almost 3,700 pounds of ice, bottled water, and canned goods, as
well as bedding, personal hygiene items, and batteries. There were also diapers, baby food, stuffed
animals, and toys for area keiki. East Hawai‘i 4-H would like to say mahalo to
all who made donations and also to many of the Hawai‘i County CTAHR faculty for
all their support and assistance. And we’d like to say mahalo to East Hawai‘i 4-H!
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Albizia Are Bad for (Cleanup) Business
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The albizia tree strikes again (literally)! Ken Leonhardt (TPSS)
talked to KHON about what makes albizia a particularly problematic tree,
especially when it comes to the clean-up efforts in Puna. Albizia are
fast-growing trees that can be found on every island, where they pose a
potential hazard during high wind situations such as Tropical Storm Iselle. In Puna,
downed albizia trees have damaged numerous power lines and have impeded
progress in the recovery. Ken recommends getting rid of the trees if they are
on your property and keeping on guard in areas where albizia grow near power
lines and private property.
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Plant Nutrients From Sea Birds
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR An article in the August issue of Environment Hawai‘i,
“Marine Subsidies for Montane Soils,” highlighted a presentation PhD
candidate Julia Rowe (NREM) gave at the recent Hawaii Ecosystems Meeting in Hilo.
Julia has been studying levels of nutrients in soil at upper Limahuli and Hono
o Napali on the north shore of Kaua‘i. She has seen differences between seabird
and non-seabird areas and is continuing research into the connection between
seabirds and nitrogen levels in the soil. The August issue of Environment
Hawai‘i also includes an update on Jesse Eiben (PEPS) and his work with the
wekiu bug!
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Welcome to CTAHR! Enjoy Your College!
9/8/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The 35 newest members of our college were welcomed at the
2014 New Student Orientation by Associate Dean Charly Kinoshita and Lisa
Kitagawa-Akagi (ASAO). Representatives from student clubs and organizations encouraged new students to get involved, followed by a slideshow of pictures from college events during the past
academic year. Afterward, the new students broke into groups, led by current
CTAHR students who gave them lots of good advice. They shared their
personal development of skills that will help in life after college and answered
any questions the incoming students had. Afterward, groups went out on a campus
tour, came back to Gilmore Hall for a tasty lunch, and met with an academic
advisor, where they received guidance on classes to take and what to expect in
college from their academic careers. A big thank you goes to the student committee
members and scholarship recipients who served as NSO leaders: Sheldon Arakawa,
Arby Barone, Stanley Chan, Jerrisa Ching, Noel Gibeau, Abraham Kwan, Hailey
Pederson, Jason McMurray, Brandon Ngao, Ryan Ringuette, Trexia Sison, Angela
Stein, Ericka Yiu, and Kelli Zakimi. Mahalo is also owed to faculty advisors, student club and
organization representatives, and ASAO for helping to welcome the newest
members of our college!
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A Different Kind of Tweeting
9/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Is human noise changing bird noise? NREM graduate student Wanda
Sowa started a project to study bird songs in an urban landscape, specifically whether
humans and noise pollution affect the way birds sing. The goal of the project
is to use birdsong as a measure to see if speciation is occurring between
island and mainland populations of non-native birds. Wanda has a fundraiser
site for the project to fund recording equipment and travel expenses. She is
also looking for bird-loving volunteers to help with the recording. If you or
your students are interested in capturing the lovely landscape of birdsong,
contact Wanda at wsowa@hawaii.edu.
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Genes on the Move
9/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Ryo Kubota, MBBE
alumnus and collaborator, will be presenting a seminar on “Mobile Gene-Based
Diagnostics: Facilitation of Routine Surveillance for Pathogen Control in
Remote Settings.” Being able to figure out which pathogen is infecting your
crops quickly and in the field is a great boon to food producers, and Ryo is
helping to make that a reality. Find out all about it in St. John 302 at 1:30
p.m. on September 5.
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Cleaning Up Pig Waste
9/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Join Jonathan Deenik (TPSS) for a presentation on piggery
waste management strategies to protect and enhance water and soil quality in
Pohnpei on Wednesday, September 3, at 3:30 p.m. in Sherman 103. Pigs play a
central role as tribute and food in Pohnpeian culture. However, the widespread
practice of washing pig waste into surface waters poses a serious threat to
water quality. A multi-disciplinary effort established in Pohnpei in 2012 to
assess water quality found widespread E. coli contamination. The study went on
to introduce dry litter technology to mitigate negative impacts on stream water
and enhance soil quality. This seminar is part of the Imi ‘Ike NREM Research
Seminar Series.
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Spore Scores
9/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Too
many—or not enough—spores in your life? Check out these new Extension
publications from Scot Nelson (PEPS) and co-authors and solve either problem: revel in pictures of
glorious viruses and fungi, or learn how to banish the beasties from your
pristine produce. In “Gibberella and Fusarium Ear Rots of Maize in Hawai‘i,”
you’ll not only be introduced to one of the best phrases you’ll hear all year
(say it aloud—“earrrrrots”); you’ll learn how to grow corn that’s blessedly
free of these debilitating diseases. One look at the pallid, bloated zucchini
and tormented leaves caused by Zucchini yellow mosaic virus will get you
scrambling to avoid this pest in your fields, while the symptoms of Cucumber
mosaic virus can be quite ornamental, though still to be avoided. And the tips
on avoiding the widespread Papaya anthracnose will allow you to eat luscious,
non-scrofulous papaya again. What a score!
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Where the Boys Are
9/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andy Reilly (FCS) has recently published two
articles on men’s appearance and body image. In “Extending the Theory of
Shifting Erogenous Zones to Men’s Tattoos,” he shows that while today’s
body-revealing fashions have lessened the eroticization of specific body parts,
this eroticization may be accomplished by tattooing specific parts of the body.
In particular, he shows that men’s tattoos eroticize the bicep, upper arm, and
lower back. In “A Review of Men’s Body Image: What We Know and Need to Know,”
Andy and his co-authors show that men’s bodies are now exploited by the media
as much as women’s bodies, and that men often are subject to the same types of
lowered self-esteem after viewing images of idealized, muscular male bodies as
women may be after looking at idealized female models. At last the academic
subject of men’s appearance is being addressed.
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Soil-Builders
9/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Ted Radovich, Archana Pant, Amjad Ahmad, and Nguyen Hue (all
TPSS) and longtime CTAHR collaborator Craig Elevitch have just published
“Enhancing Soil Function and Plant Health With Locally Available Resources” as
part of the Food-Producing Agroforestry Landscapes of the Pacific series. The
publication looks at the balance between keeping farmers competitive and
improving food security. It is intended to be a concise, practical guide for
local food producers on the inputs, pros, and cons of various locally available
fertilizers. Go forth and fertilize!
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The Aloha of Mindfulness
9/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Thao Le (FCS) recently published “Mindfulness and the Aloha
Response” in the Journal of Indigenous
Social Development. The article discusses the resonance between
mindfulness, which is often associated with Buddhist tradition, and aloha, the
lifestyle and cultural tradition of Hawai‘i. Thao looks at mindfulness as a
tool and a form of mental energy that facilitates the aloha response and shows how
to nurture individual and collective consciousness, particularly for social
work practitioners. In addition to publishing her article, Thao lately shared
mindfulness with Leilehua High School students in a meditation program—see how
mindful they look now?
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August
GM Crops, Pesticides, and the Environment
8/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR While the last issue of Biotech in
Focus looked at conventional and organic farming, the new issue focuses
specifically on the most common genetically modified crops and how they have
changed the use of pesticides on farms. Ania Wieczorek explains the challenges,
evaluations, and positive impacts of two different types of GM crop. Also check out past issues of Biotech in Focus at the website.
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And in the Morning, I’m Making Waffles!
8/27/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR TPSS welcomed back faculty, staff, and students to the new fall
semester with a waffle breakfast. Ania Wieczorek and other faculty served up
fruity, breakfasty deliciousness to all who attended, while everyone fortified
themselves and got in some welcome socializing and bonding before the work of
the semester ahead.
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The Eggplants Are Long, Not the Day
8/27/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Commercial growers and Master Gardeners are invited to the
Long Eggplant Field Day on September 2, 10:30–11:30 a.m. at the Komohana
Research and Extension Center Master Gardner Demo Garden. Be the first to see
the long eggplant hybrids currently being evaluated for future release from the
UH Seed Lab. There will also be short informal presentations by Extension staff Jari Sugano (PEPS),
Steve Fukuda, Sharon Motomura, and Jensen Uyeda (TPSS) about the statewide eggplant
trial and the different hybrid lines, as well as how to grow, fertilize, and
manage potential eggplant pests. Go long, eggplants!
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Corn and the Maya Collapse
8/27/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Civilizations rise and fall on their stomachs, and Jim Brewbaker
(TPSS) explores the evidence in the upcoming seminar “Corn and the Maya Collapse” on Friday,
August 29, 2:00 p.m. at St. John 11. Corn, rice, or wheat provided at least
half of the caloric energy of all major prehistoric civilizations. The Maya had
only corn, but they created a major civilization with two million people in
tropical rainforests. The civilization “collapsed,” i.e., was
abandoned, in the 800s, but why? Various researchers have developed numerous
theories, but none suggest a problem with corn. In this seminar, Dr. B will
explore the possibility that a corn virus was the culprit of the Maya’s demise.
He will review recent evidence supporting this theory, and extend the idea to
the Anazasi, Teotihuacan, Zapotec, and other Mesoamerican civilizations.
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Yes, We Have Some Bananas!
8/19/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR B-A-N-A-N-A-S! Come check out the ongoing Extension work on our local
bananas at the O‘ahu Banana Mini Conference. It all takes place on Tuesday, August 26, from 5:30 to 7:45 p.m. at the Kane‘ohe Extension Office. Researchers, professors, and Extension staff from CTAHR will provide updates on common pests in banana
production; provide an overview of the newly registered broad-spectrum insecticide Movento and other products in
the pipeline for future registration; update stakeholders on BBTV-resistance
screenings on existing and newly introduced banana cultivars in Hawai‘i; share
the current status and future perspectives of development of a BBTV-resistant
banana; and discuss the developing Integrated Disease Management Program for
banana. This workshop is free and open to
new and longtime banana producers. Go, go, bananas!
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County Fair Fun on Kaua‘i
8/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Nothing says fun like farming! The Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair
celebrates their Kaua‘i roots and the history of Cooperative Extension August 21–24 at Vidinha
Stadium in Lihu‘e. The fair has nearly 100 years of history, so it’s fitting that it will be
honoring 100 years of Cooperative Extension! This year’s fair will be dedicated
to the collaborative partners in the Lihu‘e Cooperative Extension Office, and
the dedication ceremony is scheduled for August 21, 6:15 p.m. at the center
stage entertainment tent. CTAHR will also be involved in the Fruit and
Vegetable Show, gardening demonstrations (by our lovely Kaua‘i Master
Gardeners), and more! If you’re on Kaua‘i, join the fun, food, and farming!
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Pork Study Money
8/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Pork Safety, Quality and Human Nutrition Committee is
requesting pre-proposals in human nutrition research. The proposal process requires
an initial letter of intent, which will be used for initial screening. If the review looks promising, a request for a full proposal application will be made by the National Pork Board
to the Principal Investigator. The specific research areas are protein in a
healthy diet, cardiometabolic well-being, and
dietary nutrients and functions, all in connection with dietary pork. For more information, visit
the Pork Checkoff website.
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Second Saturday for August 9 Cancelled
8/7/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR This week's Second Saturday at the Garden event, scheduled for August 9 at the Urban Garden Center (UGC) on O‘ahu, has been cancelled. There will be no plant sales, and the facility will be closed due to inclement weather conditions of Tropical Storm Iselle.
Stay informed of future UGC activities here.
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July
Researching Biofilms to Help Cancer Patients
7/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR PhD student Pavlos Anastasiadis (MBBE) and his co-authors published
“Detection and quantification of bacterial biofilms combining high-frequency
acoustic microscopy and targeted lipid microparticles” in the Journal of Nanobiotechnology. Immuno-compromised
patients such as those undergoing cancer chemotherapy are susceptible to
bacterial infections, which leads to biofilm matrix formation. Early diagnosis of
biofilm matrix formation is a challenge in treating cancer patients with infection-associated
biofilms, because in vivo imaging and detection of biofilm matrices is difficult. In a novel approach, the researchers report that a combined optical and
acoustic evaluation of infectious biofilm matrices can be used to enhance biofilm
imaging and early detection.
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Soil Respiration and Climate Change
7/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Creighton Litton, Susan Crow (both NREM) and Christian
Giardina (US Forest Service and NREM affiliate) recently published the article
“Warming-related increases in soil CO2 efflux are explained by increased
below-ground carbon flux” in the prestigious journal Nature Climate Change. The
article is based on a whole-ecosystem study, the first of its kind, along an
elevation/temperature gradient in tropical montane wet forests on Hawai‘i
Island, which the authors used to sort through the many processes that connect
soil carbon stocks and fluxes with rising temperature to test previously held
scientific assumptions. They discovered that rising temperatures increased the
amount of carbon both entering and leaving soils. But, surprisingly, long-term
warming had no effect on the overall storage of tropical forest soil carbon,
contrary to current scientific understanding. That is, the often observed
increase in the rate of soil respiration with rising temperatures appears to be
due to an increase in the amount of C entering the soil, not from a decrease in
the overall amount of carbon stored in the soil. This is good news for tropical forests, which
play a disproportionately large role in the global carbon cycle, and therefore
global climate, due to their high rates of productivity. So while future
warming will likely continue with the addition of greenhouse gases to the
atmosphere from human activities, previous assumptions about a positive soil
carbon cycling feedback on warming require more detailed observation.
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Get Growing in Waimanalo!
7/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Waimanalo Market Co-op is ready to grow! The community
market, which opened in November 2013 and operates at the old Mel’s Market
site, was featured in MidWeek magazine.
The co-op is operated by community members, including Ted Radovich (TPSS)
and CTAHR collaborator Leina‘ala Bright, and it gives artists, farmers, backyard
growers, and the Windward CC GoFarm! program a venue to sell their arts, crafts, and produce. Plans
to improve the Waimanalo operations include the installation of electricity,
refrigerators, a kitchen, and the expansion of items such as pickled mango,
smoked meats, and lilikoi butter. If you’re looking for fresh, local,
interesting produce and goods, take a swing by the Waimanalo Market Co-op, or consider joining the Co-op at their August 3 pa‘ina.
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Horticulture Apps for Everyone!
7/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Android smartphone and iPhone users can agree on at least one
thing: free horticulture apps are great! Kent Kobayashi (TPSS) has created two
lists of 190 free apps for smartphone-loving horticulturalists. Kent has
separated the apps in to broad categories, and the lists can be sorted by app
title or by category. The lists also provide a brief description of each app.
From GPS to farm management, soil to social media, you’re sure to find a
horticultural app for you, whichever smartphone platform you prefer! Check out
the free Android app list, and the free iPhone app list.
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Field Day Fabulous!
7/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Check out the pics from the Organic Field Day and
Legislators’ Open House at the lush farmland of the Waimanalo Research Station!
Between the two events, more than 100 visitors came to soak in the awesome
agriculture, with presentations and demonstrations by around 30 members of the
CTAHR ‘ohana. Visitors included legislators Suzanne Chun Oakland, Richard
Creagan, Lauren Matsumoto, Glen Wakai, Laura Thielen, and Marcus Oshiro, as well as representatives from Angus McKelvey, Sam Slom, Kalani
English, Will Espero, the Hawai‘i Farmers Union Unites, and the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau Federation.
It was a farm-tastic two days in Waimanalo!
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Got (Selenium-Enriched) Milk?
7/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Dr. Harsharn Gill will present the seminar “Selenium-Enriched
Milk: From Production to Demonstration of Health Benefits” on Monday, August 4,
at 2:00 p.m. in Gilmore 212. Dr. Gill is a professor of Food & Health
Biosciences at RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, and has more than 20
years of experience in R&D related to food, nutrition, and health. His research
interests include the role of food (particularly dairy foods) and intestinal
microflora in health and disease.
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Science Policy and Food Safety Funding Opportunities
7/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Investigating innovative science policy or food safety
systems? There are two new grants that may be for you! The National Science Foundation grant supports
research designed to advance the scientific basis of science and innovation
policy with the aim of developing, improving, and expanding models, analytical
tools, data, and metrics that can be applied in the science policy decision-making process. The program places a high priority on broadening participation
and encourages proposals from junior faculty, women, other underrepresented
minorities, Research Undergraduate Institutions, and EPSCoR states, including
Hawai‘i. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration grant is designed to facilitate
longterm improvements to the national food safety system by providing states
with information to help identify needed changes and resources to enforce
produce safety requirements modeled after FDA’s produce safety rule. The
information also would assist FDA in implementing the produce safety rule.
Could these funding opportunities help your work? Worth a look!
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Go Forth and Landscape
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The landscape industry is a vital part of Hawai‘i’s
agriculture and a key component of our visitor economy. For the first time in 12 years, a Landscape
Industry Certification Test (LICT) was offered on Maui, preceded by a 12-session
training program organized by Extension agent Norman Nagata (TPSS). This great
collaborative effort brought numerous landscape-related businesses together with
CTAHR Cooperative Extension-Maui, UH Maui College, and the County of Maui
Office of Economic Development to raise the bar of professional landscaping on
Maui. Just as they help the plants they work with to flourish, the initial 22 landscapers who participated in the training are helping to
grow an industry of professionals.
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Let's Farm Naturally!
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR If you read the recent Impact Report, you know about Mike DuPonte’s (HNFAS) exciting work with Korean Natural Farming, a sustainable and bio-active method of agricultural production. If you want to get involved yourself, find out how to make some of the inputs that will keep your green friends fruitful and thriving: Fish Amino Acid acts as a locally sourced fertilizer that doesn’t damage water quality like many commercial fertilizers, and Water-Soluble Calcium, which can be made from eggshells and rice vinegar, will help regulate plant growth and development. Oriental Herbal Nutrient provides plants and soil microorganisms with nutritional support that increases plants’ resilience to environmental stress, while Diluted Seawater, the easiest of all to make, can be used to encourage ripening and for soil nutrition. Get started utilizing the powerful and beneficial indigenous microorganisms around you today!
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More Trees, More Beauty
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR As recent outbreaks of plant diseases and pests have shown us, diversity is useful in landscaping so we’re not left with denuded landscapes, nurseries, and backyards if something attacks a particular species. It also helps to address landscape challenges and client preferences, replace invasive or otherwise detrimental species, and help create a variegated and interesting landscape. In pursuit of arboreal diversity, Richard Criley (TPSS) and his co-authors have created a series of publications describing beautiful, useful, and underutilized trees—many of which can be found on the UH Manoa campus but in few other places around the Islands. Check out these possibilities: Aali‘i, Alahe‘e, Beach Heliotrope, Colville’s Glory (pictured), Fern Pine, Hispaniolan Rosy Trumpet, Hong Kong Orchid, Lignum Vitae, Lonomea, Naio, Na‘u
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To Protect and Serve
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR From the forest to the factory to the farm, our college is working to keep the community safe! Want to keep your trees green and healthy, not blackened and charred? J.B. Friday, Doug Cram, and Clay
Trauernicht (all NREM) have published a guide
to minimize risks of wildfires for tree plantations. Need to keep your food-production facility free from dangerous and illegal chemical, biological, and physical adulterants? Luisa Castro (formerly of
NREM) and Jim Hollyer (HNFAS) published a guide to assist growers with state
and federal standards for food safety. Every day, in every way, CTAHR means safety!
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After the Harvest
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Hawai‘i is awesome for its delicious, year-round fruit, and
we benefit not only from great fruit-growing weather but also from the variety
of fruits that can be produced throughout the Islands. But warm weather also brings its own concerns. Bob Paull (TPSS) and his co-authors, including Nancy Chen (also TPSS)
have new publications out on how to maintain the best quality for fruit after
harvest. Check them out! Carambola, Dragon Fruit, Durian, Longan, Lychee,
Papaya, Pineapple, and Rambutan. Bob also has a guide to Growing Grapes in
Hawai‘i from trellis to harvest. For fig growers and lovers, Scot
Nelson (PEPS) and his student Ann Verga describe effective methods to combat fig rust.
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CBB on TV
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR KHON recently reported on efforts to combat the Coffee Berry Borer on
Big Island coffee farms and the gains made by coffee growers since 2010. It looks as though things are starting to look up for coffee farmers, thanks in part to CTAHR’s research and outreach. Mark
Wright (PEPS) weighs in on what farmers can do to help their farms and stresses
that diligence in best practices will play an important part in successful CBB
management. Check out the video.
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Details of Dietary Data
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Jinan Banna and Marie Kainoa Fialkowski (both HNFAS) recently had
their manuscript “Misreporting of dietary intake affects estimated nutrient
intakes in low-income Spanish-speaking women,” co-written with Dr.
Marilyn Townsend at UC-Davis, accepted for publication in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This study involved classifying
reported energy intakes from 24-hour dietary recalls completed by
Mexican-American women in Northern California as biologically plausible or
implausible to determine if those with plausibly reported intakes would be more
likely to meet dietary guidelines. Findings revealed that plausibility status
significantly influenced whether a participant met recommendations for several
nutrients. These results support the importance of evaluating plausibility of
reported intake when analyzing self-reported dietary data to determine whether
a population is meeting recommendations. The topic of validity of self-reported
dietary data is a timely one, addressed in detail at the recent
Experimental Biology session entitled “Not Everything That Counts Can Be
Counted and Not Everything That Can Be Counted Counts: How Should We Collect
Dietary Data for Research?”
