Issue 50   |   June 23, 2016   |   Archive   |   Subscribe

News & Events

Fashion on a Global Scale

FDM is co-hosting the 2016 international Conference and the 21st International Invited Fashion Exhibition, organized by the Society of Fashion & Textile Industry (SFTI), which will be held on Thursday, July 7, in the UHM Campus Center Ballroom. SFTI is one of the leading academic professional organizations involved in textile and fashion in South Korea. The 2016 SFTI conference will include keynote speeches, research presentations, fashion/artwork exhibitions, and an awards ceremony. Retired FDM Associate Professor Marcia Morgado will present the keynote speech, entitled “From Kitsch to Chic: The Transformation of Hawaiian Shirt Aesthetics.” Hosting SFTI’s international conference will provide a great opportunity for the global interchange of information and knowledge related to the fashion and textile fields with SFTI members from South Korea, the US, the UK, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, and Mongolia. This conference will be open to UHM students and the general public.

Spotlight on Our Community

The Summer of the Gene-iuses

While summer vacation is in full swing for most students across the state, Ania Wieczorek (TPSS) is offering fun and interesting classes for some of Hawai‘i’s keiki. The GENE-ius Day program has developed a summer curriculum, teaching many exciting scientific concepts and techniques. Seventy-five students from three local Title I schools, Waipahu Intermediate, Dole Middle, and Kalakaua Middle, are coming to the UH campus for a week-long course that explores the importance of DNA evidence in solving crimes. Not only will these students be acquiring new knowledge, they’ll also be getting a firsthand experience of what it’s like to study at a university!

Fertile Research

Replacing imported fertilizers with local resources was the highest priority identified by the participants of the Western SARE Hawai’i Subregional conference in 2008, and this is what Ted Radovich and his team have been looking into with their project “Reducing Pacific Island Growers’ Reliance on Off-island Fertilizer Sources,” explains an article in Western SARE’s newsletter, Simply Sustainable (download it here). They conducted lab and greenhouse experiments to screen locally produced composts and fertilizers for N release and plant growth response. They tested commercial green-waste composts, rendered animal products (tankage), and invasive algae. Thanks to the project, the article explains, there are fewer concerns about invasive algae in the Islands, growers are able to use the algae to fertilize their sweetpotato and taro, there is increased demand for local tankage and less demand for imported fertilizers, and growers make increased use of locally made composts, all positive outcomes!

Getting Nutty on the Big Island

Alyssa Cho and Andrea Kawabata, along with the Hawaii Macadamia Nut Association (HMNA) and the Island Princess (IP) macadamia company, recently held a hands-on macadamia-grafting workshop at IP’s Farm. Participants toured the farm and nursery and discussed how to select scion wood and establish rootstock. Afterwards, professional grafters instructed and guided participants through active grafting techniques. CTAHR faculty—Alyssa, Andrea, Sharon Motomura-Wages, Kiersten Akahoshi, Marisol Quintanilla-Tornell, Russell Galanti, and Jen Burt—answered grafting and mac nut questions and assisted participants in the hands-on portion of the class. The following day, HMNA had their Annual Membership Meeting in Hilo. It was an information-filled day for farmers and processors in the mac nut industry, including presentations, informational booths, and field and processing equipment demonstrations. CTAHR people assisting with this event were Alyssa, Andrea, Sharon, Russell, and Jen. Rosemary Gutierrez and Alyssa presented an update on Macadamia Felted Coccid (MFC) research, including how farmers can help reduce the spread of MFC and identify MFC damage. Alyssa, Andrea, Sharon, and Jen facilitated a strategic planning session for HMNA members to prioritize the association’s future goals and focus. CTAHR had an educational booth to talk to farmers and processors about online macadamia resources, MFC, and FSMA.

Sprouting the Seeds of Green

NREM faculty and students Travis Idol, Kimberly Carlson, Yin-Phan Tsang, Paul Riley, Kelly-Rose Lariosa, and Clara Moreira helped out at the 7th Annual Environmental Fair hosted by Kupu, a nonprofit organization that aims to bring life back to the people, land, and ocean while restoring the larger community for a better tomorrow by training the next generation in green job skill sets such as natural resource management, renewable energy, and energy conservation. The celebration at the Kewalo Basin Training Facility drew more than a hundred program members, alumni, and vendors and included a luncheon with music, entertainment, and speeches by Kupu staff, interns, alumni, and program leaders. The fair provided educational activities, exhibits, and the opportunity for the next generation of environmental leaders in Hawai‘i to explore college programs, internships, and careers in conservation and sustainability throughout the state, and the CTAHRites was there to talk with youth who might be interested in joining NREM. They also provided help with Kupu’s Team Training at Camp Palehua. “Mahalo nui,” wrote Kupu representative Samuel Apuna. “Your efforts dramatically impacted the lives of the youth entering into the HYCC Summer Program, and your service has planted seeds that will bear fruit for years to come.”