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Akamai-zing the Flow of Energy
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR In June, PhD student Kauahi Perez (TPSS) participated as an
instructor and facilitator in the Akamai Short Course, a 4-day intensive course
hosted at UH Hilo that prepares undergraduates for their upcoming internship
projects. Taught by graduate students
and post-docs trained in the ISEE Professional Development Program, the Short
Course uses inquiry learning to enhance interns’ research, problem-solving,
communication, and collaboration skills.
Kauahi was part of the Renewable Energy Team of instructors—comprised of
UH Manoa and UC Santa Cruz graduates—that designed an engineering-based
activity entitled “Akamai-zing the Flow of Energy.” Using their akamai (intelligence/skills),
students collaboratively engaged in optimizing (“akamai-zing”) energy flow by
augmenting hypothetical networks of technologies (i.e., wind turbines, wave
turbines, photovoltaic systems, and battery storage systems) that could harvest
enough energy from renewable sources to meet the Big Island’s current energy
demand. The Akamai Short Course is one
component of the Akamai Internship Program, which provides an opportunity for
undergraduates who are interested in pursuing a career in science, technology,
engineering, or math (STEM) fields to get involved in high-tech research and
industry. The 2014 Akamai Internship Program was funded by the Thirty Meter
Telescope International Observatory, the University of Hawai‘i, and the Air
Force Office of Scientific Research. You’re aka-mazing, Kauahi!
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Ag Economics Affects Everyone!
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Owing to the advent of the coffee berry borer and other pests, there is growing concern as to how the coffee industry will be affected. And to fully understand that, it’s necessary to look at the industry’s economic status before CBB. Dilini Hemachandra (NREM), Stuart Nakamoto (HNFAS), and John Woodill have published an overview of the Hawai‘i coffee
industry that does just that. For another important look at where ag is going in terms of where it’s been, Jim Hollyer (HNFAS) teamed up with Matthew Loke (NREM) to report on the
changing demographics of Hawai‘i farmers over the past 100 years. Find out when the greatest number of Filipino farmers were principal operators, when women became a force in the field, and more!
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Taking Care of Keiki 2014
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book, released on July 22 by the
Annie E. Casey Foundation, marks 25 years of bringing attention to national and
state-level data on the well-being of children. According to data presented in
the annual report, Hawai‘i ranks 25th out of 50 states on overall child
well-being. “The well-being of our children is the most important indicator of
how well our state is doing in terms of longterm economic success and how well
we will do in the future,” says Hawai‘i KIDS COUNT project director Ivette
Rodriguez Stern (COF). “The good news is that we’re no longer slipping in rank
where it comes to the overall well-being of Hawai‘i’s children, as had been the
case in recent years. We’re now somewhere in the middle, and while we’re doing
well in the areas of health and in the family and community context, we’re
ranked much lower where it comes to the economic well-being of our children and
education.” Take a look at how our keiki are doing at in the 2014 KIDS COUNT Data Book the Annie E. Casey Foundation website.
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The Plant Doctor’s Android Update
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR A new version of the very useful Plant Doctor
smartphone app is now available for Android users. The old version will no longer
work, so developer Scot Nelson (PEPS) encourages all Android users to delete it and install the new one, pronto! The Plant Doctor provides interactive
diagnosis for plant diseases in gardens, landscapes, nurseries, and farms. It’s been used around the world from Guam to Scandinavia, Russia to South
Africa, and, of course, here in Hawai‘i. Update your app and diagnose your
plants!
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Along Came a Spider
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Eek! Spider bite! Dan Rubinoff (PEPS) talks about the spider
that bit Hamilton Library educator Teri Skillman and ultimately sent her
to the hospital for five days of treatment. Dan believes the culprit was a
Mediterranean recluse spider, which is very rarely encountered in the Islands; in fact, he says people are more likely to get struck by lightning than bitten by this spider. This is lucky, as you’ll see if you
watch the video about the bite at Hawai‘i News Now. Just to be on the safe side, watch out for spiders!
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Spray Safe
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Western Front, a newsletter about Integrated Pest Management, recently featured the multilingual
pesticide safety charts developed by Jim Hollyer (HNFAS) and a tireless team of CTAHR and HDOA
collaborators. The charts, titled “Protect Yourself and Workers From
Pesticides” and “Apply
Pesticides Safely, Legally, Effectively” include instructions in English,
Mandarin, Ilocano, and Lao and are designed for use in classroom
presentations as well as on-farm training. They’re available at HDOA offices and workshops, and the
editable files are also available to any state or country entity wanting to modify and use them.
Download the PDF versions, or email Jim at hollyer@hawaii.edu
for the raw files. Spray safe, stay safe!
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Go! Farm! Windward!
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to the graduates of GoFarm Hawai‘i at
Windward CC’s AgSchool2. Ten months of
hard work and learning have resulted in the development of some fine farmers
(pictured with their GoFarm Hawai‘i alumni caps and farm coach Jay Bost in the
back row). Some of the new alumni will start to farm their own land in Waimanalo or on land provided by Kamehameha Schools. Others have chosen to enter the AgIncubator plots
at CTAHR's Waimanalo Agricultural Research Station to begin their careers as
real farmers! Great job, future farmers of Hawai‘i!
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What’s This? What’s This? There’s Insects Everywhere!
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The sorting of bugs is a fascinating matter, so the Insect
Museum held its 5th annual insect sorting event on June 27 with help
from wonderful, bug-loving volunteers. An insect sort becomes necessary as
specimens accumulate through field collections, and until an organizational event,
these insects are not easy for experts studying different groups to locate in
the museum. During a sort, labeled
insects are categorized with the other insects to which they are closely
related. Then they are placed in their proper spot in the museum collection
where experts can find them and identify them in more detail. Check out
pictures from the Great Insect Sort of 2014 and listen to Dan Rubinoff talk bug
sorting on KHPR (scroll down)!
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Extension and Grocers
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR We're still celebrating 100 years of Extension! Joannie Dobbs and Alan Titchenal (HNFAS) published an upbeat and informative
article about the 100th anniversary of Cooperative Extension in the
Hawaii Retail Grocer, the magazine of the Hawai‘i food industry association. The
article describes how Extension agents and specialists helped the growth of the
food industry in Hawai‘i. This issue also includes a
profile of Carey Miller, the “dean of nutritionists,” and her contributions to
UH and the dietary practices in Hawai‘i. Read both articles at the Hawaii Retail
Grocer.
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Food Safety at the Farmers Market
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Farmers markets are a great opportunity for growers to
showcase their fabulous foods, and CTAHR collaborated with UH Hilo’s College of
Continuing Education and Community Service to create the Hawai‘i Farmers Market
and Agritourism Venues manual for those who want to get started doing just that. The 36-page cookbook-style guide is an
easy-to-read rapid reference for new and experienced vendors at farmers markets
and agriculture tourism venues. Jim Hollyer (HNFAS) and Luisa Castro (formerly
of CTAHR) worked with with five current farmers market and agritourism managers
to craft a Hawai‘i-specific best practices manual. Download this helpful new guide here!
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Let’s Go Climb a Tree
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR NREM graduate student Laura Mo has her head (and the rest of
herself) in the trees! Laura participated in the Wahine Tree Climbing Workshop
offered by Lyon Arboretum, and now enjoys the vertical aspect of movement. “I
just really enjoy movement,” Laura said. “When all you do is sit and
walk, you kind of forget that you can do other things.” Read more about
Laura and the Wahine Tree Climbing Workshop at the Star-Advertiser. And check
out the Lyon Arboretum website for the next Wahine Tree Climbing Workshop and
other fun classes, including keeping chickens in the backyard!
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Farmers Get Knocked Down, but They Get Up Again
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Everyone knows farming is hard work, but sometimes beginning
farmers don’t realize just what that “work” means. Moloka‘i Extension agent
Glenn Teves (TPSS) has some great advice for anyone interested in becoming a
farmer in the Hawai‘i Homegrown newsletter. In his letter to “Sonny,” Glen
explains the many aspects of farming, from the sheer amount of personal
motivation needed to the specialized knowledge of agriculture and business that
farmers require to be successful. He breaks down the economic and practical realities
of the complex, sometimes difficult, but ultimately rewarding vocation of
farming. Read his advice at Hawai‘i Homegrown.
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Koa’s Distant Close Relative
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR It’s a small world, even for koa trees! Nature magazine
featured TPSS alumnus Johannes “Jaco” LeRoux and his research on the incredibly
improbable dispersal of koa trees from Hawai‘i to Réunion Island. First, Hawai‘i
and Réunion Island are 18,000 kilometers apart, almost the farthest apart any
two places can be. Second, the dispersal happened between two small islands. Jaco
proposed that a sea bird brought a koa seed from Hawai‘i to Réunion in its
stomach or stuck to its feet in a one-time event about 1.4 million years ago. He
and his team sequenced the DNA from 88 trees and created an acacia family tree
that showed the acaia on Réunion are very closely related to one type of
Hawaiian koa. The team then used a molecular clock to determine when the
dispersal event took place. Read more about Koa and its Réunion relative at
Nature magazine.
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Kalo Theft Hurts Everyone
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR More than 700 pounds of kalo were stolen from the Waimanalo
Research Station on June 23, only a few days before harvest. Two weeks before that
theft, 300 pounds were stolen. The kalo was part of a research project focused
on organic cultivation that had been ongoing for about eight months. Waimanalo
Research Station brought the college’s taro germplasm collection over from its
Moloka‘i Applied Farm in 2008. Since then, the huli have been used to support
various organizations and farmers across the state. “We’re
disappointed. It’s not just a faceless
entity that they were stealing from.
This is actually folks working long and hard with the community to
really try to generate some data that is valuable. They’re not stealing from nobody; they're
impacting people,” said Ted Radovich (TPSS). A special, huge mahalo to all
the wonderful growers who generously offered to replace huli at the station. Watch the video about the theft at Hawai‘i News Now.
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It’s a Tradition
7/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The 2014 Second Quarter Impact Report is here! Last quarter’s Report looked at CTAHR’s high-tech solutions to ag, horticulture, and environmental issues, while this quarter’s turns the tables and focuses instead on the ways the college gains inspiration from traditional knowledge and practices. Check out Skip Bittenbender’s (TPSS) kava studies and outreach, Clyde Tamaru’s (MBBE) assistant Leina‘ala Bright’s research into aquaponically growing Hawaiian herbal medicines, Thao Le’s (FCS) work with youth through mindfulness techniques, and Michael DuPonte’s great work with Korean Natural Farming. Check out the Report and get inspired!
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Distance Extension
7/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR In honor of Cooperative Extension’s 100th anniversary, Helen Spafford and Jari Sugano (both PEPS) utilized CTAHR’s
distance education services, managed by Kellie Kong, to offer the course
“Special Topics in Extension and Adoption,” affectionately known as “Extension
101.” Nine students from O‘ahu as well as the neighbor islands had the
opportunity to learn from 22 guest lecturers, from Miles Hakoda (OCS) to Lyon
Arboretum director and interim dean of Extension Carl Evensen, speak on 26 different topics including land-grant
universities, how to look for funding, how to develop programs specifically for
children or adults, and much more. Helen and Jari are planning to offer the
course again in the future, and we know there will be takers for it.
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Sharing Food Science in China
7/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR A good relationship often starts with the sharing of food,
and Jinan Banna (HNFAS) improved on that by sharing food science with students in China. From June
9th through June 20th, Jinan taught two courses, “The Science of Human
Nutrition” to 70 students and “Introduction to Food Science” to 140 students, at
Hunan Agricultural University (HAU) in Changsha, Hunan, China. The teaching assignment ranged from three to
five hours per day, with time on the weekend and after the end of the courses
to visit interesting sites such as Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Yuelu
Mountain. Jinan’s visit was the start of
a collaborative relationship between HAU and UH facilitated by Dr. Ching Yuan
Hu. HAU would like to sponsor a group of
instructors to travel to Changsha to teach courses in December 2014, as well as
in the summer of 2015. For the December
session, the group of instructors would ideally be able to offer one course in
Economics and Management in Agriculture and Forestry, and two courses in Food
Science. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Jinan at
jcbanna@hawaii.edu to discuss potential dates and courses you wish to teach.
Let’s build strong relationships with CTAHR skills!
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Best. Corn. Ever?
7/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR For those of you who purchased corn from the Horticultural
Society’s recent corn sale (here are some pictures of that toothsome event), what did you think of those succulent ears? Desmond Ogata (UH Seed
Lab) and Roger Corrales (Waimanalo Research Station) want your candid opinion on the new variety of
corn. Dr. B has been working for years trying to perfect this hybrid corn, and
this year produced an awesome harvest—three pickup-truckloads were sold over the two-day sale! Please send your feedback—Inferior, Okay, Good, Excellent, Broke da Mout—to seed@ctahr.hawaii.edu. And, as always, a big
mahalo to all the corn lovers who came out and supported the Horticultural
Society at their corn sale!
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Organic Fantastic at Waimanalo!
7/23/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Come celebrate 20 years of organic research at CTAHR and join the Sustainable and Agriculture Program's Organic Ag Field Day on Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Waimanalo Research Station! Visitors can learn more about variety trials of hot pepper and eggplant and check out displays of kalo, ‘uala, papaya, and fertilizers. And if you want to beat the summer heat (at least for your plants), try the shade house demonstration. With all the recent rain, it should be nice and green in Waimanalo!
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Farm Harm and the Environment
7/15/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Want to know more about potential impacts of farming on the environment?
Check out the new issue of Biotech in Focus, which examines issues related to
conventional and organic farming and how the environment is
affected by each. Ania Wieczorek (TPSS) explains “green” farming, pesticide use, crop
rotation, and sustainability. The newsletter also touches on genetically
modified crops and their compatibility with sustainable agriculture. If you
want to learn even more, check out the archives of Biotech in Focus at the
website!
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Bring on the Biology
7/9/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Several members of the CTAHR ‘ohana are involved in the
Island Biology Conference, July 7–11 on the Manoa campus. This is the first
international conference to focus specifically on island biology, and the more
than 400 participants come from at least 35 countries. As many CTAHR research
projects involve the unique life found on our islands, CTAHR folks are
chairing sessions and presenting at this first-of-its-kind conference. Check
out the program for Island Biology 2014.
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June
Raise High the Roof Beams!
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Waimanalo Research Station now has an official UH
Foundation fundraising page for their Learning Pavilion roof. After the
original classroom collapsed in a 2011 storm, the station was fortunate to
receive funding to build the base and columns of the Waimanalo Learning
Pavilion, which will be able to accommodate 100 students at a time. However,
the funding did not extend to roofing. Check out the new fundraising page, and
give a little shelter to get eager students out of the sun and rain!
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Mmm, Persimmons
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Former Maui County agent Clark Hashimoto and his family’s
persimmon farm are featured in Hana Hou: The Magazine of Hawaiian Airlines. The
Hashimoto Persimmon Farm on Maui had its beginnings in the early 20th century
when Clark’s great grandfather decided to grow the Japanese fruit on his land.
The autumn favorite has increased in popularity over the years, and the
Hashimotos work to continue the family farming tradition today as well as to
support other family-owned farms in the area. Read about the Hashimotos and
their delicious persimmons at the Hana Hou website.
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How to Take Over the World, One Aquaponics Tank at a Time
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Did you ever want to learn everything—seriously, everything—about aquaponics and
hydroponics all at one time? Tetsuzan “Benny” Ron (HNFAS) covers quite a bit
about both during his interview on the Bytemarks Cafe talk show on June 4. He discusses not only aquaponics and hydroponics but also vertical agriculture, recirculating
aquaculture systems, biofloc technology, and airlift pump technology. Want more? He touches on fish, plants,
bacteria, speciality crops, moving water, air, efficiency, renewable
energy, food security, LED lighting, taro and poi, recycling, protein, carbohydrates, and oils. But wait—there’s more! He tells about the Aquaculture Hub, the Aquaculture Training On-Line Learning (ATOLL) program,
STEM and HOT STEAM
education (that one stands for Hands-On Training in Science, Technology, Engineering, Aquaculture/Agriculture,
and Mathematics), business resources, and of
course HNFAS and CTAHR scientists who work with fish, plants, pests, and
bacteria. Listen to the podcast at the Bytemarks Cafe...and get drunk on information! Benny’s interview starts around 21 minutes in.
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Mapping Power!
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR has an app-etite for apps! Dan Jenkins (MBBE) and his lab have just published GPS Field Tags,
a free Android app designed to record textual information
and locations interactively on a Google map (including trackline information). Then you can
view the recorded information on the map and share csv files, openable in Excel, populated with the recorded information. The app was originally designed to
automatically record GPS and other information about invasive plants
targeted by aerial application of James Leary’s (NREM) Herbicide
Ballistic Technology. Recognizing its usefulness for
other applications (it’s designed to be more intuitive than other GPS apps
currently available), Dan wrote the free standalone app to share with the public. Just search for “Field Tags” in Google Play, and the app
will come right up. And if you’re feeling creative, Dan is looking for
possible replacement images for the GPS Field Tags icon.
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Banquet Memories
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Dean chanting an ‘oli! Derek Kurisu making SPAM musubi!
The amazing Extension birthday cake! It’s all there in living color, so relive
the memories from this year’s Awards Banquet by checking out all the celebrational pictures from the event. The Banquet, attended by over
400 well-dressed members of the CTAHR ‘ohana and assorted friends and supporters,
garnered 14 sponsorships and raised $24,000 for the CTAHR Centennial Scholarship fund. Award winners,
sponsors, and other vital stats can be found at the
banquet page. And remember, it’s not too early to start thinking about next
year’s Banquet—the date’s already been set for May 8, 2015!
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New York Elements of Style
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Just back from the Big Apple and in a New York state of mind are Abby Cristi (FDM) and her students, after a whirlwind tour of one of the fashion capitals of the world. They had an opportunity to meet with fashion industry professionals
focusing on fashion forecasting, design, manufacturing, and retail. The fashion
fabulous group visited Rag & Bone (retail, with APDM alum Dan Weaver, Apparel
Design and Manufacturing), Assembly New York (apparel design and
retail); the MET (Charles James: Beyond Fashion Exhibit); Dyenamix (textile
dyeing); Macy’s (retail); Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT; Senior Design Exhibit
and Costume Collection); Lost Art (leather design); Tobe Forecasting
(consulting and forecasting); Adrienne Landau (fur manufacturing). Work your
style, students!
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Fight Fire with Science
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Fire ecologist Creighton Litton (NREM) and his former
graduate student Lisa Ellsworth were recently featured in Fire Science Digest for their work with Hawai‘i wildfires, which are unique amongst wildland fires. The Islands’
tropical landscape makes tools developed for mainland wildfires unreliable.
Invasive species and continued development of Hawai‘i’s lands have also created
an environment where wildfires are becoming more common, and more difficult to
control. It’s lucky Creighton and Lisa and other members of the CTAHR ‘ohana like Clay Trauernicht (NREM) are working on ways to predict and prevent these
destructive and potentially deadly threats.
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Alumna on Fire
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR NREM alumna Lisa Ellsworth has been fighting fires, one way or another, for 15 years.
She started as a wildland firefighter and then earned a PhD from CTAHR as a fire ecologist. Since leaving Hawai‘i, Lisa has been involved
in postdoctoral work at Oregon State University. Her current research is
investigating the longterm responses of sagebrush communities to fire. Lisa has
been the PI or co-PI on grant funding for fire research totaling more than
$800,000 and she credits Doug Vincent’s (HNFAS) grant-writing class for much of her
grant writing success. Two publications based on her dissertation have been
published, and two more are forthcoming, along with a publication from her
postdoctoral work. She thanks her advisor Creighton Litton and the
other CTAHR members of her committee, James Leary, Tomoaki
Miura, and Chris Lepczyk (all NREM) for being instrumental in her
training as a fire scientist and readying her for an academic career in
fire science and fire ecology. “It would be great to stay involved in fire research
in Hawai‘i!” she says. We hope she comes back!
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Kamehameha Schools Says, GoFarm!
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR As
part of their Agricultural Strategic Plan, Kamehameha Schools is
supporting development of new farmers by helping to fund UH’s GoFarm
Hawai‘i program, a collaboration
between CTAHR and Windward, Leeward, and Kaua‘i Community Colleges. Not
only has Kamehameha Schools provided over $97,000 for the current year,
it has committed to providing another $110,00 in the 2014-2015 fiscal
year to support continued operation and development
of distance curriculum for this growing program. GoFarm has also received
generous financial support from the US Department
of Labor and the Ulupono Initiative. GoFarm’s third cohort
is going strong right now, and the fourth class will be starting up with
the AgCurious seminar in late September. Soon, even more students can GoFarm!
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Happy Snails to You
6/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR JP Bingham (MBBE) and his fascinating, dangerous cone snails were featured in the
Ocean Watch column in the Star-Advertiser. In his lab, JP and his students
study the multiple toxins in cone snail venom, which have great potential in
medical and pharmaceutical research. There are at least 64 species of cone
snails in Hawai‘i, and while all cone snails are venomous, no deaths have been
reported in the Islands. But it’s still much safer to look at but not touch the snails and their beautiful shells.
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Plant App-Tastic!
6/23/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Scot Nelson (PEPS), creator of the soon-to-be viral Plant Doctor and Pic-A-Papaya apps, has just released a new one, the Leaf Doctor. Speaking of viral, this app allows users to take a picture of a diseased leaf and then calculate the area of disease coverage on it, important information for plant pathologists and epidemiologists who are tracking the spread of disease over space or time as well as for breeders testing new varieties for disease resistance. So far, there have been nearly 100 downloads! Meanwhile, his other apps have
been continuing to make news! An article on The Plant Doctor pest diagnosis app was
featured in the Green section of The Huffington Post. And both the Plant Doctor and
Pic-A-Papaya, which was co-developed by Richard Manshardt (TPSS) to identify
and diagnose papaya ringspot virus, were part of the Hawai‘i News Now’s Hawai‘i
Geek Beat, highlighting locally grown apps. Watch the video here!
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What’s Growing in China
6/23/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Hye-Ji Kim (TPSS) and her students will present their amazing experiences on their
Horticulture Production in China study abroad tour in a seminar on Tuesday, June
24, at 12:00 in St. John 106. The two-week trip included tours of the Beijing
Agriculture Research Station, the National Agriculture Science and Tech
Demonstration Park, tea plantations, biotechnology and agricultural development
companies, the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Science, the Nanjing
Agricultural University, the Ruyiqing Exhibition Center, botanical gardens,
fruit production facilities, and more. If you can’t make the seminar, check out
the awesome (and picture-full) blogs created by the students, David Shepard,
Aleta Corpuz, and Flora Chen.
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What’s That You Say?
6/11/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Eh? Think you might need your hearing checked? Alan Titchenal
and Joannie Dobbs (both HNFAS) discuss hearing loss and the (at the moment) free National Hearing
Test in their Health Options column. While the test is free (at least until
June 15), call 866-223-7575 and follow the directions. Use a landline phone
with a number pad separate from the handset; the test may not be valid if taken
with a cellphone. Over a background of white noise, you will listen to a voice
speaking sequences of three numbers, and indicate the numbers
you heard by pressing them on the telephone keypad. As you go through the
process with each ear separately, the volume of the three spoken digits
declines until you can’t decipher what you heard. Read more about hearing
loss, and then check out the test—it takes less than 10 minutes, and you (or those around you) may be glad you did!
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A Distinguished Scholar Among Us
6/4/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Chennat Gopalakrishnan (NREM Emeritus), will be presented with the Distinguished Scholar Award at the Western Agricultural Economics Association (WAEA) meeting in Colorado Springs in June. The award grants the highest recognition to WAEA members who have made an enduring contribution over their career to agricultural or other applied, resource, or environmental economics in the Western states and to the WAEA. This isn’t the only award for Gopal: he was honored in 2009 with the CTAHR Excellence in Research Award and in 2003 with the CTAHR Ka Pouhana (Mentor) Award.
In retirement, he continues to be active in his field,
editing the
Journal of Natural Resources Policy Research; developing farm-level water management strategies and examining the relationship between water issues and energy, environmental policy, and climate change; and working on two books!
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CES Centennial Celebrations!
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Star
Advertiser celebrated the CES Centennial with an op/ed by Dean Maria Gallo on the
amazing work done by CTAHR’s Extension specialists in the past 100 years, touching on everything from preventing wildfires to helping elder caregivers. Alan Titchenal and Joannie Dobbs (both HNFAS) likewise laud Cooperative Extension’s accomplishments in an easy-to-assimilate Q&A format in their Star Advertiser column,
also available at the Nutrition ATC website. The best question and answer: “Who benefits from Cooperative Extension? Everyone!” Check the pieces out! It will give you a warm and happy glow to know that you’re part of a great system. Speaking of which, did you know that May 9, 2014, was designated Cooperative Extension Service Day in Hawai‘i? It’s true!
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Taking Fashion on the Road...and the Internet Superhighway
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Just think shrimp truck...but less messy and more fashion-forward. APDM (now FCS) alumna Cassandra Rull and other former fashion students, including previous CTAHR student Melissa Jasniy, showed
off their fabulous designs and business success in a Star Advertiser article on
mobile clothing stores. Their store, Roam Hawai‘i, began as a truck carrying
their designs around the island. Today, their brand has a global following
online!
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Green Points of Success
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Longtime CTAHR collaborator Green Point Nurseries was
just featured in the Star Advertiser, in an article highlighting the success of the
third-generation family business. Green Point specializes in orchids, tropical flowers, and greenery, as well as their iconic and prize-winning anthuriums. Located in Hilo, the nursery offers lovely
blooms and leaves that can be found throughout the Islands, including at many CTAHR Awards Banquets. The business was
established by the late Harold Tanouye, who cultivated and maintained strong
support for and partnership with CTAHR, and now is being ably led by his son Eric.
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Exellent Events, Excellent Pictures
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Check out pictures from two great events featuring great CTAHR people! First the UH Manoa Chancellor's Awards ceremony, where Lori Yancura (FCS), Marla Fergerstrom (Big Island Extension), and Chino Cabalteja (MS student, MBBE) were honored with awards for Meritorious Teaching, Outstanding Civil Service, and Student Excellence in Research, respectively. Congratulations to all! Then check out the pictures from the Growth of Aquaponics: East Meets West seminar. Highlights included Weber State University’s demonstration of the prototype of a very futuristic-looking aquaponic system, reports on the commercialization of aquaponics statewide, sustainable models, CTAHR research, and Cooperative Extension support on O‘ahu for Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
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Mindful Adventures for Military Youth
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Thao Le (FCS)
discusses positive youth outcomes in her article “Mindfulness-Based Adventure
Camp for Military Youth,” recently published in the Journal of Extension. Her
research suggests that military youth have higher rates of anxiety and
socio-emotional difficulties compared to their non-military peers, due in part
to the unique stressors of military life. The study provides feasibility
findings of a mindfulness-based adventure camp that was conducted in Colorado
and Hawai‘i with 292 military youth, through a partnership with 4-H Extension Professionals/Operation:
Military Kids. The results suggest that military youth were highly satisfied
with the camp experience and that mindfulness tools could be used to help deal
with stress. Mindfulness-based programs could be one way for Extension professionals
to work with youth. This June, Thao will further her research into mindfulness
at the 2014 Mind and Life Summer Research Institute as a Senior Investigator at
the Garrison Institute in New York, doing her part to advance collaborative
research in behavioral science, neuroscience, and mind-body medicine based on a
process of inquiry, dialogue, and collaboration with contemplative
practitioners and scholars of contemplative traditions.
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Aquaponics in Action
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Last week Leina‘ala Bright presented an exciting and unique application of
aquaponics techniques at her daylong hands-on workshop, Waihona La‘au Lapa‘au, or the Hawaiian Herbal
Medicine Cabinet. At the Magoon Research Center’s aquaponics facility, Hale Tuahine, Leina‘ala first offered a PowerPoint presentation and an aquaponics tour to the more than 25 fascinated participants, one of whom had traveled from Moloka‘i just for the event. After the introduction
to both aquaponics and la‘au lapa‘au, or Native Hawaiian healing
herbs, she described and demonstrated techniques for picking and preparing la‘au and cooking i‘a,
fish, inviting the workshop attendees to create their own Native Hawaiian remedies and then to choose the (still-swimming) aquaponically raised fish that they would enjoy for lunch, ably harvested by her husband and son. Leina‘ala then discussed the ‘A‘ali‘i
Indigenous Student Science Center soon to be built at Magoon and concluded an information-rich day with a lomilomi
oil demonstration, including basic paola lomi techniques. Leina‘ala is a
graduate student in the Hawai‘inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge who works
with MBBE’s Clyde Tamaru on aquaponics.
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Partners for Future Natural Resource Management
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR NREM recently celebrated its partnership with Hau‘oli Mau
Loa Foundation, recognizing the upcoming graduation of the first three Hau‘oli
Mau Loa fellows, Alex Lau, Jon Lance, and Nick Wilhoite, who were awarded
fellowships through the Foundation in 2012. Also recognized at the event were
mid-degree fellows Danielle Fujii-Doe, Michelle Lazaro, and Leah Laramee, who
were awarded fellowships in 2013. Hau‘oli Mau Loa provides generous funds for
the fellowships, which include a tuition exemption, graduate assistantship, and
funds for professional development. The fellowship is part of the Foundation’s
Environmental Leadership Pathways initiative, which partners with key
Hawai‘i-based organizations to engage and prepare the next generation of
environmental resource management professionals in Hawai‘i. The event was an
opportunity to thank the Hau‘oli Mau Loa Foundation for their past, current,
and future support for NREM’s graduate program and a chance for Hau‘oli Mau Loa
staff Janis Reischmann, Brant Chillingworth, and Keahi Makaimoku to meet the
fellows, their advisors, and NREM staff and faculty.
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Awesome Animal Docs of the Future
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR A big congratulations to the 11 HNFAS students receiving the
2014 Charles Reid, DVM Memorial Scholarships! Three graduating awardees have
been accepted to veterinary school: Geneva Graef to Washington State, Jonathan
Onaga to Colorado State, and Kaleigh Morrison to University of Illinois. The
continuing student awardees are Brandy Stewart, Sylvia Lee, Krystle Ito,
Jerrisa Ching, Walter Benavitz, Andrew Haro, and Kealaaumoe Stibbard. Not
pictured is Franscisco Valenzuela, who was awarded the freshman Charles Reid,
DVM Memorial Scholarship and will be joining the Pre-Veterinary Program this
fall. Great job, everyone, and keep those animals healthy!
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Kona on the Radio
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Hawai‘i Public Radio recently interviewed Kona Extension
agents Andrea Kawabata and Ty McDonald about issues relevant to the Big Island
and beyond. Andrea talked about the damage caused by the coffee berry borer to
crops, famers, and the economy, bringing listeners up to date on the fight
against the pest and the plans for future control. Ty explained tree safety and
the dangers of working with trees, not only in the landscape industry but also
for construction workers, crop producers, and homeowners. There’s a lot to know
when partnering with nature, and these two agents are doing their part to
inform the community about it.
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Attack on Banyan
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR When two new damaging insects were discovered on Hawai‘i’s
banyan trees, and particularly on the Manoa campus, Zhiqiang Cheng (PEPS) was
ready for battle. KHON and Honolulu Civil Beat spoke to Zhiqiang about the
fight against the lobate lac scale and the stem-galling wasp, two relatively
new pests in the state, which are responsible for the death or removal of
banyans around O‘ahu. The treatment research for campus trees started in July
2013 when an arborist noticed the stem-galling wasp problem on the East-West
Center trees. The research was split between 45 Chinese banyans (36 treated, 9
control), and 10 weeping banyans (5 treated, 5 control). Zhiqiang compared two
pesticides in an effort to limit further damage to the trees. Watch the KHON
video or read the Civil Beat article. Those who love these iconic and shapely shade trees on campus and throughout the Honolulu urban landscape should be grateful for his efforts!
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Celebration, Congratulations, Convocation!
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR On Wednesday, May 7, more than 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. Spring
2014 student marshals Maili Huck (FSHN) and Ryan Pe‘a (NREM), 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. Five students who completed the Dietetic Internship
Program were also recognized. The ceremony concluded with the individual
recognition of 61 graduates, followed by refreshments and a chance to mingle. A
big mahalo to all those who supported the graduating students: to SAPFB for
partial funding, the CTAHR Alumni Association and Friends for their support,
Steven and Karen Sato for donating lei, CTAHR scholarship recipients and
student ambassadors for volunteering, and ASAO for providing the CTAHR
memorabilia presented to the graduates and organizing the event.
Congratulations to our graduating students for achieving such a milestone! Good
luck in your future endeavors!
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Farm Healthy and Farm Safely
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Jim Hollyer (CHL) and Bradley “Kai” Fox (formerly of MBBE)
recently published the article “Good Agricultural Practices and Aquaponics” in the intriguingly named journal Aquaponics
Survival Communities. The extensive guide suggests using best food safety practices from day one and includes methods for
avoiding a variety of types of contamination, a list of different pesticides that may be used, and
information on state and federal guidelines for pesticide use for small farmers
and small-scale growers.
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Making FETCH Happen
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR On Mother’s Day at the UH Manoa Energy House, CTAHR’s Family
Education Training Center of Hawai‘i (FETCH) celebrated its 10th year of providing services to the community by strengthening families
and developing youth potential by teaching sustainable science concepts and
lifestyles. Fifty community members
attended the event, where they toured the 12 “regions of the world” gardens
designed by landscape architecture student Chris Telomen. They also got to sample food from each region, view teens’ science-fair projects, plant
flowers in Mother’s Day pots, view photo collages of FETCH participants over the last decade, reminisce, and eat cake. Participants
described how FETCH had helped their families and dozens of others. FETCH runs
weekly sustainability workshops at Hale Tuahine, where families grow and
maintain organic gardens, build hydroponic and composting systems, and learn to cook
their freshly harvested produce. At monthly PermaBlitzes, participants help each other
start sustainable gardens at their homes. Teens complete a 10-month advanced
internship in Community Supported Agriculture farming. Youth and staff
renovated the Energy House, under the supervision of master builder James
Estrella, and they also built the Energy House gardens, systems, and structures. The Energy House will
hold an open house each month, to which the public will be invited to tour the gardens
and learn sustainable gardening.
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The Peak of Student Global Agriculture
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Arby Barone and Tiffany Ulep (both MBBE) were selected to
attend the national summit of the International Association of Students in
Agriculture and Related Sciences in Seattle. This network of students works to
promote the exchange of knowledge, experience, and ideas and to foster mutual
understanding between students in agricultural and related sciences around the
world. “Overall, the 2014 National Summit was an inspiring and educational
experience,” Arby says. “Having the opportunity to share with students,
advisors, and professionals from across the nation about the state of
agriculture in Hawai'i, both
in the forums and at the trade fair (which highlights each state’s unique
agriculture), was encouraging.” Tiffany was also encouraged by her experiences
at the summit: “From participating in this conference I got to meet students who have gone to Ethiopia, Chile, South Africa, and Rwanda for research; who have been in the Peace
Corps and had internships all relating to agriculture. Overall I feel, especially
coming from Hawai'i, that this
conference has opened my eyes to larger pictures like global food security,
international markets and trades, and cultural inequality.”
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Learning on the Job
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR NREM major Jade McMillen recently finished an internship
with State Representative Richard Onishi’s office in which she worked with his staff to research various aspects of the bills introduced in the 2014
legislative session. “Through this internship I was able to become much more
familiar with policy language and processes,” she says. “I learned how complex
the policy process is and that effective implementation of even the most
well-supported measures can be challenging. This experience helped to bring
more insight to the topics discussed in my classes and also reinforced my
interest in the policy aspects of natural resource and environmental management
issues.” Great job, Jade!
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Preventing Pathogens
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR alumnus Matthew Goo is safeguarding U.S. agriculture and
facilitating international trade. A plant pathologist for the USDA Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Services, Plant Progection and Quarantine, he earned his
bachelor’s degree in horticulture science and his master’s in plant pathology
from the college. Matthew works with stakeholders, including the public, to convey the
impact of plant pathogens. He identifies pathogens from mainly foreign cargo
shipments and navigates the different socioeconomic issues of international
agricultural trade. Matthew credits the CTAHR ‘ohana past and present with
supporting him to make a difference in his chosen field. Those who inspired him come
from across CTAHR, including Sylvia Yuen, Allene Chun, Desmond Ogata,
Donald Schmitt, Stephen Ferreira, Mann Ko, John Hu, Brent Sipes, and Donna
Meyer. “But most importantly,” he says of the college, “I feel very fortunate to be able to work with an organization that continues to remain consistent in cultivating human potential through education, research, and
cooperative extension.” It has certainly cultivated it in Matthew!
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The Impact (Report) of Technology
6/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Rejoice! The 2014 Spring Impact Report is here! It focuses on the different ways CTAHR faculty, staff, and students use today’s
technology to advance their projects, with a particular eye on Extension. Read
about the college's innovative use of smartphones, data maps, Facebook, and more, all bringing information about campus trees, Island wildfires, plant diseases, and the state insect to the community. And as always, the Impact Report webpage has previous Impact Reports on the great work done by CTAHR.
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May
WSARE Aware
5/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Sustainable and Organic Agriculture Program (SOAP) will
welcome Teryl Roper, the new director of Western Sustainable Agriculture
Research and Education (WSARE) on Friday, June 6, at 3:00 p.m. in Gilmore 306. WSARE
has been very supportive of research and education efforts in Hawai‘i, and they
also support an annual Professional Development Program for Ag Professionals
that Ted Radovich, Jody Smith and Jari Sugano help to coordinate. Anyone
interested in WSARE funding should come down and meet the new director!
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T&P Congrats!
5/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to all newly tenured and promoted CTAHR
personnel! Ivette Stern (COF) received tenure as a junior specialist. Jon-Paul
Bingham (MBBE) and Maria Stewart (HNFAS) received tenure and promotion
to the rank of associate professor. Matthew Stevenson (HNFAS) received tenure and promotion
to associate extension agent, while Gernot Presting (MBBE) and Ashley Stokes (HNFAS)
were promoted to professor and specialist, respectively. CTAHR is fortunate in having such highly qualified members of its ‘ohana!
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A New Brew From Coffee Cherries?
5/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Come check out the awesome final design presentations for
Daniel Jenkins’ (MBBE) BE 420 class, Sensors and Instrumentation for Biological
Systems, on Thursday, May 15, at 12:00 noon in AEI 123. The students will proudly
showcase designs for a digital hydrometer for a home-brewing vessel; a
discrete haptic device for facilitating mobility in the sight-impaired; and the
design, fabrication, and testing of a low-cost, compact 6 DOF
accelerometer/gyro sensor to be integrated with a magnetic levitation haptic
interface (if you don’t know what that is, it’s time you found out!). Daniel will provide some pizza, and if all goes well, the home-brewing vessel will yield samples of a “refreshingly delicious” fermented beverage made from coffee cherries.
You certainly don’t want to miss that!
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Farm Those Resources!
5/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Find out what’s available to help your farm! Multi-agency
Farmers’ Resource Workshops will be held Friday, May 16, at 4:00 p.m. at OCET 106 at
Kaua‘i Community College, and Friday, May 23, at 4:00 p.m. at the Aupuni Center in
Hilo. The workshops will highlight the services offered by the state and federal government to farmers. CTAHR Extension agent Robin Shimabuku and emeritus agent
Steve Fukuda join the traveling multi-agency team to explain spray calibration
and coverage issues. For more information or to RSVP, contact Steve Russo at
Steve.Russo@Hawaii.gov or 973-9409. Previous events have filled up quickly, so reserve your spot today!
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Keep Calm and Prevent Cancer
5/13/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Former MBBE faculty Dr. Roderick Dashwood will be returning to the Islands to present the
seminar “HDAC Inhibitors and Cancer Chemoprevention” on Tuesday, May 20, at 10:00 a.m.
at the UH Cancer Center’s Sullivan Conference Room. Dr. Dashwood is the
director for the Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention in the Institute
of Biosciences and Technology at the Texas A&M Health Science Center. For
more information, contact Pratibha Nerurkar (also MBBE) at pratibha@hawaii.edu or
956-9195. Be there or lack preventive measures!
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The Many Steps of GMO Regulation
5/6/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Ever wonder how genetically modified crops are assessed and vetted for safety? Then you'll want to read the new issue of Biotech in Focus, which addresses the rules for
commercially distributing genetically engineered crops in the US. Ania
Wieczorek (TPSS) explains how new GMO crops are regulated as they move from the
labs to the fields to the market to feedlots and dining room tables. The
newsletter also lists which government organizations play a role in GMO
regulation. When you finish the new issue, check out the archives of Biotech
in Focus on the website!
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Centennial Starts Now!
5/6/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Thursday, May 8, 2014, marks the 100th anniversary of the
signing into law the provisions of the Smith-Lever Act, which established the
Cooperative Extension Service. A
celebration will commence in Washington, DC, at 9:30 a.m. EDT and will continue
throughout the day. You can view the live stream here. If you’re on Facebook, check out and friend the “CES CTAHR”
FB page. If you’re on Twitter, use #ctahrces100 for CTAHR’s celebration, or
#ext100years to share with your national colleagues. In addition, there will be a special hashtag to be
used to post special messages on May 8 only, #CoopExt. Please send your stories about how CES has
influenced your life or the lives of your clientele to @ctahrces100 or ces100@ctahr.hawaii.edu.
Read even more about Hawaii CES at the CES 100 web page and in CTAHR in
Focus. The Hamilton Library has also put up a Library Research Page about
Cooperative Extension. Lastly, at the 2014 CTAHR Awards Banquet, Friday,
May 9, the CES centennial will be featured alongside the many awardees.
Happy 100 years of fantastic Extension service by amazing specialists, agents, and staff! Here’s
to 100 more!
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Yoga Balls and Expressive Writing
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to Melissa Blaisdell and Ronelyn Ganir, two
FamR majors who were awarded highly competitive UHM 2014 Undergraduate
Research Opportunities Program (UROP) fellowships for their research proposals!
Melissa was funded to conduct a study entitled “Yoga Balls in the Elementary
School Classroom.” Her study will examine whether sitting on yoga balls can
increase concentration and learning in first grade students at a local
elementary school. Ronelyn (left) was funded to conduct a study entitled “The Effects
of Expressive Writing on Stress, Blood Pressure, and Cortisol.” Ronelyn’s study will use pre-post tests
to determine if participation in a four-week expressive writing program can lower
stress and its physiological correlates in college students. Both students were
mentored by Lori Yancura (FCS, right). All undergraduate students are eligible to
apply for UROP fellowships to fund independent research projects under the
direction of a faculty mentor. Go for it, Melissa and Ronelyn!
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The Origins of Fruit Fly Invasion
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR PhD candidate Michael San Jose (PEPS) will be honored with
the prestigious 2014 Achievement Rewards for College Scientists (ARCS) Helen
Jones Farrar Award in Tropical Agriculture. This honor comes in the wake of
being selected for the Gamma Sigma Delta PhD Student Oral Presentation Award in
the 2014 CTAHR/COE Student Research Symposium. Michael delivered an oral and
poster presentation at the 2014 ARCS Symposium, “Systematics and Population
Genetics of the Bactrocera dorsalis Complex.” Fruit flies in the genus Bactrocera have invaded many
countries worldwide, causing economic hardship not only through crop damage
but also through trade restrictions. With his PEPS mentors Luc LeBlanc and Dan
Rubinoff, Michael conducted a population genetics analysis of fruit flies across
their native and invasive populations with the goals of identifying a possible
origin of invasion and developing reliable identification tools for growers and
inspectors to maximize control efforts. The Helen Jones Farrar Award will be
presented to Michael at the ARCS Scholar Award Banquet on May 5.
Congratulations, Michael!
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On the Web
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR In honor of the upcoming Amazing
Spider-Man 2, the Star-Advertiser
featured CTAHR’s Insect Museum and the wealth of web-crawling spiders housed
and researched there. Museum director Dan Rubinoff and Paul Krushelnycky (both
PEPS) describe some of the more notable of Hawai‘i’s 128 endemic and 100
introduced species of spiders, including some that masquerade as ants, steal
from other spiders’ webs, hunt by spearing flying insects, and even resemble happy faces or
Orson Welles!
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Dreams of Fashion
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The 2014 Senior Fashion Show, Réverie, was dreamy. The show’s
48th annual incarnation unfolded this past weekend at the Waikiki Beach Mariott
to a full and enthusiastic house and garnered a laudatory review in the blog Nonstop Online Entertainment Honolulu by
Amanda Stevens. Stevens praises the various collections and individual pieces,
from an “imaginative, sexy and colorful” stingray-inspired dress (pictured) to Tori Speere’s
“tres romantic” and “chic” styles. Some of the pieces are fit for a gala, she
maintains; others ready to grace the wardrobe of actresses like Zooey
Deschanel. And a look at the gallery of images, courtesy of Lyle Amine, shows
that this high praise is nothing but the truth.
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Taking the Fight to the Weeds
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The
eXtension.org Garden Professors blog knows an explosive story when they see one: they featured NREM’s James Leary’s Herbicide
Ballistic Technology in their “Go ahead, weed, make my day…” entry. James
recently presented a seminar at Michigan State University about his creative
system of invasive plant control and his work with the Maui Invasive Species
committee to eliminate miconia in Hawai‘i’s forests.
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Finding Wealth
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR As the Cooperative Extension Service continues its triumphant yearlong
celebration of a century of outreach and community engagement, it’s good to
hear praises from some of those helped by Extension agents and programs. As Michael Cheang explains, he has foci on two opposite ends of the lifespan in his
work as an Extension agent—efforts to get elementary school children to save
money for their future, and baby boomers caring for their aging
parents. The parents of the children and the children of the elders are
both grateful he’s chosen these areas: the father of an enthusiastic
six-year-old saver relates affectionately that when his son heard he had $7.20,
“he yelled out in excitement, ‘Dad! Oh boy…I’m gonna be rich!’” Also feeling
rich is the caretaker of her 92-year-old father: “This workshop has opened my
eyes to so many possibilities of engaging my dad,” she exclaims; “I no longer
see him as a burden, but remember him as the vibrant, curious, enthusiastic
businessman. Now I see him as a care partner…he can care for me as much as I
care for him. How amazing life has turned out to be!”
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The Economics of Distinguished Scholarship
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Chennat Gopalakrishnan (NREM, Emeritus) will
be presented the Distinguished Scholar Award at the Western Agricultural Economics
Association (WAEA)
meeting in Colorado Springs in June. The
award grants the highest recognition to WAEA members making an enduring
contribution over their career to agricultural or other type of applied,
resource, and/or environmental economics in the Western states and the WAEA.
Nominees must have demonstrated excellence in two or more of the following
areas of performance: basic and applied economics research; integration of knowledge
(textbook writing or synthetic reviews); service or outreach drawing on economic
expertise; teaching; and administration or service. Of course, Gopal is a poet of economics
as well, which just makes him the more distinguished!
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Cooperative at the Library
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Where
better to do research than at the library—or the library’s website? In honor of
the CES centennial, Manoa’s Hamilton Library has put together an awesome,
extensive online research guide to CTAHR’s Cooperative Extension Services. The
guide is full of Extension goodness, with links to information about history,
programs, videos, resources, and more. If you visit Hamilton Library, there’s
also a physical exhibit of vintage extension publications.
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Showcasing Aquaponics
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Want to
know about local and international aquaponics? Come join the “Growth of
Aquaponics: East Meets West” seminar on Saturday, May 10, from 11:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. at the Art Building Auditorium. The event, organized by Clyde Tamaru
(MBBE, pictured), highlights current efforts in aquaponics in Hawai‘i, Japan, and Utah. Dean Maria Gallo will open the
seminar, and CTAHR’s Marissa Lee (MBBE), Harry Ako (MBBE), Jensen Uyeda (TPPS),
Jari Sugano (PEPS), and Clyde will present. The seminar also features speakers
from Japan’s Horimasa International, Utah’s Weber State University, and local
Mari’s Garden and Pacific American Foundation. Highlights include WSU’s
demonstration of a behind-the-scenes prototype of an actual working aquaponic
system, reports on commercialization of aquaponics statewide, sustainable
models, CTAHR research, and Cooperative Extension support on O‘ahu for
Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Read the entire program, and register now.
Seats are limited!
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Get Healthy!
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Health starts with a healthy mindset, so check out three new
Health Options articles by Alan Titchenal and Joannie Dobbs (both HNFAS). Their
March 11 article focuses on iron deficiency, the symptoms, and how to
incorporate more iron into your diet. On March 25, they explored the
consequences of labeling food “good” and “bad,”particularly fats and
cholesterol. And their most recent article encourages consumers to enjoy
locally-grown vegetables. Go get these articles and other healthy tips on the
Health Options website!
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Plants of Yesteryear, Seeds of Tomorrow
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR With funding support from CTAHR, students in TPSS 421
Tropical Seed Science had the opportunity to visit the USDA National Resource
Conservation Service station on Moloka‘i to learn about the production of native
plant seeds for conservation and roadside planting and restoration of
vegetation on Kaho‘olawe. Accompanied by their instructor, Richard Criley
(TPSS), the students learned about the challenges of producing quantities of
seeds of native species for which there was no previous experience. They saw
field plantings of ‘a‘ali‘i, ‘ilima, ‘uhaloa, and pili grass, which are among
target species for roadside planting to reduce erosion and maintenance in
programs such as those initiated by Joe DeFrank (TPSS) and his students. Hosts Glenn Sakamoto and Kawika
Duvachelle demonstrated seed-cleaning equipment such as threshers, shakers, and
screens, as well as aspirators to extract seed from previously collected seedheads.
Additional research at the station is concerned with the use of native plants
as resources for pollinators such as bees, flies, and other insects. CTAHR is
privileged to have emeritus faculty like Richard who continue to contribute to
the college in retirement!
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What Lies Beneath...the Soil
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CES Agriculture Diagnostic Service Center Manager Ray Uchida
recently appeared on KHON to offer his expertise on the soil contaminants
found at Radford High School. Work on an all-weather track around the football
field was halted in December when toxic chemicals were found buried under the
campus, and testing revealed lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury in the soil. Because the chemicals were found two to three feet below the surface, the high
levels are considered safe, but Ray still recommends caution, particularly
about the lead. “I would be concerned with it because you don’t know what might
happen if you scrape it off, but it won’t move upward,” he said. Watch the
video at the KHON website.
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Maui Ag-Tastic!
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Maui residents and visitors alike learned about the array of
CTAHR programs at the 2014 Maui Agricultural Festival at Maui Tropical
Plantation. Highlights included the events celebrating the Centennial of Cooperative Extension. The Green Valley Clovers 4-H Club brought the Centennial Passport Scavenger
Hunt to life, encouraging participants to learn more about CTAHR programs for
agricultural businesses, home gardeners, and families. Cooperative Extension
exhibits included Pest of the Hour, Master Gardeners, fruit fly management, the Weed Doctor, Aging with Dignity, the Maui Educational Apiary Project, 4-H,
the Sustainable and Organic Agricultural Program (SOAP), Nutrition Education for
Wellness (NEW), and the Maui Cooperative Extension Centennial timeline. In addition to the CTAHR CES bonanza, Maui
Agricultural Research Center (MARC) showcased their breeding work with taro and
Protea family plants, offering plant material and expert advice on how to
cultivate these plants in gardens and farms as well as cooked samples of
selected taro varieties (and yes, they had the required temporary food permit). Then, for
people interested in our academic programs, who better to ask than Charly
Kinoshita, who offered his encouragement and expertise? A big mahalo to everyone who helped make this an Ag Fesitval
success!
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Everyone Loves a (Science) Fair
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR This year 11 generous CTAHR faculty and graduate students volunteered as judges in the 57th Hawaii State Science and
Engineering Fair, April 1 and 2, at the Hawaii Convention Center. Jinan
Banna (HNFAS), Rajesh Jha (HNFAS), Soojin Jun (HNFAS), Hye-Ji Kim (TPSS),
Associate Dean Charles Kinoshita, Kent Kobayashi (TPSS), Robert Paull (TPSS),
Nora Robertson (MBBE), Brent Sipes (PEPS), Brian Turano (TPSS), and Russell
Yost (TPSS) all 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 Lily Jenkins
(pictured with Brent Sipes), a 9th-grader at Molokai High and Intermediate
School, who presented findings from her research project, “Ecological
Effects of Non-Native Vegetation at Man-Made Canal at Pukuo‘o, Molokai.”
Concerned about the sediment accumulating in the pond across the street from
her home, Lily embarked on a 12-month effort of observation, sampling, and data
analysis of the water, plants, and sediment in the pond. Based on her research, she
concluded that the invasive vegetation found in Puko‘o Canal is a contributing
factor to stream-flow blockage and sedimentation. Lily presently is working
with the landowner to develop a plan to remove the invasive species and restore
the pond. 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!
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Congratulations, Awesome Awardees!
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR
CTAHR proudly announces the 2014 recipients of awards for
exceptional performance and service. Faculty, staff, and student awardees (drumroll, please):
Excellence in Teaching, Christopher Lepczyk, associate professor, NREM
Excellence in Research,
Gernot Presting, associate professor, MBBE
Excellence in Extension, Michael DuPonte, county extension
agent, Komohana
Outstanding Service by an
APT Employee, Lisa Kitagawa-Akagi, student services specialist, OASA
Outstanding Civil Service,
Deborah Wong, secretary, NREM
Alvin T. and Charlotte C.
Nakamura “Hoku” Award for demonstrated commitment and leadership potential,
Ashley Stokes, associate professor, HNFAS
Ka Pouhana “Mentor” Award,
Mark Segobiano, instructor, HNFAS
Ka Hana Po‘okela Award for
undergraduate contributions to a student organization and/or the community, Jay
Gibson, FSHN major.
2014 UH Manoa Chancellor’s Citation for Meritorious Teaching Award, Loriena Yancura, associate
professor, FCS
Recipients will be honored at CTAHR’s 26th Annual Awards
Banquet, Friday, May 9 at the Ala Moana Hotel.
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He Talks to the Animals
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR It’s always heartening to hear about alumni doing
well. Dr. Eric Ako (BS AnSc 1978), who spoke to CTAHR students at a career
workshop in March, has certainly been doing a lot since his graduation! Here’s
a peek into his many activities and honors, and the mentors who helped him to
get where he’s at. First of all, he’d like to acknowledge Professor Emeritus
Allen Y Miyahara and Professor Bob Nakamura, whom he identifies as the main
mentors for many veterinary students in the ’70s and ’80s. Prof. Miyahara sent him
to Purdue, where he was a member of the veterinary honor society Phi Zeta, was
awarded the AAHA Clinical Proficiency in Small Animal Medicine and Surgery
Award, and was the first Hawai‘i grad to earn his DVM. Since then he’s given
back to the community through his association with numerous veterinary and
animal-oriented organizations, including being past president of the Honolulu
Veterinary Society, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, and the Honolulu
Zoological Society; past chair of the Board of Veterinary Examiners of the state
of Hawai‘i and past chair of UH IBC; a board member of the Hawaiian Humane
Society; the co-founder and advisor for the WCC VT Program; and the Hawai‘i liaison
of the Association of Avian Veterinarians. And he’s still executive vice president
of the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association! But just to show that his
interests aren’t simply one-sided (or four-footed), he’s also the recipient of
the Distinguished Rifleman Badge of the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Way to
take aim on a career from CTAHR!
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No Pain (Blockers), No Gain
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR MBBE MS student Chris Sugai has accepted an 8-month,
all-expenses-paid internship in analytical development at Merck KGaA in Germany,
where he will be purifying new chemical entities to eliminate variables as part
of the testing process for new drugs in development. Afterward, he hopes to
find a job there or elsewhere in Germany or another European country—after
growing up on the Big Island, he says, he is ready to see more of the world.
Chris comes from an old coffee-growing family—his grandfather and
great-grandfather were growers in Kona—and the family is now having its run-ins
with the coffee berry borer. His father broke with tradition to attend medical
school in Hawai‘i and become a pediatrician, however, and Chris wants to follow
in his father’s footsteps and help others, though he prefers the lab to the
doctor’s office. He plans to return to school for his PhD in neuroscience after
gaining some practical experience; after all, as he points out, the work he is
doing in JP Bingham’s lab for his MS is itself neuroscience, studying the
effects of pain blockers on the nervous system. Chris was also awarded a 2013
GSO research award, and is using the information gained from that research for
his Master’s thesis. We can’t wait to see what he’ll do in his additional
scholarly pursuits!
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How to Build a Toxin
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Chino Cabalteja (MBBE master’s student) was
awarded the 2014 UHM Student Excellence in Research Award for his work in JP
Bingham’s lab with conotoxins, poisons produced by cone snails that it is now
possible to recreate in the lab. Chino explains that conotoxins are small peptides
that can be formulated, amino acid by amino acid, but that an interesting
discovery arising from his research is that human-made conotoxins have
different configurations than those that are created naturally by the snails.
It was this discovery that led to his award. Chino was honored at a UH
Manoa awards ceremony on April 30 at the Orvis Auditorium and,
with the rest of the CTAHR award winners, will be honored at the Awards Banquet on May 9. This
wasn’t the only award for Chino, who’s known amongst his student colleagues as
the lab superstar; he also won an award at last year’s CTAHR Research Symposium
for best poster by a master’s student, also on the subject of peptides, and was
awarded a travel stipend to attend several conferences. Chino will be attending
the University of Pittsburgh’s prestigious PhD program in the fall, but when
he’s earned his doctorate, he wants to come back to Hawai‘i. Originally from
the Philippines, he grew up on Kaua‘i, where he says there wasn’t much in the
way of science enrichment education. That situation is now changing thanks to
such programs as the Kaua‘i Gene-ius Day program, which a cousin of his
attended and loved, and he wants to be part of that change. Kaua‘i’s science
community will be fortunate to have him!
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The App Heard ’Round the World
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Check out the
user locations for The Plant Doctor smartphone app created by Scot Nelson—Indonesia to Iceland, South Africa to Sweden! Since January 2013, the free plant pest diagnostic app has been used by growers around the globe. The Plant Doctor
provides interactive diagnosis and advice about plant diseases in gardens,
landscapes, nurseries, and farms. Download The Plant Doctor in English and
Spanish, and get with the worldwide phenomenon!
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A Whole Range of Talents
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to Mealani Research Station’s Marla
Fergerstrom, recipient of the 2014 UH Manoa Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding
Service! Marla is invaluable to the ranching community, as well as to CTAHR, for her dedication to
improving the herd and for keeping everything on track at the Mealani Research
Station, from the livestock to the blueberry and tea plantations to the always fabulous Mealani’s
Taste of the Hawaiian Range. The Manoa Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding
Service honors staff members who demonstrate outstanding work
performance, service, and leadership. Marla was honored with the other
Chancellor’s Award winners on April 30 and will be recognized at the Awards Banquet on May 9 along with all of the other illustrious members of the CTAHR ‘ohana.
Marla was also honored in 2012 with CTAHR’s award for Outstanding Civil Service. And it’s clear her little friend thinks she’s pretty special, too!
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Nalo Hale
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Tops are important. Just think: an umbrella without a top is just a
stick. A bikini without a top is a wardrobe malfunction! A jug of milk without
a top is a big mess. And the Waimanalo On-Farm Learning Pavilion without a roof
can’t provide needed shelter to the many community members, CTAHR
students, schoolchildren, and workshop participants who visit the Waimanalo
Research Station. That’s the situation right now, and that’s why the Station
has put up a campaign on the crowdfunding site Indiegogo to raise money so they can raise
the roof! And now they need supporters in CTAHR to raise some buzz about the
campaign. Know anyone who wants to donate (even a few dollars) to a worthy
cause? Point them in the direction of Waimanalo! There’s still enough time left on the campaign to get some shelter on the pavilion.
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Pic That Papaya!
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Hawai‘i Public Radio recently interviewed Scot Nelson (PEPS) about
the Pic-a-Papaya smartphone app to track the papaya ringspot virus on O‘ahu.
The app was developed by Scot and Richard Manshardt (TPSS) to engage the
public on this potentially devastating papaya pest. App users are encouraged to use their smartphones to take pictures of fruits potentially infected with ringspot virus and send them to the researchers for diagnosis. Listen to the Hawai‘i Public Radio interview, and then learn more about the Pic-a-Papaya app and how you can help fight ringspot disease! You can also send in leaf samples to get your papaya plant checked for GMO status, and receive free seeds to replace virus-infected or genetically engineered plants. What a good deal!
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From Little Seeds to Yummy Salad
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Noelani Elementary B5 First Graders are getting an A in
hydroponic lettuce! With the help of their teacher Lianne Morita, these future
produce growers and appreciators used recycled milk cartons to grow their
lettuce from seeds, a process they learned from Kent Kobayashi (TPSS). They
watched the entire growing process over about five weeks, and when the lettuce
was ready, they harvested it and made a wonderful, healthy salad. Check out the
entire process, and the beautiful healthy lettuce (and keiki) at the project blog! Great job, B5 first graders!
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Outstanding Research!
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The 26th annual CTAHR Student Research Symposium was held
April 11 and 12, featuring 129 oral or
poster presentations. Symposium topics ranged from fundamental investigations
to novel applications, spanning engineering, production agriculture,
environmental technologies, health and food sciences, family and consumer
sciences, and natural sciences. The caliber of the students’ work was truly
awesome...or, as Associate Dean Charly Kinoshita so aptly put it, it inspired “awe, and then some.” Thank-yous go to those whose hard work made this event successful,
including the student participants and faculty advisers/mentors, judges and
moderators, staff and student volunteers, and members of the Symposium
Coordinating Committee (contributors and volunteers are listed on page 14 of
the Symposium program). Special
thanks goes to UH’s Student Activity Program and Fee Board for funding a
significant portion of this event and to CTAHR’s Sylvia Trinh for applying for
SAPFB funding and coordinating much of the event. Check the symposium website
for CTAHR students whose oral and
poster presentations received special recognition by the panel of judges. The
top CTAHR Symposium awardees will be recognized at CTAHR’s 26th Annual Awards
Banquet. Those who were unable to attend the Symposium can still get a taste of the excitement by downloading
the program from the Symposium homepage, and checking out the photos of the awesome posters
from April 11. Congratulations to all students who
participated in this year's Student Research Symposium!
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Basic, Strange, and Landmark
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Sometimes breakthroughs in research come from unexpected places, and the American Journal of Botany has recognized Dr. B's non-traditional work. “When I was a kid in the 60’s, CTAHR’s Department of Horticulture
not only allowed my lab to ‘play with pollen’ but let me nurture several grads
through without obvious application to problems of Hawai‘i farmers,” Dr. B remembers. Fast-forward 50+ years, and the 100th anniversary volume of the American
Journal of Botany reviewed the landmark contributions to pollen evolution
research that came from Dr. B’s “basic, but strange” work, including the
evolutionary law named after him, the Brewbaker-Schurhoff law. Read more at the
American Journal of Botany website.
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Millions of Moth Years
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Will Haines and Dan Rubinoff (both PEPS)
and Patrick Schmitz, formerly of PEPS as well, are taking a look back into the past with the moth genus Hyposmocoma, otherwise
known as the Hawaiian fancy case caterpillar for the elaborate silk cases the
larvae construct and carry on their backs. In their new study “Ancient
diversification of Hyposmocoma moths in Hawai‘i”
published in Nature Communications, the team shows that Hyposmocoma have been
in Hawai‘i for about 15 million years, contrary to previous studies that
suggested that the majority of organisms colonized the islands 5 million years
ago. They show that Hyposmocoma has dispersed from the remote Northwestern
Hawaiian Islands to the current high islands more than 20 times, something that
has never been shown in another Hawaiian animal or plant group. Read the news
release or peruse the article at the Nature Communications website.
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Ce-le-brate Good (Extension) Times!
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Take a look at the great outreach work done by the CTAHR
‘ohana at the new CTAHR CES Centennial website! In 1914, the Smith Lever Act
was passed, and this year marks 100 years of Cooperative Extension in the U.S.
Although outreach work had been going on in Hawai‘i
for years, the University of Hawai‘i
officially established the Cooperative Extension Service in 1928, and it’s been
going strong ever since. You can also keep up with Centennial updates with the
CTAHR CES twitter feed. Here's to the first 100 years, and many more in the future of Cooperative Extension!
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Open House Success!
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Poamoho Research Station held a successful Plant Propagation
and Crop Nutrition Open House on March 29. Participants got to check out the
great variety of crops at the station including lettuce, papaya, bananas, tea,
and more. They also got to learn about organic, sustainable growing, and
fertilizer, as well as hydroculture and other CTAHR projects. As the “price” of admission, they also were videotaped wishing Cooperative Extension a Happy 100th Birthday! See more pictures
of the awesome event as well as the beautiful produce at the station, and watch
the video of Jensen Uyeda (TPSS) talking about the event on Hawai‘i News Now.
An extra mahalo to retirees Dot Higashi (CES) and Ken Takeda and Steve Fukuda
(both TPSS) who came out to help!
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Oh, Happy (Ag) Day!
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR As part of the 100-year Anniversary of Cooperative Extension,
CTAHR celebrated Ag Day at the Capitol on March 28. Dean
Maria Gallo and CTAHR alumni Dennis Gonsalves and Chris Robb participated in
the Agricultural Coexistence panel discussion that focused on how organic
farming and biotechnology fit in the modern agricultural landscape in Hawai‘i.
CTAHR programs—Sustainable and Organic Agriculture (SOAP), Local and Immigrant
Farmer Education (LIFE), Nutrition Education for Wellness (NEW), and the UH
Honeybee Project—contributed displays and demonstrations for the public to view
and experience. Check out more images of Agriculture Awareness Day. Great job,
everyone!
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Celebrating Awesome Alumni
5/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR This year’s Awards Banquet honors two exemplary alumni, international
agronomist Dr. Thomas Lumpkin and Hawai‘i food industry executive Mr. Derek Kurisu.
“The two are both remarkable men, working in
very different places but united by a common dedication to using their
knowledge and skills in creative ways to build community and improve people’s
lives,” said Maria Gallo, CTAHR dean and director. “We are so proud to
celebrate their accomplishments.” Thomas Lumpkin, CTAHR’s 2014 Outstanding
Alumnus, has a long-standing interest in both agronomy and Asian studies. As
director general of CIMMYT, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center,
since 2008, he greatly expanded initiatives to improve the lives and economic
status of people in developing countries through horticulture, securing support
from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other funding sources. He
is an expert on azuki, wasabi, and edible soybeans (edamame) and the use of the
aquatic fern azolla as green manure and poultry feed. Derek Kurisu, himself selected as CTAHR’s Outstanding Alumnus in 2004, is this year’s recipient of the Ka Lei Hano Heritage Award, which honors a member of the community for exceptional service to the college. Executive vice president at KTA Super
Stores, he created the Mountain Apple Brand, a private label that partners with
producers to feature items grown or made in Hawai‘i. Mr. Kurisu draws on
his plantation roots, his employer’s commitment to the community, and his own
ability to come up with creative solutions and forge partnerships to diversify
and promote local agriculture, expand availability of locally produced food,
and encourage small vendors. Come celebrate Dr. Lumpkin’s and Mr. Kurisu’s accomplishments at the 26th Annual Awards Banquet on May 9!
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April
Eat Your Biotech
4/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR HNFAS presents the workshop “Communicating the Science of
Food & Agricultural Biotechnology” on Friday, May 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. in
Ag Sci 219. The workshop includes an introduction
to food biotechnology; what the science says about its safety and benefits;
environmental, food safety, and nutritional impacts of food production; consumer
perceptions of food biotechnology; improving the sustainability of our food supply;
ensuring continued access to food as the world population grows; overview of the
IFIC Foundation communicator’s guide on food biotechnology; and an interactive
discussion with science and nutrition experts. Space is limited, so please RSVP
early! For more information, contact Jinan Banna (HNFAS) at jcbanna@hawaii.edu or 956-7857.
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A Duo of Fun Events in Pictures
4/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Check out images from two great CTAHR events. Agriculture
enthusiasts enjoyed the fun, fabulous, Maui Agricultural Festival and
Centennial Extension Service celebration. And schoolchildren and rose lovers
celebrated peace and heroes at the lovely dedication ceremony for the Urban
Garden Center’s new rose gardens.
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Convocation Invocation
4/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Friendly reminder! There’s still time to RSVP for the CTAHR
Spring 2014 Graduation Convocation—the deadline is Friday, April 18.
Please use the online form. Some questions will not apply to you, but just fill
in the first four questions and hit submit! Your attendance on May 7, 5:30 to 7:00
p.m. at the Campus Center Ballroom, will help our graduating students celebrate
their academic achievements. The evening will include an intimate graduation
ceremony, presentation of our graduates, refreshments, lots of pride and goodwill, and maybe a few sentimental tears. Visit the website
for more information and the online RSVP form.
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April Showers? Let’s Garden!
4/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR
Julia Zee (HNFAS) recently posted her article “April showers—and a
little gardening—bring May flowers” at the healthy lifestyle blog
being808. Julia’s upbeat article celebrates April as National Gardening Month, and
encourages the involvement of youngsters in the garden with creative containers like empty milk jugs and fun games that show how many parts of plants we eat. She also has great tips
for beginning gardeners.
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Business Model for AquaFarmers
4/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Avery Lau and Donna “Sweetie” Kuehu (NREM) are competing in
the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the University of Wisconsin-Madison 2014
Agricultural Innovation Prize, where teams vie for the chance to win
$215,000 in prize money, with a grand prize of $100,000. Their ag innovation
plan entry is for Hawaii AquaSeed & Distribution Company LLC (HADCO), a
company conceived in ANSC 490 then established by Donna specifically for the
competition. HADCO’s mission is to grow AquaFarmers by implementing its
agriculture/aquaculture food system business model, which removes barriers and
obstacles for small to medium-size operations, resulting in sustainable
production of a fresh and nutritious food supply. The competition has narrowed
down to the top 30 teams, including the HADCO team, which have been invited to
participate in the semi-final and final rounds at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison’s Wisconsin Institute of Discovery on April 25 and 26.
Please read HADCO’s business abstract and support the team by “liking” it
on Facebook. The team with the
most “like” votes will be eligible for an Audience Choice Prize. Your vote makes a difference, so please
vote. Voting runs until April 24th. Go for it, Donna and Avery!
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Student Veggie Bounty
4/30/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The
vegetable crop production class (TPSS 401) ends the semester with a big
harvest, of leafy greens and a few intangibles as well. Their replicated pak
choi variety trial conducted at Magoon, which tested different varieties for assorted desirable
characteristics, yielded information, nutritional veggies, and an improved
awareness of the important and often difficult job our farmers have. All that
and college credit, too!
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Happy Make-A-Sandwich Day!
4/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Join That
Sandwich Club under the leadership of HNFAS student Kaylin Infante for
Make-A-Sandwich-Day, Tuesday, April 29, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Campus
Center in front of Jamba Juice. The club is recruiting campus participation to
make hundreds of sandwiches that will be delivered to the River of Life Mission
for their homeless clients. Even if you only have 15 minutes, come on down to
build sandwiches for a good cause, or just swing by to drop off donations of
peanut butter, jam, foil, and paper towels. For more information,
contact That Sandwich Club at thatsandwichclub@gmail.com.
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Invaders Alert
4/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Feeling like your personal space is being…invaded? Check out the PEPS 350
class’s Invasive Species Student Research Symposium, and you’ll realize you
ain’t seen nothing yet. It’s taking place on April 29, May 1, and May 6, each
session from 10:30 to noon, in Gilmore 301. The Symposium will showcase
invasive plants, snails, reptiles, insects, and mammals, weighing such
important questions as “Kahili Ginger: Beauty or Beast?” and “Rosy Wolfsnail:
Friend or Foe?” More dramatically, you’ll get to hear about the “Octopus Tree:
Tentacle Grasp on Our Ecosystems,” “Furry Fury, Feral Cats,” and much, much
more. All these invasive species are bad news for the Island ecosystem…but
they’ll make for fascinating listening!
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Lost in Fashionable Thought
4/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Join the fashion forward at FDM’s 48th Annual UHM Senior
Fashion Show, Sunday, April 27, at the Waikiki Marriot Resort and Spa. The show
schedule starts with a silent auction at 4:30 p.m., the doors open at 5:00, and the big show starts at 6:00. There is VIP and regular seating
for the event; VIP tickets (limited) are $50, and general seating is $25 pre-sale. Valet parking is available or $8 lot parking with
validation. This year’s show theme is Réverie. To be in a réverie, in French, is to be “lost in creative thought.” The collections that will be shown draw upon inspirations found everywhere. From daydreaming to army chic and intricate
beading, this is one show you won’t want to miss! Senior designers worked in
two special categories, “Reinvented Culture” and “Rational Science.” Reinvented
Culture features sustainable designs using recycled materials, inspired by
modern folkloric and ethnic inspirations, a nostalgic sensibility, and a sense of
tradition, while Rational Science looks to high-tech materials and cutting-edge design. Check out Midweek’s article and slideshow! To purchase tickets,
email Fdmproduction.uhmanoa@gmail.com.
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Be There for the Banquet!
4/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Thursday is the deadline to register for CTAHR's 26th Annual
Awards Banquet, which will take place Friday, May 9, at the Ala Moana Hotel. Compete for herb-tastic
table centerpieces created by a CTAHR alumnus! Check out the fabulous
Cooperative Extension Service Centennial table! Enjoy a meal of fresh CTAHR and other local
produce! The menu features steak and locally sourced goodies from Kaua'i shrimp
to a vegetarian option of sweet potato gnocchi, topped off with a dessert created with our own
CTAHR Big Island blueberries! For the special CTAHR student registration rate,
download the registration form and deliver it to Gilmore 124 by Thursday, April
24. Requests to be seated together will be accommodated to the extent possible
on a first-come, first-assigned basis. Information about the banquet and online
registration are available at the banquet website. Questions? Contact Cheryl Ernst at
events@ctahr.hawaii.edu or 956-2405. See you there!
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Transgenic Crops and Genetic Diversity
4/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Dr. Luis Herrera-Estrella presents this year’s Sigma Xi
Distinguished Lecture, “Impact of Biotechnology on Current Life: Release of Transgenic Crops in a Center of Genetic Diversity,” on Wednesday, April 30,
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the John A. Burns School of Medicine Medical Education
Building 3rd floor auditorium. Dean Maria Gallo will introduce Dr.
Herrera-Estrella, an internationally recognized authority of the physiology and
metabolic engineering of plants. He is the director of the National Laboratory
for Genomics of Biodiversity and a professor in the Department of Plant Genetic
Engineering, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, National Polytechnic
Institute, Irapuato, Mexico. His topic will be of interest to scientists, educators, public health professionals,
students, and the general public who are interested in all aspects of
genetically modified plants, including a topic of great concern in the Hawaiian
islands, the release of transgenic crops in the environment. For more
information, contact James Campbell at jamesrca@hawaii.edu or 971-8965.
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Just as Good as Activated Sludge!
4/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Lutgarde Raskin will present the seminar "Energy Recovery
from Domestic Wastewater Using Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor" on Thursday, April
10, 10:30 in Ag Sci 219. Dr. Raskin is an internationally
recognized researcher in the field of environmental biotechnology, especially
in the use of advanced molecular techniques for microbial community analysis.
Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology has emerged as a potentially
eco-efficient domestic wastewater treatment strategy, and her experimental research
has demonstrated that AnMBR can produce an effluent quality comparable to
activated sludge processes even at relatively low temperatures (15°C).
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Support for Farmers
4/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Come up to Kunia for the O‘ahu Farmers Resource Workshop,
Friday, April 11, 5:00–9:00 p.m. at the Hawai‘i Agriculture Research Center on
Kunia Road. CTAHR and state and federal programs will present the services they
offer to local commercial farmers. Topics include pesticide resistance, food
safety coaching, pesticide calculations, insurance programs, HDOH produce
testing, loan programs and disaster assistance, clean water permits,
conservation programs, and HDOA marketing and commodity programs. You’ll also get a chance to scope out the fabulous new pesticide education poster that’s the brainchild of Jim Hollyer and his crew of on-farm food safetyists. Come and
learn about the many new and exciting updates on the road to building Hawai‘i’s diversified
agriculture industry together. Last year’s workshop was so successful, the line
was out the door! For more information or to RSVP, contact Steve Russo at (808)
973-9409 or Steve.Russo@Hawaii.Gov.
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Get Your Research On!
4/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Students will be struttin' their research stuff on Friday and
Saturday, April 11 and 12, at the Student Research Symposium in the Agriculture
Sciences building. This annual event brings together graduate and undergraduate
students to share the research they are pursuing under the supervision of
faculty in CTAHR and the College of Engineering. The students are able to present
their findings, exchange information, and incorporate what they’ve learned from
their peers into their own scholarly work, and the top winners will be recognized at the CTAHR Awards Banquet. This year's SRS will feature around
130 oral and poster presentations, spanning fundamental investigations to novel
applications and encompassing engineering, production agriculture,
environmental technologies, health and food sciences, family and consumer
sciences, and natural sciences. Poster sessions run 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, with oral presentations
8:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. For more information and this year’s program,
visit the Student Research Symposium website. Come support CTAHR students and
their awesome research!
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Helping the Hungry
4/10/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Get ready to give! This year marks the 25th Anniversary of
the Hawai‘i Foodbank Annual Food Drive, and once again we ask for your help.
Over the years, CTAHR has formed a proud tradition of contributing generously
to the food drive. Please help us surpass last year's exceptional showing.
Marietta Escobar-Solis (OCS) is the contact for CTAHR Administrative Offices and the
CTAHR unit/dept. coordinators. Please contact your department coordinator for information about where to bring monetary donations and canned goods for your department. Checks are preferred, payable to Hawai‘i
Foodbank, but you can also give by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT). Food and monetary donations will be
accepted until April 25. And don’t forget to get a 25th Anniversary T-shirt! T-shirts must be individually ordered
and paid for online and will be
shipped by the Foodbank directly to the purchaser. When ordering, please select
"State of Hawai‘i
Coalition" from the drop-down menu. Then in the comments section, please
type in your department/unit name. This way, your T-shirt orders will be
credited to your department or unit. Print a
copy of the confirmation for Marietta. Thanks for doing your part to
combat hunger and maintain our tradition of service. For more information,
contact Marietta at 956-7036 or ocs@ctahr.hawaii.edu.
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Bountiful Banquet
4/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The 26th Annual Awards Banquet will honor exceptional CTAHR
‘ohana, May 9, at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom. Cocktails start at
5:30 p.m. and dinner is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. International agronomist Dr.
Thomas Lumpkin will be honored
as an Outstanding Alumnus and Hawai‘i food industry executive Derek Kurisu as the Ka Lei Hano Award winner, along with CTAHR scholarship recipients and student and
faculty award winners. The event also provides an opportunity to honor college
benefactor and veteran plant breeder James Brewbaker and recognize the
100th anniversary of the founding of the Cooperative Extension Service. For
more information, visit the Awards Banquet website. The RSVP deadline is April
24, so register online, by mail or in person today! Can’t wait to see you
there!
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Testing the Waters
4/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Clyde Tamaru and RuthEllen Klinger-Bowen (both MBBE) will present
the Aquaponic Water Quality Workshop on Saturday, April 12, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon
at the Hale Tuahine CTAHR Aquaponic Laboratory as part of the centennial
celebration of Cooperative Extension. This course, for beginner
aquaculturists and those maintaining aquaponics systems, is a
three-hour combination lecture and hands-on training course, utilizing commercially available
water test kits and actual water from operating aquaponics systems. At the conclusion of this workshop
participants will be able to measure and
determine basic water-quality parameters of pH, temperature, total ammonia
nitorgen (TAN), nitrite, nitrate, and dissolved oxygen (DO) in an aquaponic
system; use data obtained to assess the operating condition of an aquaponic
system; make adjustments and optimize system water quality
and performance; demonstrate mastery of basic water-quality parameters by using
testing kits to accurately obtain data; identify and explain the nitrification
cycle and water quality tests associated with maintaining a healthy aquaponics
system environment for fish and plants. The registration fee is $39.95, with a
discounted fee of $26.00 for Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association
members. There are only five seats left, so register now!
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Bees, Gardeners, and More
4/2/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Come join the UH Honeybee Project and the O‘ahu Master
Gardeners at the Grow Hawaiian Festival, Saturday, April 5, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at
the Bishop Museum. The free event, a celebration of Hawai‘i’s culture, native
plants, and sustainability, offers the whole family a day filled with
activities, crafts, games, music, and food. Learn how to promote bee health in
Hawai‘i with Ethel Villalobos (PEPS) of the UH Honeybee Project, and learn to
grow native plants with the O‘ahu Master Gardeners. Watch the KITV video of
Ethel’s tips for residents that can help the bee population. Check out all the
events at the Grow Hawaiian Festival website and bring the whole family down for a good time!
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March
Nalo Kala
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The
Waimanalo Research Station has just launched a crowdsourcing campaign to raise
funds to build a roof to complete the construction of an On-Farm Learning
Pavilion, and everyone is asked to spread the word about this great initiative! Since
their original classroom
collapsed in a 2011 storm, the station has been using temporary tents to provide a
venue for their increasing number of classes and workshops and shelter for visitors. Partial funding has been
granted by the Castle Foundation, O‘ahu County, and a CTAHR capacity-building
grant, but $30,000 more is needed. And the campaign, hosted on the
Indiegogo website, is already garnering support for
its goal. Go, Waimanalo!
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Coffee Outlaw
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR There’s a new pest in town, but sheriffs Scot Nelson and Mike
Melzer (PEPS) and Andrea Kawabata (TPSS) are donning their badges and rounding
up the posse to make sure it doesn’t get too comfortable. The latest crop bad
guy, which has not been reported anywhere else in the world as yet, was
discovered on the Big Island in January 2014 through Scot’s Plant Doctor app.
It creates lesions on the leaves and petioles of coffee and reportedly renders
the cherries unmarketable, though much still needs to be learned about it.
Check out more pictures of the intruder at the website Scot has
created to monitor it, and report any sightings there or to Scot at snelson@hawaii.edu. Also see Scot’s interview on the pest on KITV.
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Research in the News
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR PEPS’s Dan Rubinoff and William Haines’s citizen
science-powered Pulelehua Project has captured the imagination of many as it
seeks to capture images and locations of the elusive, iconic Kamehameha
butterfly. The latest shout-out to the project comes from Kaunana Magazine, a compilation of UH-Manoa research news, which
posted a video and description of the project. Nor is this CTAHR’s only recent mention
in the magazine, which also features
MBBE’s Dan Jenkins and the half-million-dollar grant he received to create and
refine hand-held technology to detect Salmonella
and other harmful bacteria quickly in crops growing in the field. CTAHR
research—it has roots and wings!
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Ag-Aware Out There
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR About 600
fifth-grade students and teachers attended the 2014 Agriculture and
Environmental Awareness Day on March 7 out at the Pearl City Urban Garden
Center. The purpose of this yearly outdoor event is to create a greater
awareness and understanding of agriculture and the environment among today’s
youth, teachers, and general public, as well as to introduce young students to
potential Hawai‘i-based career opportunities in these fields. University
faculty, staff, and students; government agencies; private industry; and
community members volunteered their time to educate the students with 16 presentations and 12 interactive exhibits.
Several exhibitors returned the next day for the Second Saturday at the Garden
event open to the general public. CTAHR’s O‘ahu Cooperative Extension Office
and Academic and Student Affairs partnered again to organize this annual event,
while funding support was provided by USDA through CTAHR’s Agribusiness
Education, Training, and Incubation Program. The City and County of Honolulu
also provided generous funding for this event and gave the crowd of 600 a
warming welcome in the middle of the morning. Thanks go to the Pearl City Urban
Garden Center staff and volunteers, ASAO staff, and Waimanalo Research Station
staff for planning and setting up the event, along with a big mahalo to the
CTAHR faculty and staff, government agencies, community members, and company
representatives who volunteered their time and knowledge for the presentations
and exhibits at the Friday and Saturday events. Dr. Po-Yung Lai of the City and
County of Honolulu also deserves gratitude for helping to acquire funding for
this year’s event. Check out pictures of the day here!
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Conserving Resources for Sustainability
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The UHM Generation Anthropocene project, inspired by a
similar project by graduate students at Stanford University, is a series of
podcast interviews with faculty to discuss human impacts on the environment. The
project’s creators, Brian LaCarter and Erin VanGorden, point out that humans
are directly changing the earth, unlike at any other point in time, and invite
various experts to focus on particular ways this is happening. The project’s
video interviews have been selected for presentation at this year’s
Sustainability Summit. An interview about community economics with Linda J. Cox
(NREM) is now posted at the site, discussing the importance of controlling
feral cats in order to keep them from killing native birds. Linda also stresses
the necessity of thinking in the long term, pointing out that a time frame of
one hundred years is appropriate for assessing the health of a community and
that society’s tendency to consume all resources as quickly as possible is
counter to the very notion of sustainability.
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A Milestone in the Journey
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Everyone is invited to attend the CTAHR Spring 2014
Graduation Convocation on Wednesday, May 7, to help graduating students
celebrate their academic achievements (pictured, last year’s event). Check out
this website for more information. Please RSVP by Friday, April 18, for seating and refreshment purposes by
completing the online form on the website (some questions will not pertain to you, so just fill in the first four
questions and click the submit button). Check-in begins at 5:15 p.m. in
the Campus Center Ballroom, followed by the program from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. If
you have any questions, feel free to contact Sylvia Trinh at strinh@hawaii.edu.
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The Peaceful, Heroic Rose
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR There’s a lot going on at the Urban Garden
Center! Two new rose gardens, the Heroes Rose Garden and the Peace Rose Garden,
have been established there. Tended by the Honolulu Rose
Society, they are planted with roses whose names relate to heroes or to peace (pictured is the Peace rose) and
were the impetus for a recent writing contest in which schoolchildren were
encouraged to write about what peace or heroes meant to them. The winners
will be honored at a ceremony on April 12 that will also feature a
Hawaiian blessing for the gardens and the newly built Rose Pavilion.
On
the same day, the OUG will offer its traditional Second Saturday programs,
which this month will include a free seed- and plant-sharing workshop and
event. Experts will speak on seed saving and selection, and then members of the
community are encouraged to bring their own saved seeds, huli, cuttings, and rhizomes
to share and barter with others. Add in the usual plant sales, docent tour,
garden demos, and plant question booth staffed by Master Gardeners, and it’s a
full and fun—and peaceful and heroic—day! Pre-register to secure your seat by
calling 453-6050, but walk-ins are welcome as space allows.
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Life After CTAHR?
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Yes! About 50 students and 9 employers gathered in Gilmore
Hall on 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 whom are CTAHR alums, came from a wide array of
companies and organizations, including the Susannah Wesley Community Center,
University Lab School, UH-Manoa Office of Admissions, WIC Services, HPC Foods,
Kokua Hawaii Foundation, UH-Manoa Office of Research and Compliance, Hawaii
Medical Veterinary Association, and WCC Veterinary Technology Program. Students
learned about potential internship/career opportunities and the personal career
pathways and experiences of those working in jobs related to their fields of
study, and they received tips on how to prepare themselves for the workforce.
Both students and employers benefited from the experience. Many thanks go to
all the professionals who volunteered their time to share their valuable
knowledge and experiences with the students, ASAO for organizing this event,
CTAHR student volunteers, and the students who attended.
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Controlling Organic Pests?
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Well, the Organic Pest Control class at
LCC may not teach precisely that, but it will tell you how to get rid of
unwanted insect interlopers without synthetic chemicals. The class will be held
in room
CE-303 on Friday,
April 4, from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. It’s intended to assist organic farmers in defining what “organic”
means in regard to USDA certification, determining whether a pesticide is
organic or not, and clarifying what role the Hawaii Department of Agriculture
has in regulating organic operations. Other hot topics of interest for organic
farmers will be discussed, such as “Integrated Pest Management” and “How to
Protect Pollinators.” Regulatory requirements such as the Worker Protection
Standard will be reviewed to assure compliance by organic operations. The
class, conducted by HDOA, will cost $25, and you can register here.
This class is also good towards 2 recertification credits for private
applicators of restricted-use pesticides! Its course number is AGR5040.
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Oyster Mushrooms
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR PEPS Tropical Plant Pathology graduate student Shelby
Ching received a Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
(WSARE) Graduate Student Grant Award to work on “Spent oyster mushroom compost
for nematode management” under the guidance of Koon-Hui Wang (PEPS). Beside many
uses of oyster mushroom in the kitchen, Shelby and Koon-HuiuiHui are looking at fine-tuning the use of oyster
mushroom compost for pre- and post-plant management of root-knot nematodes on
fresh basil in Hawai‘i. Congratulations, Shelby and Koon-Hui!
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Researching Their Futures
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Jinan Banna (HNFAS) (left) and FSHN undergraduate students Maili
Huck (right) and Samantha Erin De Leon (center) received a travel grant from
the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology/Maximizing Access
to Research Careers Program, which will provide funding for their attendance at
the Experimental Biology annual meeting. Experimental Biology is a multidisciplinary scientific meeting open to
those with interest in research and life sciences. Among the participating
societies is the American Society for Nutrition, which will offer sessions
hosted by various research interest sections. At the meeting, the students will
have ample opportunity to network and identify career opportunities. Both students have an interest in
incorporating research into their future careers; Maili plans to pursue a
master’s degree in nutrition and obtain a credential as a registered dietitian,
while Samantha wishes to practice medicine as a physician. Attending
Experimental Biology will assist them in further clarifying their research
interests as they move to the next steps in their career paths.
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Lori Yancura’s Awesome Teaching Skills
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR A big congratulations to Lori Yancura (FCS) for her
wonderful and well-deserved honor as a recipient of the 2014 UH Manoa Chancellor’s Citation for
Meritorious Teaching Award. Lori will be recognized at the UH-Manoa
Award ceremony on April 30. Lori provides excellence in teaching research
methods to the department's more than 300 majors. Students create research projects and
improve their science literacy for the investigation of factors underlying the
resiliency of both individuals and fashion businesses. Congratulations, Lori!
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Fun With Alumni
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The CTAHR Alumni Association banquet on March 21 was enlivened by a tour of Kapi‘olani Community College's Culinary Arts program's aquaponics system, garden, and
food-composting facility, led by pastry chef and KCC instructor Dave
Brown.
A yummy dinner prepared by the Culinary Arts students included poi bread
pudding with haupia sauce and Bananas Foster cheesecake made with fruit
provided by CTAHR student Gabe Sachter-Smith. Gabe, who is a member of the CTAHRAA board, also shared both
bounty from his garden in Manoa and, in speech to the gathering, his bountiful information on growing food
in the tropics. If you're new to gardening, skip the exotic bell peppers and
beefsteak tomatoes in favor of plants such as cassava and pigeon peas, that like
to grow in the tropics, he advised. Among the seeds and plant starts he
shared was luffa, whose gourds can be eaten when young or harvested later for
loofah sponges. The evening concluded with a raffle drawing for coveted prizes
from golf balls to a queen-size quilt. Proceeds go toward CTAHR student
scholarships.
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Persidangan Rayap!
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Ken Grace (Interim Associate Dean of Research) was keynote speaker in February at TRG10, the 10th conference (persidangan) of the Pacific Rim Termite (rayap) Research Group in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Ken discussed CTAHR research on two of the most destructive termites worldwide, the Formosan and the Asian subterranean termites. In addition to two days of discussion on wood chewers, the group also took time to chew some delicious Malaysian food in a closing banquet in the Kuala Lumpur Tower, and visited Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), the government center for wood and forestry research.
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Spreading Mindfulness
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Thao Le (FAMR) is everywhere! She was featured on Hawai‘i
News Now March 18 and 19 for her mindfulness program to provide skills for
stress reduction, self-regulation, and resiliency to incarcerated youth at the
Hawai‘i Youth Correctional Facility. Thao also chaired the first panel at the
Numata Conference sponsored by UH Department of Religion and the Numata
Foundation, and presented her paper “Preventing Violence: Implementation and
Outcome of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention in Hawai‘i and Vietnam.” In
addition, her poster on this mindfulness program was also selected through a
competitive selection process to participate in the special poster session
“Adolescence in Diverse Contexts” at the Society for Research in Adolescence
conference in Austin, Texas. Great work, Thao!
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Studying Abroad and Beyond
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Kacie Ho, a FSHN alumna, was featured in the UHM
Study Abroad Newsletter. She studied in Seville, Spain in the fall of 2011 with
her academic advisor Wayne Iwaoka (HNFAS) and credits Wayne with encouraging
her to gain a broader cultural understanding outside of Hawai‘i. After her
experiences and work in Spain, Kacie presented the seminar "Spanish Olives: Growing,
Harvesting, and Processing." Currently, Kacie is a graduate student in the Food
Sciences Department at Purdue University, where she was featured in a Graduate
Ag Research Spotlight. Her research focuses on lycopene, the compound that
gives tomatoes their red-orange color. She is studying the use of microwaves to
enhance the efficiency of extracting lycopene from tomato peels, a major and
often discarded by-product of processing. Encapsulating the lycopene in
nanoemulsions might allow it to be added to food products as a natural color or
nutritional enhancement. Go for it, Kacie!
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Fashionable Honolulu Streets
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andrew Reilly’s new book Honolulu Street Style (last seen in
the January 22 edition of CTAHR Notes) was featured in the Star Advertiser. "One
thing I hope this book will accomplish is to show people that Hawai‘i does have
a style and aesthetic beyond what they think it is, and understand there is a
fashion industry here that I think is on an upswing now,” Andy says. “Hawai‘i had
an impact on fashion from the 1930s through '60s, and I think it will make an
impact again." Honolulu Street Style is available from Amazon. Read
the whole Star Advertiser article here!
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Likeable Bug Science
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Hawai‘i insects are very special! Dan Rubinoff (PEPS) discussed the diversity of Hawai‘i’s bugs, the Insect Museum, and
the science of bugs on Likeable Science, an offshoot of ThinkTech Hawai‘i on
‘Olelo Community Media. He shared facts about some of the unique insects in Hawai‘i,
including carnivorous caterpillars (complete with video of caterpillar
carnage), amphibious caterpillars, and the Pulelehua Project’s Kamehameha
butterfly. And speaking of pulelehua, according to the Project’s Facebook page the project has received
many photo submissions from the public thanks to last week’s media exposure, with 10 new confirmed sightings of the
Kamehameha butterfly on four islands, Moloka‘i, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i, and Hawai‘i!
Check out What Bugs Hawai‘i on Youtube, as well as a funny comic strip about the hunt
for the Kamehameha butterfly. Go, team insects!
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Going the Distance (Education!)
3/31/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR About 25 faculty members
attended CTAHR’s first Distance Education Open House, both in person and from a distance. Distance Education Specialist Kellie Kong shared tips and resources
for successful online teaching and offered a preview of instruction projects in
the works from extension (GoFarm Hawai‘i and Maui Master Gardeners) to academic
(FAMR 331). Helen Spafford (PEPS), who earned CTAHR’s Excellence in Teaching
award and the Association for Education Communication and Technology’s Division
of Distance Learning’s Crystal Award for her online course (PEPS 250 World of
Insects), pointed out the value of being able to deliver Manoa coursework to
students statewide. Susan Miyasaka (TPSS) shared the opposite experience, teaching
courses to Manoa students from Hilo. Her Komohana colleague J.B. Friday (NREM)
recommended approaching online teaching more like a science meeting than a
traditional lecture. Young-Jin Bahng (FCS) said the efficiencies of teaching
online allow her to include more non-majors in her course (FDM 471
International Apparel Trade Issues), which expands insights shared. Brent Sipes
(PEPS) has adopted an asynchronous, unit-mastery module approach. “The students
seem pretty independent, even eschewing email contact but doing pretty well,” he
said; “maybe I need the interaction of the traditional classroom more than
they do!”
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Genes and Seed Development
3/26/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Check out the genes in those seeds! Dr. Bob Goldberg will
present the seminar “Dissecting Seed Development Using Genomics: Implications
for Agriculture” on Thursday, March 27, 3:00 p.m. in the Agricultural Science
building 319. Dr. Goldberg’s current research goal is to identify all soybean
genes required to “make a seed” using state-of-the-art genomic and epigenomic
technologies in order to develop crops that produce more, larger, and more
nutritious seeds, and thereby significantly enhance our food supply. He was the founding editor and editor-in-chief of The Plant Cell, has received numerous
awards for his pioneering research in plant molecular biology, and was elected
to the National Academy of Sciences in 2001. His commitment to undergraduate
and graduate education earned him many prestigious teaching awards, and
Newsweek Magazine named him one of America’s “Top Professors” in 2009.
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CTAHR and Sustainability
3/26/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Doug Vincent and Joannie Dobbs (both HNFAS) presented at the
2nd Annual Sustainability in Higher Education Summit recently held at
Windward Community College. The annual event is for empowering higher education
in Hawai‘i to lead the sustainability transformation of our communities.
Faculty, staff, students, and administrators from the UH 10 campus system, plus
HPU, BYU, and Chaminade convened to establish and advance sustainability goals.
Joannie and Doug presented posters on ANSC/FSHN 601 The Science of Food Systems
and the CTAHR Food Systems Quiz Bowl.
As part of a panel of higher education leaders, Dean Maria Gallo
described CTAHR’s role in building in a sustainable Hawai‘i. Associate Extension Director Carl
Evensen and Ashley Stokes (HNFAS) presented on the “Cooperative Extension:
Educating our Community for a Sustainable Future.” Finally, Joannie gave a presentation entitled “True
Sustainability Requires Providing Adequate Essential Nutrients for Humans.”
Adding to the nutritional content, TPSS master's student Gabe Sachter-Smith provided bananas to the
conference.
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Biotech and Pest Control
3/25/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The new issue of Biotech in Focus features guest writer Mark
Wright (PEPS) and explores the toll pests take on farmers. The issue explains
natural resistance, biological control, what we’ve learned from synthetic
insecticides such as DDT, and more. Read the new issue of Biotech in Focus, and
find back issues on the website.
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Pest Invaders
3/18/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Troubled by pests on the Big
Island? UH-CTAHR’s Risk Management Hawaii program will be hosting the following
events to boost your knowledge and production: on Thursday, March 27, be ready for thrills and chills
as you explore “Alien Invaders of the Worst Kind - A Systems Approach to Pest
Management” from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Waimea Civic Center conference room. On
Friday, March 28, you can find out all about Lychee Pest Management at the
Fruit Bagging and Fruit Fly Control Field Day, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. in Kawika
Tropical Fruit Orchards in Hakalau. This event is limited to 25 participants,
and an RSVP is required—contact Gina by
phone at (808) 322-4892 or by email at ginab@hawaii.edu by Mar. 27 to reserve
your spot!
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Suck ’Em Up!
3/18/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Gordon M. Bennett IV, a USDA NIFA
post-doc at the University of Texas, Austin, will offer a lecture on the “Evolution
and Symbioses of Sap-Feeding Insects” on Thursday, March 20, from 10:45 to 11:45
a.m. in Gilmore 301. He points out that “the relationship
between plants and insects is one of the most prolific evolutionary stories
unfolding on earth” and that plant-insect interactions in sap-feeding insects have
important implications for “ecosystem function and agricultural sustainability.”
Dr. Bennett explores these interactions using molecular and genomic approaches,
focusing on agriculturally important leafhoppers.
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Did You Know...
3/11/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR ...that in this time of economic belt-tightening and dwindling funding, CTAHR actually makes the State money? There's a 117-percent return on State investment in the college in terns of extramural funding generated for every State dollar allocated to CTAHR. Find out more inspiring and interesting facts about the college by checking out the recent publication CTAHR in Focus, if you haven't yet gotten the chance! With the Centennial of the national Cooperative Extension Service happening this year, there's no better time to fuel your CTAHR pride!
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Milestones of Tea
3/11/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR’s Risk Management Hawaii program will be hosting its 10th monthly Tea 101 workshop on March 20 at the Mealani Research Station on the Big Island. Randy Hamasaki, county Extension agent, and Stuart Nakamoto, Extension economist, are the instructors. This has been a popular event on the Big Island and would not have been possible without the help of the Mealani Research Station crew: Marla, Lori, Roy, Les, and Sonny. Tea growers and others interested in tea production have been attending Tea 101 to learn the basics of tea growing and processing. To date, 84 people have completed this 7-hour workshop. The event features a small class size for a more personal, intimate learning experience and uses innovative training approaches such as the hands-on “Wok and Roll” method for teaching the basics of tea processing, here ably illustrated by former Interim Dean Sylvia Yuen and Harold Masumoto. In addition, participants get an intensive introduction into the growing (the tea plant, varieties, propagation, planting, shaping the plant, pruning, irrigation, fertilization, harvesting, and pest management) and market potential of Hawai‘i-grown tea. Based on evaluation surveys, workshop participants unanimously agreed or strongly agreed that the training increased their knowledge and understanding of tea growing and processing basics, and 100% also agreed or strongly agreed that the teaching methods used were appropriate. On average, participants responded that they will apply more than 9 things that they learned to their operation. Randy and Stuart plan to offer a Tea 102 workshop covering more in-depth topics such as propagation, fertilization, and other topics requested by Tea 101 participants. Due to the workshops’ popularity, there is a waiting list for future events; contact Randy at rth@hawaii.edu for more information.
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Don’t Panic! Survey Organic!
3/11/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Got an extra minute? Why not spend it helping PEPS 421 students? They need your input for a survey on the public perception of organic produce, and if you’ve responded to other survey requests for this class, you know how helpful, painless, and productive of gratitude it is. Just click here! This is an educational exercise for the students, so any feedback you have on the survey questions too will be welcome. You can contact Helen Spafford, the class professor, via email and she will give the feedback to the students.
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Now You CBB, Now You Don’t
3/11/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR On January 6, UH CTAHR’s Risk Management Hawaii (RMH) program hosted an informative and collaborative gathering at USDA-ARS-PBARC in Hilo to discuss the Coffee Berry Borer (CBB), which continues to pose major production, marketing, legal, and financial risks for coffee growers and processors in Hawai‘i. Thirty people involved with CBB research, education and outreach, funding, and administration participated in this very productive event. Attendees were research scientists, extension agents, specialists, and governmental agency personnel, as well as some growers who are collaborating on research projects. The goal of the summit was to inform participants of current research projects and to update the 2013 CBB Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Sampling Recommendations provided by CTAHR to growers and the coffee industry. Facilitators of this event were assistant extension agent Andrea Kawabata (also credited with the photo) and extension economist Stuart Nakamoto; also assisting were junior extension agents Ryan Tsutsui and Maria “Didi” Diaz-Lyke. As a result of the summit, a 2014 CBB IPM and Sampling Recommendation document is currently being drafted and will be distributed to summit participants and the Hawai‘i coffee industry. Andrea Kawabata and growers’ groups have begun providing RMH-sponsored educational workshops and field days to guide coffee growers on the implementation of these CBB IPM recommendations. The next CBB workshops happening in March will be Thursday, March 13 – CBB and Farm Health; 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.; Monday, March 17 – Spray Equipment Calibration and Spray Calculation Workshop and Field Day; 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.; and Wednesday, March 19 – CBB IPM with Focus on Field Sanitation, Sampling, Monitoring and Early Season Spraying; 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. All workshops take place at UH CTAHR Kona Cooperative Extension Service (KCES).
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Curators of Fashion
3/11/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Come check out “The Grand Affair, an exhibition by FDM students in connection with UHM Museum Day. The exhibition runs March 10th through the 19th (including Sunday, March 16) in Miller 101 and 112. Students choose one or more items from the Historic Costume Collection to conduct a group exhibition. Admission is free, so be sure to take this chance to look at some of the amazing costumes on display!
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Science Tech and Plants
3/4/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Plant breeding goes high tech in the new issue of Biotech in
Focus! This issue explores the history of selective breeding of plants and how
science has kicked up the process through mutagenesis breeding, propagation,
tissue culture, and hybrids. Check out the latest issue of Biotech in Focus and
visit the website for previous issues.
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February
Mike DuPonte Is Everywhere!
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Making news with pigs and cattle! Mike DuPonte’s (HNFAS)
work was featured in three news articles. The ACRES USA magazine and the Hawai‘i
Tribune Herald featured Mike’s Korean Natural Farming (KNF) piggery on the Big
Island, an odorless, fly-free facility, and his plans for expansion.
Through Mike’s work, the KNF piggery was recognized by the USDA for “Best
Management Practices.” The KNF piggery incorporates indigenous microorganisms
into the soil to break down the animal waste. Using a deep green waste litter
system and a building design that takes the sun’s position and natural
ventilation into account, the piggery is clean and sustainable and requires no
waste removal. The animals are less stressed, healthier, and more marketable. On
Moloka‘i, the Maui News featured Mike’s efforts to revive Moloka‘i Ranch by
introducing the famous Wagyu cattle DNA into the herd. The ranch is taking the first
steps by artificially inseminating 50 cows with Wagyu semen in the hopes that
in future years, Wagyu beef will be on the menu for Moloka‘i. Great work, Mike!
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Producing a Winner With Winning Produce
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Agribusiness Incubator Program client Holoholo General Store
won the Mahiai Match-Up Agricultural Business Plan contest. The contest,
sponsored by Kamehameha Schools and the Ke Alii Pauahi Foundation, looks for
innovative local businesses that address an agricultural need in Hawai‘i with
an eye toward financial and community sustainability. The winner receives
$25,000 and an agricultural lease from Kamehameha Schools. Holoholo General
Store delivers bags of local, organic, and sustainable produce for schools and
businesses, and they hope to have a Holoholo General Store truck in the future to
bring fresh produce to neighborhoods and communities. Read more in the Pacific
Business News article. Congratulations!
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Go! Farm!
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Do you think you’re the right fit for a farm? Windward is
hosting a free AgCurious seminar on the GoFarm Hawai‘i program on March 3, 5:00
p.m. at Hale Akoakoa. Come hear successful O‘ahu farmers talk story about their
start-up experiences the challenges and benefits of ag-centered lifestyles.
Gain an understanding of the agriculture industry in Hawai‘i and its importance,
and find out if you are ready to jump into the great world of farming. GoFarm alumni
will be on hand to talk about what’s great about the program. You must attend
this event to apply for GoFarm Hawai‘i @ Windward’s AgXposure and AgSchool
programs. The last day to register is Friday, February 28. Email
info@gofarmhawaii.org to register. Go, future farmers!
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Good Food and Good Alumni Friends!
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Please join the CTAHR Alumni Association and
Friends for their annual dinner on March 21, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Tamarind Room in the Ohelo
Building at Kapi‘olani Community College. The event includes a tour of the Culinary Garden and
Facilities with Chef David Brown, a fabulous gourmet dinner, and a presentation
on easy-to-grow vegetables for the home gardener. The cost is $40 per person, with
checks payable to CTAHRAA. The proceeds will go to support the CTAHR Alumni
Association. For more information, contact Susan Miller at 396-7816. Please mail in your reservation by March 1 to CTAHR Alumni
Association c/o UH-Manoa, 3050 Maile Way, Gilmore 210, Honolulu, HI 96822.
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Science Fair Project Power
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR What started as just a science project could end up saving lives. Ariana
Kim, a St. Andrew’s Priory School sophomore, working with HNFAS' Soojin Jun and Kara
Yamada (pictured flanking Ariana) developed a microwire sensor that can accurately detect E.
coli bacteria in about 30 minutes, much faster than the 12-hour method
currently used. The technology has the potential to have a major impact on the
food industry and public health. Ariana won the CTAHR award at the 2013 Hawai‘i
Science Fair for her microwire research under the mentorship of Soojin and Kara. Since then, she has been working in
microbiology and micro-bio sensors with Soojin and his graduate students. Read the Star Advertiser article here. Great
work, Ariana!
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A Home Where the Wagyu Roam
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Where’s the beef? Moloka‘i! Hawai‘i News Now reported on work by Jinzen Yang
(HNFAS) on introducing premium Wagyu genes into the stock on Moloka‘i Ranch. Of
the 49 cows artificially inseminated with Wagyu breeding material, 27 were
reported to be pregnant. Another 50 cows were recently inseminated with hopes
for another 50% success rate. The plan for Moloka‘i Ranch is to produce
Kobe-style beef not just through herd improvement but also through nutrition
management. Mike DuPonte (also HNFAS) is working on the project, as CTAHR Notes
reported last week. Check out the Hawai‘i News Now video here. Mmmm, beef.
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Attacking Albizia
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Its foliage can be beautiful, but the fast-growing Albizia tree can be deadly. James Leary (NREM) was interviewed by KITV on the destructive
effects of Albizias tree and methods to curb their invasive expansion. The
trees grow tall, fast, and brittle and cause problems ranging from damaging
power lines and blocking roads to choking out native plants. James explained
his effective method of applying herbicide to small cuts in the trees’ trunks, a method that will kill the tree where it stands over time at minimal cost. Read
more about James’s herbicide application process, and watch the video at KITV.
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Butterfly Power
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR This project has wings! Television news and radio programs have been helping to boost the butterfly
signal, enlisting the public’s help in tracking the Kamehameha butterfly for the
Pulelehua Project. The state insect since 2009, the Kamehameha butterfly has an uncertain
future, and Dan Rubinoff and Will Haines (both PEPS) created the
Pulelehua Project in an effort to study and preserve this iconic winged insect. The
project is asking for the public to report any sightings of the butterfly or
its eggs, caterpillars, or chrysalises. Check out the KHON video and the
Pulelehua Project website. A big mahalo to UH System’s Dan Meisenzahl for helping to get
the word out!
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Feral Cat Population Management
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Cats make wonderful pets, but feral cats have been and still are a problem in the Islands. Cheryl Lohr and Christopher Lepczyk (both NREM) published
“Desires and Management Preferences of Stakeholders Regarding Feral Cats in the
Hawaiian Islands” in Conservation Biology.
The study surveyed people from stakeholder groups as well as randomly selected
state residents, and 87% of the more than 1,500 respondents want to see a
decrease in the number of feral cats in the Islands. The stakeholder groups
were animal welfare activists, hunters, conservation professionals,
agriculturalists, and native Hawaiians. In addition to the support of reducing
the feral cat population, respondents indicated that of seven feral cat
management techniques (including lethal methods), “trap, neuter, and release”
was the least preferred. Read more in the American Bird Conservancy press
release.
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Social Physique Anxiety in Gay Men
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andrew Reilly and Loriena
Yancura (both FCS) authored “Three Predictive Variables of Social Physique Anxiety Among Gay Men” in Psychology & Sexuality. Using a sociological
framework, the study examined three variables related to gay men’s body image
as possible predictors of social physique anxiety: drive for muscularity,
internalized homophobia, and a new variable, sexual position identity. The study
used the Internet to collect data from 542 gay men, with a mean age of 33
years. They were mostly white and college educated and lived in the United States.
Findings from a regression analysis indicated that social physique anxiety was
predicted by internalized homophobia, drive for muscularity, and sexual position
identity, accounting for 22% of the variance. The study is available at the
Psychology & Sexuality website.
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10 Fabulous Years!
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to Marietta Escobar-Solis for her 10 years
of service to the university! Marietta came to OCS about two years ago from
Kapi‘olani CC and has been keeping this bustling office on track ever since.
She has also been making good use of the employee tuition waiver to pursue her AA degree. Mahalo for all the great work, Marietta!
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Honoring Dr. B, Again!
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Honolulu City Council honored corn pioneer James
Brewbaker (TPSS) on his selection for the 2013 Crop Science Society of America
Presidential Award and for his many exceptional contributions to the community
and the state of Hawai‘i. Dr. B was presented with a certificate on January 29 recognizing
his more than 60 years of experience in plant breeding and his significant
influence on crop science in Hawai‘i. The Crop Science Society of America
Presidential Award recognizes outstanding contributions to crop science through
education, national and international service, and research. Congratulations,
Dr. B!
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A Full Flowering of Honors
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Kelvin Sewake (PEPS) was recently honored for his 28 years of dedicated service to Hawai‘i’s floral and nursery industries in the Cooperative Extension Service. On January 18, Kelvin was recognized at the Hawai‘i
Floriculture and Nursery Association/Hawai‘i Florists and Shippers 66th
Annual Shinnenkai event in Hilo. Dean Maria Gallo introduced him and stated his
many accomplishments in the ornamental industry. Kelvin received certificates expressing appreciation and recognizing his
achievements from Hawai‘i County’s Mayor Billy Kenoi, from Senator Gilbert
Kahele on behalf of the Hawai‘i State Senate, and from Representative Clift
Tsuji on behalf of the Hawai‘i State House of Representatives. He credited his CTAHR colleagues and the
hard-working farmers who help to keep Hawai‘i agriculture alive and well. On
January 23, Kelvin was honored by the
Tropical Orchid Growers Association of Hawai‘i at their annual installation
dinner in Mapunapuna, where
President Bernie Cagauan presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation. Kelvin has been assisting O‘ahu’s
flower and nursery growers for the past 2-1/2 years, providing farm visits,
educational presentations, and working with the industry organizations. Many
congratulations!
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Awesome Case Study Review!
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Journal of Agricultural & Food Information published
a review of Agricultural Markets in a Transitional Economy: An Albanian Case
Study edited by Catherine Chan-Halbrendt and Jean Fantle-Lepczyk (NREM). The
review, by Karen Lindquist, praises the book’s emphasis on the need for
agricultural extension and the impact of the university on future market
growth, particularly for developing countries. Lindquist also stresses the
importance of case studies to agricultural economics because of the limitations
on theory in rendering the economic and political impacts on the agricultural
market. Read more of the review on the Journal of Agricultural & Food
Information website.
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International Food Science Collaboration
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Dean Maria Gallo welcomed Soo-Jong Um,
dean of the College of Life Sciences at Sejong University, and colleagues to
campus last week for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The document
opens doors for faculty and student exchanges and research collaboration,
beginning with food-related sciences at CTAHR and the private Seoul, Korea
institution. Observing were Sanghoon Ko of the Sejong Department of
Food Science and Technology; Halina Zaleski, chair of HNFAS; and Sang-Ho Yoo, head of the
Sejong Department of Bio-Integrated Science and Technology. More photos of the
event are available on the CTAHR Flickr site.
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Dunking for Spring
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Woo hoo, spring! Enjoying a break in recent rainy weather,
students, faculty, and staff gathered outside Gilmore Hall for a mini-carnival
complete with free hotdogs, popcorn, and games with prizes. Balloon artists
created whimsical characters and agriculturally significant insects on request,
and students lined up for the chance to drop their faculty members into the
drink in the ever-popular dunking booth. The event was free, but more than $250
in donations were collected for CTAHR's Urban Garden Center. Check out more
pictures of the event at the CTAHR Flickr website. Big thanks to Ted Radovich
(TPSS), Samir Khanal (MBBE), Helen Spafford (PEPS), Tomoaki Miura (NREM), Lori
Yancura (FCS), and J-P Bingham (MBBE) for volunteering to get dunked. Mahalo to
Charlie Nelson for assisting with food arrangements and the carnival layout.
Also, great thanks to the Friends of the Urban Garden Center and Janice Uchida
(PEPS) for donating potted plants for prizes and to SAPFB for partially funding
this event. Mahalo to the Spring Event student committee, scholarship recipients
and student ambassador volunteers, and ASAO for their time and dedication in
making this a smooth and successful event. Lastly, thank you to everyone who
attended and donated to this year’s cause and making this year’s carnival
another memorable CTAHR event!
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CTAHR Highlights on Every Island!
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Check out the college’s new publication, CTAHR in Focus, a snapshot of CTAHR impacts statewide. Representative rather than comprehensive, it combines county-by-county data with profiles and features that provide a sample of how our People, Place, and Promise focus plays out across our departments and islands. CTAHR is making an impact everywhere!
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Spice It Up!
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Ted Radovich, Archana Pant (both TPSS), and J-P Bingham
(MBBE) were featured in a Hana Hou: The Magazine of Hawaiian Airlines article,
“The Tropic of Capsicum,” about the Hawaiian chili. The article highlights work
on improving the unique and powerful chili, increasing the size of the chili,
the yield for producers, and the size of the market. The Hawaiian chili is
mostly known as the best component of chili pepper water, but this popular
ingredient is hard to get, and even harder to get with reliable flavor consistency. Ted’s study looks to clarify the qualities of the Hawaiian chili for
producers and consumers to help it find a niche market for chili lovers
everywhere. Read the whole article on the Hana Hou website. The good stuff is
on page two.
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Sustain, Renew, Produce
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Go, hydro-power! Center on the Family recently published
On-Farm Renewable Energy and Sustainable Local Food Production: A Case Study. The
report presents baseline data from a case study of a small-scale, on-farm
hydro-power facility in Hawai‘i County. The hydro-power project was intended to
demonstrate how a renewable energy source can support farm profitability and
increased local food production. The report discusses three major themes that
emerged from interviews that were conducted with tenant farmers at the site as
well as several key community informants. The themes are (1) the importance of
a cooperative family of farms model to the survival of small farmers, (2) the
potential for on-farm renewable energy to increase production and profits, and
(3) the contributions of local agriculture to regional rural economic development.
Download On-Farm Renewable Energy and Sustainable Local Food Production: A Case
Study from the Center on the Family website.
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Que Enfermedad Tiene Esta Planta?
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR “Diagnóstico,”
the Spanish-language version of “The Plant Doctor”
app for iPhones
and iOS devices, is ready for download at iTunes. To access the Spanish version,
set the default language for your device to “Español” (in Settings - General -
International - Language). Users will receive diagnoses and management
recommendations in Spanish. During the past 12 months, more than 1,000 people
from 42 states in the USA and from 35 foreign countries used the app for plant
pest diagnoses. The Plant Doctor provides interactive diagnosis and advice
about plant diseases in gardens, landscapes, nurseries and farms. The app
provides descriptions of ten of the most common plant diseases. If users are
unsure about the nature of their own problem, they can get a diagnosis totally free!
For diagnosis, the app collects user-supplied text and photographs and sends it
to a professional plant pathologist having more than 20 years of experience.
The user receives communications from the pathologist, including the probable
disease name and pathogen, disease management tactics, and contact information
for local experts who may provide more information or examine samples. Get “The
Plant Doctor” in English as well!
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Supporting Beef at the Top
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Sometimes support for beef production comes far from the
ranch. Supporting the beef industry in Hawai‘i, a $46M industry (3rd in
diversified agriculture, HASS 2011), means more than understanding stocking
rates and reproductive efficiency. It also means meeting legislators and
talking about the importance of the beef industry and Hawai‘i agriculture to
policymakers. Guided by Brent Buckley (HNFAS) and in conjunction with the Hawai‘i
Cattlemen’s Council, nine Animal Sciences students visited legislators and
staffers on January 29 to do just that. The ANSC 431 Beef Production
class learned that “beef production” is more than cows and calves and pastures
and forages. Attending were
Krista Ann Lee, Janelle Parkin, Carramae Madayag, Mandy Chen, Alex
Porlier Langlois, Melissa Dumas, Jeanette Tyson, Melissa Roach, and Casandra
Kawamura. Spread the word about Hawai‘i’s beef!
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Extend Yourself
2/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the signing of
the Smith-Lever Act, which officially created the national Cooperative Extension
System. Although extension agents didn’t come to Hawai‘i until 1929, the extension
system is an important and integral part of CTAHR. The centennial is a great
occasion to promote both cooperative extension and CTAHR in Hawai‘i, with
information on the college’s website and via social media. There will also be
several events that will be held on the Manoa campus and in the counties
celebrating extension’s history and accomplishments as well as present
contributions. The CES extends university-based research and knowledge to the
community and is one of the pillars of our tripartite land-grant mission.
Please share your stories about extension programs and events
(awesome past ones and exciting new ones), or experiences that made a
difference in someone’s life. If you have pictures, so much the better! Send
write-ups, images, links to CES100@ctahr.hawaii.edu for possible
inclusion in Twitter, Facebook, Impact Report, CTAHR Notes and Alumni &
Friends, and more!
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What’s That Tree?
2/27/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Curious about the many lovely plants and trees on campus?
Learn about Integrating Education, Maintenance and Environmental Awareness
through Campus Landscape Mapping, Thursday, February 27, 12:00 noon at
Kuykendall 101. In this session, Buildings and Grounds Management Director
Roxanne Adams and Landscape Assistant Nathan Ortiz (TPSS student, yay!) will show how they
used open-source programming to create the UHM Plant Map, which provides
customers with search, sort, and navigational functions to campus trees from
desktop or mobile devices. This project directly supports sustainable
management decisions, while simultaneously increasing biodiversity and the
education potential of the landscape. The target audience is two-fold:
landscape crew and supervisors use the system for grounds management, while
general public can use the maps to intelligently navigate the landscape. Check
out The UHM Plant Map and put names to those familiar plants!
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Save Money, Save the Day
2/27/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR It’s all about money! The UH Saves Day Financial Education Expo, co-sponsored by CES, celebrates smart financial planning to encourage students, faculty, and staff to save, pay down debt, and build wealth. On Wednesday, February 26, at Campus Center, there were interactive exhibits, a scavenger hunt, a photo booth, and lots of giveaways. On February 27, 5:30 p.m. at the Hale Aloha Courtyard, teams including one from FamR will compete in the LifeSmarts Challenge. The teams will be tested on various financial concepts, with two $500 scholarships going to the winning team. Money smarts save the day!
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By the Numbers
2/21/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR has been putting up some impressive numbers! The number of individuals who had contact with CTAHR in 2012
would fill Aloha Stadium 19 times. There are 303 CTAHR-certified Master
Gardeners who assist schools and homeowners statewide. There are 1,600 acres of
off-campus facilities servicing the community in 29 locations across the state.
CTAHR reaches 75 people a day, every day, all year long. Find out more fabulous
CTAHR numbers, facts, and highlights throughout the state in the new CTAHR in
Focus publication.
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Calling All Abstracts
2/21/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The 26th Annual
CTAHR Student Research Symposium will take place on April 11 and 12 in
the Agricultural Science Building. The Symposium, which serves as a
multidisciplinary forum for the discussion and exchange of information, is open to graduate and undergraduate students conducting
scholarly work under the supervision of faculty in Manoa’s College of Tropical
Agriculture and Human Resources, College of Engineering, and Hilo’s College of
Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management. The deadline for
submitting abstracts is March 11. Instructions on preparing and submitting
abstracts and making presentations at the Symposium can be found on the
Symposium website. If you have questions, please contact Felicia Geronimo (feliciar@hawaii.edu) or Charles Kinoshita (kinoshitac@ctahr.hawaii.edu). All
students are encouraged to participate, so please set aside April 11 and 12. We look forward to seeing all of them and their awesome work at the 26th CTAHR Student Research Symposium!
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Curiosity Can Build a Farm
2/21/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Are you curious about farming? Looking for a career or an
opportunity to earn supplemental income farming sustainably? Leeward is hosting
a free AgCurious seminar on the GoFarm Hawai‘i program on Tuesday, February
25, 5:30 p.m. at the GT building, room 105. Come hear successful O‘ahu farmers talk story about their start-up experiences the challenges and benefits of ag-centered
lifestyles. Gain an understanding
of the agriculture industry in Hawai‘i and its importance. Learn about the
GoFarm Hawai‘i @ Leeward CC training program. GoFarm alumni will be on hand to talk about what’s great
about the program. Call 455-0401 or email (linne@hawaii.edu) to confirm your
attendance!
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Sweet, Sweet Sweet Potatoes
2/21/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Waimanalo Research
Station rocked its Sweet Potato Field Day! More than 100 participants, including farmers from the Big Island and Kaua‘i, braved the rainy day for a chance to check out
the many awesome varieties of sweet potatoes (‘uala), many of which are native Hawaiian
varieties. ‘Uala is nutritious and delicious and has much to contribute to sustainability in the Islands, being a locally available source of carbohydrates in an area without the space for large fields of grain.
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Check Out These Bugs!
2/19/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The University of Hawai‘i Insect Museum had a lovely celebration of Darwin’s birthday, which included specimen preparation, lots of demonstrations, a cake graced with Darwin's portrait, and some delicious chocolate-covered mealworms, crickets, and other bugs for the more adventurous gourmets. Visitors of all ages enjoyed the many beautiful specimens (both live and preserved) available for viewing, including Hawai‘i’s iconic pulelehua. Yay for insects, yay for Darwin!
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Love Blooms
2/12/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Flowers are love! The UH Horticulture Society will hold
their annual Valentine’s Day Sale, in St. John 10B, Friday, February 14, from 9:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or whenever all the flowers are sold out. All flowers are grown by
local nurseries and include mini gerbera daisies, kalanchoe, mini roses,
azaleas, and calla lilies. Come out and support local businesses and brighten
up someone’s day (it could be your own!) with some lovely blossoms.
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Wow! ‘Uala!
2/12/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Still craving more after your Valentine’s Day candy? If you want sweet, check out sweet
potatoes! The Waimanalo Experiment Station’s Organic Plots will feature the diversity
of sweet potatoes (‘uala) in Hawai‘i on Saturday, February 15, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon. Visitors can see and taste nearly 70 varieties of sweet potatoes, the
majority of which are native Hawaiian varieties. The field day is a chance to
learn about the propagation of ‘uala, and how this crop can contribute to
health and sustainability in Hawai‘i. For more information, contact the field station at
259-7201 or email Jay Bost (jbost@hawaii.edu). Mmmm, sweet potatoes.
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Name Badge Bling
2/12/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Check out the Kahului CES crew rocking the new CTAHR name
badges! Almost 350 badges were made for members of the CTAHR ‘ohana, and this
swanky fashion accessory has been spotted at events all over the many campuses.
CTAHR pride never goes out of style!
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Nutrition Online Excellence
2/12/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to HNFAS’ Marie Fialkowski (right), whose online FSHN
185 course “The Science of Human Nutrition” was nominated for the UHM
Excellence in Online Teaching Award.
Nominated by students, Marie is among faculty teaching online courses
considered to be demonstrating best practices. Marie is Assistant Program
Director of the Children Healthy Living Program. Her students, who take the course via the
Outreach College, are from across the Pacific, and may have limited science
backgrounds. Working with Maria
Stewart (HNFAS, left), Marie made changes to the online subject matter to reflect the
unique content of diets and nutrition across the Pacific. This effort to meet
the needs of these underserved students will, they hope, reduce the impacts of
obesity and other chronic diseases in the Pacific region. Great job, Marie!
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Bugs Can Be Farm Friendly, Too
2/5/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Bugs can contribute to sustainability! Robert Olivier will present the seminar “Why Farm Insects?”
Thursday, February 6, 9:30–10:30 a.m. in AgSci 219. Robert Olivier is the
founder and CEO of Prota Culture, LLC, a science-based small bio-tech business
that is pioneering the design, development, and manufacturing of a sustainable
insect-based production system to make local animal feed ingredients and
biodiesel from organic wastes. Olivier’s goal is to reduce the amount of food waste disposed in
landfills. Given enough food waste, one commercial BioPod™
produces as much protein from insects as an entire acre of land in California
planted with soy. With these portable units, urban insect farmers could disrupt
a $50 million food-waste disposal market on O'ahu while providing cheap,
locally produced animal feed for poultry, fish, and pigs, thus making Hawai'i more
self-reliant. Come hear more of his exciting ideas!
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DNA Is Everywhere
2/5/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The new issue of Biotech in Focus is available! This issue,
“Biotechnology Basics: DNA Goes to Work,” explores the meaning of
“biotechnology” and discusses the many fields that benefit from DNA research. Subjects
include medicine, industry, the environment, public safety, and agriculture. Download this issue of Biotech in Focus. Previous issues can be found on the Biotech in Focus webpage.
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Lovely, Lovely Lettuce
2/5/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Be original this Valentine’s Day and give the gift of red
lettuce instead of roses! The Poamoho Research Station will host a Green and Red
Leaf Lettuce Field Day, a Pop-Up Tent Vegetable Science Education Event,
on February 13, 9:00-10:30 a.m. At the request of aquaponic and hydroponic growers,
Poamoho started evaluating lettuce varieties that could tolerate the heat on
O‘ahu, though findings also have implications for farmers growing in the soil. The field day gives farmers
the opportunity to “pop in” to see and evaluate the horticultural
characteristics of more than 40 green and red lettuce cultivars. For more
information, contact Jensen Uyeda (juyeda@hawaii.edu) or Jari Sugano
(suganoj@ctahr.hawaii.edu) 622-4185.
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Keeping Student Bonds Strong
2/5/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR About twenty Student Ambassadors met up on Saturday, January
25, for the CTAHR Student Ambassador Spring Retreat. They bonded and developed
their leadership and communication skills through teambuilding activities
headed by the Student Life and Development Office. Fun and useful exercises included the Ski Trolley, the Balance Beam, and Animal Sounds, each emphasizing creative thinking, trust, and team spirit. The retreat ended with a Mexican lunch. A big thanks to James Frizzell
and Alycia Kiyabu from Student Life and Development for facilitating the
morning teambuilding exercises. Also, mahalo to the Student Ambassadors for a
productive, fun-filled retreat. Lastly, thank you to the Academic and Student
Affairs Office for sponsoring this event. Great job, ambassadors!
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January
Iron Does a Mommy Good
1/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Life with a new baby can be a challenge, but increased
iron in the diet can really help. In a column in the Star Advertiser, Alan Titchenal and
Joannie Dobbs (both HNFAS) explain the common problem of iron deficiency during
and after pregnancy. Low iron, due to blood loss during birth, can cause both
physical and mental postpartum issues including fatigue, anxiety, sleeping
problems, decreased short-term memory, ADHD types of symptoms, and compromised
immune function. The column discusses the issues of adequate iron consumption
during and after pregnancy.
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Fashion Melding
1/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR In a meeting of the unique, FDM alumni Lan Chung of Fighting
Eel and Matt Bruening have joined their distinct styles for a fabulous new-year
collection. Fighting Eel caters to career women and young mothers who want
a modern look with comfort and quality, while Matt Bruening designs for the edgy,
urban tomboy. Together their collection features Fighting Eel’s ease and
day-to-night versatility and Matt Bruening’s sporty tops, seam-line details,
raglan sleeves, and asymmetrical vented backs. The result is a stylish,
comfortable collection that works for all hours. Read more at the Star
Advertiser. And check out the styles at Fighting Eel and Matt Bruening!
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Eek! Ants!
1/29/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Keep an eye out for new pests in town. The winter issue of
the sustainable agriculture newsletter Hanai‘Ai features pest bulletins for the
Little Fire Ant (LFA) and the Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle (featured in the
January 17 CTAHR Notes). Over the holidays, a public report of a suspicious ant
at a garden shop on Maui led to the confirmation that LFA colonies were present
in hapu‘u logs imported from Hawai‘i island. These logs were for sale in
multiple garden shops and nurseries on O‘ahu and Maui. Fire ants are a danger
to the health of families, pets, the agriculture industry, and the local
economy. Read more about LFA, how to detect them, and what to do if you spot
any.
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Income and the Reading Gap
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR In Hawai‘i and the rest of the U.S. young readers face a
pretty hefty challenge: income. COF, the designated Hawai‘i KIDS COUNT grantee, collaborated with the Annie E. Casey Foundation on Early Reading Proficiency in the United
States, a KIDS COUNT data snapshot. The publication finds
that while there have been overall improvements in reading scores over the past
decade, the gap between students from higher- and lower-income families is
growing wider, and a large majority of children in the U.S. are not reading
proficiently by the time they reach fourth grade. According to Hawai‘i KIDS
COUNT project director Ivette Rodriguez Stern (COF), Hawai‘i’s trend is similar
to the nation’s. While the share of students not proficient
in reading remains slightly higher in Hawai‘i than nationally, the state has seen an
overall improvement in proficiency levels, with 70% of fourth graders reading
below proficiency in 2013 compared to 79% in 2003. Despite these overall
improvements, disparities between income groups persist. Read more about it in the KIDS COUNT report.
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Cover Crops Up High
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Come visit some cover crops in the sky! Or at least up
high. The Lalamilo Research Station will hold a field day on Cover Crops for
High Elevation in Hawai‘i on Wednesday, February 5, at 12 noon. Field day visitors
will have an opportunity to learn about the benefits of cover crops and their
“cocktail mix” and to view the growth of different cover crop mixtures at high
elevation. The cover crop field trial was established in early December 2013,
and its objectives are to collect data to develop a Cover Crop Calculator for
Hawai‘i, and to evaluate the soil health improvement potential of cold climate
cover crops. Guest speakers for the day are Archana Pant (TPSS) and Koon-Hui
Wang (PEPS). For more information, contact Didi at 887-6183 or email
(mddiaz@hawaii.edu).
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Woo Hoo! ‘Ulu!
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Interested in growing breadfruit (‘ulu)? Learn all about it
at the ‘Ulu Production and Agronomy Field Day, Wednesday, February 7, 1 p.m. at
the Mililani Ag Park. Mark Nickum (TPSS) and other speakers will discuss propagation
techniques, nutrient needs, irrigation requirements, field prep and spacing,
sources for nursery stock, and pruning ‘ulu. A take-home planting guide and
refreshments will be provided. RSVP by February 6 at 343-8196.
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Beyond Aloha Shirts
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Andrew Reilly (FDM) was recently interviewed on KITV and ThinkTech regarding his upcoming book Honolulu Street Style. Situated at the crossroads of different cultures,
Honolulu has a style all of its own, he explains. Honolulu Street Style captures this unique approach as it demonstrates how
global trends are transformed by stylish Honolulu denizens to create a
unique, local look. Divided into chapters on hair, hats, accessories, and
beachwear, the book features the styles of people encountered on the street and
in many different neighborhoods, with an essay on the history and clothing of
Hawai’i as a whole. Check out the book on Amazon, too!
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Muscles, Bones, and Milestones
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Congratulations to HNFAS’ Yong-Soo Kim for 20 years of
service and Jinzeng Yang for 10 years of service at the university! Both
scientists study muscle development and molecular mechanisms and their applications
to improving animal production efficiency. As animal scientists, they study efficient muscle growth
critical to meat production, reduced feed efficiency, and environmental
impacts. Jinzeng (right) and Yong-Soo (middle, pictured with department chair Halina Zaleski) work on the regulation of myostatin, a growth-differentiation
factor that controls muscle mass.
Whether it’s shrimp, fish, swine, or beef cattle, muscle growth appears
to be controlled by different forms of myostatin. Mutations in myostatin genes
can lead to significant muscle growth and thus increased meat production. With the understanding
of myostatin, growth of muscle can be studied and made more efficient. Yong-Soo
and Jinzeng also use animal models with depressed myostatin function and
increased muscle mass to understand impacts of skeletal muscle on obesity and
diabetes prevention. Enhanced skeletal muscle mass can be very effective in
maintaining glucose homeostasis in both type I and type II diabetes. They are
always looking for interested graduate students and scientists to work with
them in this exciting subject of myostatin and skeletal muscle.
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Empowering Environmental Youth
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Alumna Rebecca Beralas (NREM) has been sharing the ideas of
conservation and environmental education through her work as the program
outreach coordinator for Kupu. The mission of Kupu is to empower youth to serve
their communities through character-building, service learning, and
environmental stewardship opportunities. Some of the highlights of Rebecca’s
journey include internship programs, planning and leading large-scale
environmental community service events, and having the opportunity to educate
and mentor hundreds of environmentally minded young adults each year. She
credits her professors Christopher Lepczyk and Creighton Litton (both NREM) for inspiring her
through their thoroughness, knowledge, and ability to push students to do
their best while sharing opportunities with them. And in her free time,
Rebecca will be releasing her debut reggae album later this year. Go for it,
Rebecca!
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Go, Go, Gardeners!
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR What better place for a garden than the Garden Isle? An
article about the Kaua‘i Master Gardener Program appeared in Midweek Kauai,
explaining the program and the classroom training as well as the volunteer
responsibilities. Kaua‘i Master Gardener volunteers assist the university in its
mission to deliver relevant, research-based, environmentally sound horticulture
information to the public. Through community outreach and education, the
university strives to promote sustainable gardening practices and environmental
stewardship on Kaua‘i. Kim Perry, extension agent and Kaua‘i Master Gardener
coordinator, will teach the introductory class, which covers gardening in
Hawai‘i. Other teachers include Hector Valenzuela
(PEPS) and Jonathan Deenik, Joe DeFrank, and Ted Radovich (all TPSS). Let's get out and plant responsibly!
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Memory Care
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Finding a job in one’s field of interest can be tough, so
FAMR graduate Allyson Fujii is delighted to be working in gerontology as the activities assistant at Belmont Village Assisted Living in San Jose,
California. At the village, she cares for elderly residents with mild cognitive
impairment in the memory care program called the Circle of Friends. Although
her job comes with its challenges, she enjoys spending time and reminiscing with
the residents. Allyson credits Michael Cheang and Lori Yancura (both FCS) with sharing
the knowledge and advice that inspired her to live a goal-oriented life and
take an interest in the aging population. Congratulations, Allyson!
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Breadfruit Work Honored
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR collaborator and TPSS alumna Diane Ragone was selected as a Star of
Oceania by the Pacific Business Center for her work as the director of the
National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Breadfruit Institute. This honor comes on
the heels of the November 15 announcement by the USDA that compounds in the
male flowers of breadfruit are significantly more effective at repelling
mosquitoes than DEET. These findings are the result of collaborative research
conducted using NTBG’s breadfruit collection and published in a March 2012
paper co-authored by Diane. In October, the work of the Breadfruit Institute
was featured in Science magazine.
Congratulations, Diane!
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The Dr. B Fellowship
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR After decades
of teaching, mentoring, and research, plant breeder and corn guru James
Brewbaker (TPSS) has given another gift to the college. He has established an
endowed fellowship with outright and estate gifts totaling $1 million, the
largest gift ever received by the University of Hawai‘i. The James L. Brewbaker
endowed fellowship will assist full-time TPSS graduate students studying plant
breeding. “The two billion people this world held when I was born in ’26
have sadly grown to more than seven billion, of whom one billion go to bed
hungry,” said Dr. B. “My gift simply underscores my faith that plant
breeding can, and indeed will have to contribute even more than it has in the
past. No better place than University of Hawai‘i.” Learn more about Dr. B’s
gift and watch him present it at KITV. Then check out photos of the event here and here. Mahalo nui loa, Dr. B!
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White Flower, Blue Ribbon
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR 'Hokuloa', an anthurium developed by TPSS and PEPS, won a Blue
Ribbon in the Society of American Florists' 2013 Outstanding Varieties
Competition. The anthurium was entered by Hilo-based Green Point Nurseries, one
of the state's largest cut flower producers and a longtime CTAHR collaborator.
The bright white, heart-shaped 'Hokuloa' was named for the planet Venus, the
morning and the evening star. A star is born!
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Cool Food Research
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR HNFAS’s Soojin Jun’s food storage and preservation research
was recently featured on the front page of Ka Leo. Soojin and co-PI Peter Berkelman in the School of Engineering are
working on new technology to minimize freezing damage to food due to water
crystallization by manipulating the water’s electric and magnetic fields. The proposed technology will not require sequential freezing-thawing
processes for long-term food storage, so food quality can be maintained as
fresh without structural damage, such as drip loss, softening, and loss of
valuable nutrients. The project received a three-year, $500,000
Improving Food Quality and Value grant through the National Institute of Food
and Agriculture.
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Highway Gardens
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR There are big plans for those empty patches of land along
the highway. Turf specialist Joe DeFrank, postdoctoral researcher Orville Baldos
and doctoral candidate Scott Lukas (all TPSS) were featured on KITV for their
work introducing native plants to unused land along the highways. The project,
coordinated with the Department of Transportation, aims to reduce soil erosion
and battle invasive species by planting native species along the H1, as well as
use the land along the highway to create seed farms for future plants.
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Kaka‘ako Kalo
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Any place can be a farm, even a strip of dirt in a parking
lot. Urban Farm Hawai‘i, founded by TPSS student Andrew Dedrick, is
transforming land along the Kaka‘ako thoroughfare into an urban taro patch.
Mitchell Loo and Nate Ortiz (also TPSS students) and volunteers spent a weekend
planting more than 500 donated dryland taro plants in a patch of land fronting
the former CompUSA building. The project is short term since the entire area is
slated for redevelopment, but Urban Farm Hawai‘i expects the crop to yield lu‘au
leaves and at least one harvest of taro. Read the Star Advertiser article here.
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International Aquaponics Connections
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Dean Maria Gallo celebrated an international collaboration
between MBBE’s aquaponics initiative, local farmers, local and State agencies,
and the Japanese Horimasa Corporation at an event held at Mari’s Garden last November 18. The collaboration is looking to develop and refine aquaponics
technology that will reduce water use and create a “two for one” harvest of
both fish and food crops. Led by MBBE’s Clyde Tamaru and Bradley “Kai” Fox, the
researchers have been working on a project to design a mobile,
controlled-environment production facility to produce local, sustainable, and
organic food. MBBE alumni Scott Shibata and Ryo Kubota of Diagenetix are also
working with Horimasa on future food security-related projects. The event was
attended by Chancellor Tom Apple, Governor Abercrombie, and members of the
Horimasa Corp. Check out more photos of the evening. A big mahalo to Clyde’s
student Domenick Barbo for his assistance in publicizing the event!
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Oh, No! More Invasive Pests!
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The coconut rhinoceros beetle was detected on O'ahu during routine
surveys conducted under a cooperative agreement between CTAHR and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture’s Plant Protection & Quarantine. The beetle was
discovered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Dec. 23. Since the discovery,
the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) and the USDA-PPQ have been working
jointly with the military and CTAHR to survey and conduct trapping activities
to determine the extent of the infestation. So far, nine adult beetles have
been trapped. HDOA has more information on the identification of the coconut
rhinoceros beetle and what to do if you see one.
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Golden Years, CTAHR Style
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The previous quarter’s Impact Report
looked at the ways CTAHR reaches out to the youth of the state, so it’s only
right that the 4th Quarter Impact Statement, now available online and in print,
focuses on the college’s work on behalf of Hawai‘i’s seniors. Get inspired by
stories of extension projects helping grandparents caring for grandchildren, eating
and lifestyle tips for healthy aging, and the Center on the Family’s database
of publications and statistics on Hawai‘i’s elderly!
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Biotech Fun
1/28/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The new Biotech in Focus series, begun this month by the Biotechnology Outreach Program under Ania Wieczorek,
offers a general overview of biotechnology news and issues. The
subjects covered in this series range from basic biological aspects to complex
societal issues, including safety of biotech products, environmental
compatibility, needs of modern agriculture, opinion pieces, and much, much more.
Biotech in Focus will be published twice a month, with each bulletin presented
in accessible form and providing pertinent science-based information in a
non-technical and fun format. Read the first issue of Biotech in Focus,
featuring DNA, what it is, and how it works, at the website.
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Keep Calm and Learn about Tea
1/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Yay Team Tea! CTAHR’s Tea Project, Risk Management Hawai‘i,
and the LIFE program are presenting the popular Tea 101: Production and Processing
Basics on Wednesday, February 12, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mealani Research
Station. Led by Randy Hamasaki (PEPS) and Stuart Nakamoto (HNFAS), the workshop
will give participants the chance to explore the possibilities of tea as a new
crop in the Islands, including market feasibility, tea varieties, crop
management, harvesting techniques, and evaluation of the final product. Randy
and Stuart will also share current tea research conducted at the Mealani Station. Space is limited to 12 participants, so call 877-6183 or email mddiaz@hawaii.edu to reserve your spot.
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Welcome Back
1/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The CTAHR ‘ohana celebrated the new year and a fresh semester with
NREM’s Welcome Back Breakfast on January 17 in the Sherman Courtyard.
NREM served approximately 50 participants a continental breakfast of bagels, muffins, fruits, coffee, tea, and
orange juice. One of the most common themes that was raised at every CTAHR
strategic planning activity last year was the need for more socializing at the
college level. This theme really resonated with the staff and faculty in the
NREM Department, and they decided to host what they hope will be the first of
many departmental social events this year. A big mahalo is due to organizers
(left to right) Chi Ming (Lawrence) Chan, Donna Ching (FCS), Catherine Chan-Halbrendt, and Debbie Wong! What a
great way to start the new year!
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Let Us Consider Lettuce
1/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The Poamoho Research Station held a Romaine Lettuce
Observational Field Day on January 21, just ahead of the harvest scheduled for later in the week. The demonstration showcased more than 20
varieties of Romaine lettuce as part of a replicated field trial, and visitors were
able to see the horticultural characteristics of the lettuce samples. Identification of promising new Romaine
lettuce varieties for commercial production can minimize Hawai‘i’s dependence
on mainland imports, and implications from previous replicated field studies
suggest Romaine can be grown successfully on O‘ahu. Go, Team Romaine!
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Sustainability and Tradition
1/22/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Joannie Dobbs and Alan Titchnal interviewed Tetsuzan “Benny”
Ron (all are HNFAS) about food production and environmental
sustainability in their Star Advertiser column. Benny stresses the need to
learn from traditional Hawaiian agricultural practices and to incorporate native Hawaiian
ideas into new technologies. He identifies core concepts as the conservation and
preservation of our water supply, food production, and a respect for the
Hawaiian culture, and explains his use of environmentally friendly aquaponics
technologies and how the combination of aquaculture and hydroponics can be
sustainable as well as economical.
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The Perfect Time to Plant and Prune
1/17/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR While other parts of the country are freezing, it’s the
right time in Hawai‘i to attend to those urban gardens. In an article in the
Star Advertiser, Lorraine Brooks (TPSS) has advice for pruning
ornamental shrubs and trees, as well as which vegetables can be planted in the
Hawai‘i winter. She also offers tips on how to identify and control garden
pests. Get those gardens revved up!
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Where and What Did You Spray When?
1/17/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR CTAHR’s Risk Management Hawai‘i presents the workshop
Recordkeeping Requirements for the Worker Protection Standard and Restricted
Use Pesticides Regulation, Thursday, January 23, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm at the
Waimea Civic Center conference room. Proper recordkeeping concerning pesticide use helps agricultural owners, employers, and managers better manage their
production, labor, marketing, legal, and financial risks. Good recordkeeping is
also a prerequisite for crop insurance and disaster assistance. Workers,
pesticide applicators, agricultural growers, owners, employers, and managers
will learn how to be compliant and how to implement the WPS requirements,
thereby minimizing their risk of noncompliance and citations. Please bring your
pesticide card to get 1.0 credit toward pesticide recertification (upon
approval with HDOA). To RSVP, please call Didi or Perci at 887-6183 or email mddiaz@hawaii.edu by January 22.
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Helping Farms, Helping Hawai‘i
1/6/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Dean Maria Gallo’s op-ed “Helping local farms more important
than ever” was recently published in the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. In it, Dean Gallo stresses
the importance of local agriculture for the state’s food security and explains how
government investment in prime agricultural lands and infrastructure will
reduce Hawai‘i’s dependence on outside food sources. She recommends investing
in research, communication, outreach, and innovative collaboration. Read the
entire piece here.
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Go, Go, Costume Funding!
1/6/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR The crowdfunding campaign for FDM’s Historic Costume
Collection has broken $1,600! Spread the word about the awesome assemblage of historically
and culturally irreplaceable (not to mention gorgeous!) items and the campaign
to keep it going! There’s just under a month left to make the goal of $10,000, which will allow the Collection’s curators to conserve and display these fabulous pieces.
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Intergenerational Relationships
1/6/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Jenjira Yahirun, candidate for the position of COF assistant
researcher in social demography, will present the seminar “Intergenerational
Relationships Across the Lifespan” on Tuesday, January 14, 10:30 a.m. in Miller
101. The seminar is open to interested members of the CTAHR community and is eminently relevant to Hawai‘i’s high rate of multi-generational households.
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CTAHR's Great, So Nominate!
1/6/2014 Source: Office of Communication Services, CTAHR Ready to start a new year and to nominate some
candidates for the CTAHR Awards Banquet? The official start date for nomination
submission is Tuesday, January 21, and information on the nomination process is
available on the Awards Banquet website. The nomination deadline for the
Outstanding Alumnus/Alumna award is January 31, and the deadline for
nominations for the six faculty/staff awards is February 20. The awards are
Excellence in Teaching, in Research, and in Extension; Outstanding Civil
Service and Service by an APT Employee; and the Alvin T. and Charlotte C.
Nakamura Hoku Award for an Individual with Administrative Potential.
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