I Screen, You Screen, We All Screen…

Screenhouses, that is: PEPS students recently joined student interns from the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program (BSMP) for a morning at the Waimanalo Experiment Station with Koon Hui Wang (PEPS) and Extension agents Jari Sugano and Steve Fukuda to construct a DIY screenhouse for the GoFarm Hawai‘i new farmer training program coached by Jay Bost. Through funding from Western SARE and CTAHR Supplemental Fund, the team has constructed several screenhouses to help collaborative farmers to cope with challenging insect pests. Check out these videos filmed by new CTAHR assistant Extension agent Jensen Uyeda, available here and here!

After Sugar’s Gone

Harold Keyser, former Maui County administrator, has an op-ed in the Star-Advertiser arguing that there’s cause for hope that the closure of HC & S on Maui can lead to important growth in diversified agriculture on the island. He explains that certain possibilities are already under investigation, including test plots for industrial hemp, experiments in growing feedstocks for biofuels, and the expansion of the grass-fed beef industry with the use of these lands for pasture. He also cautions that a limiting factor is the amount of water that will be available for irrigation, pointing out that the available water must be equitably distributed amongst all those who have need of it. If all these issues can be addressed, he concludes, there is cause for optimism that the end of sugar on Maui may be the beginning of a bright new future for diversified ag.

Sweet!

Sharon Motomura (pictured), newly hired Extension agent for edible crops in East Hawai‘i, recently organized a successful evening workshop for commercial sweetpotato growers at the Komohana Agriculture & Extension Center. In addition to planning the event, she presented a talk on “On-Farm Plant Nurseries for Sweetpotatoes,” in which she encouraged growers to select their highest-quality storage roots to multiply cuttings for future plantings. Other CTAHR speakers featured at this workshop included Marisol Quintanilla-Tornel, the newly hired junior Extension agent for organic and sustainable agriculture in East Hawai‘i, who spoke about nematode control, and Ishakh Pulakkatu-Thodi, junior researcher in entomology, who presented recent research on pesticides tested to control rough sweetpotato weevil (check out the recent publication on this pest here). Commercial growers of sweetpotatoes who were not able to attend but are interested in getting PDFs of the talks can contact Sharon at smotomur@hawaii.edu.

Peas on Earth

Chickpeas, that is! Amjad Ahmad (TPSS) just put on two successful field days showcasing the results of his chickpea variety trials, the first at Poamoho Research Station and the second at the Kula Ag Park on Maui. The project, funded by the Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture, aims to increase crop diversity and sustainability in Hawai‘i by encouraging producers to grow a tasty and healthy crop that’s often been overlooked in Island agriculture. The project is also in line with the UN’s declaration that 2016 is the year of pulses (legumes), since these crops grow on limited inputs of water and fertilizers. With the earth facing increased water scarcity, crops that can grow under such conditions and also add important protein, carbohydrates, and fibers to people’s diets are at a premium. Peas, man!

Giving on the Garden Isle

Kaua‘i Master Gardeners give back to their community. They give their time, their energy, their expertise…and sometimes they throw in a packet of pepper seeds, as well. At Kaua‘i CC’s 21st Annual Garden Fair, they gave all these things in preparation for a fruit and vegetable competition they’ll be holding in August. The latest class of Master Gardeners has just graduated, having learned important information about soil fertility, plant pathology, food safety, landscape design, and more—all of which they’ll share with other Kaua‘i gardeners. Not only that, but in recognition of their service above and beyond the call, three certified KMGs were nominated for Kaua‘i’s Outstanding Older Americans award, which recognizes one man and one woman, 65 years or older, who have given their time to better their local communities. Congratulations—and thanks!—to Keith Holdeman (top left), Tom Timmons (top right), and Patricia Fallbeck (bottom right) for their hard work and generosity!

EHIMGA’s Thriving

The East Hawai‘i Master Gardeners Association has lots of good news to report, including a new junior Extension agent, a very successful plant sale, and the largest graduating class of new Master Gardeners in the chapter’s history! Marisol Quintanilla-Tornel is now offering her help, expertise, and great ideas to the group, pointing out cases of banana bunchy top and planning for a pig-proof fence to protect plantings in their ethnobotanical garden. She’ll be speaking on nematodes, her specialty, at their annual meeting on June 30. At the plant sale—for which Master Gardeners prepare up to eleven months of the year—3000 plants were sold to some 500 very satisfied buyers, and members are already thinking about next year’s sale! The biggest triumph of all may be the new crop of East Hawai‘i Master Gardeners, who went through much of their training without an Extension agent available to help them but who succeeded brilliantly with the help of other Master Gardeners and CTAHR faculty and staff, graduating 32 new enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers!

CTAHR in Pictures

CTAHR’s well represented in the latest UH Magazine, with a CTAHR ad celebrating six students and recent alumni, including Fashion Show director Von Kaanaana (FDM), medical resident Nobuhisa Morimoto (HNFAS), and Student Employee of the Year Mandy Chen (ANSC). Just to up the college’s presence, Will Haines (PEPS, pictured) appears in the UH Foundation ad on the adjacent page, being lauded for protecting Hawai‘i’s native species through his work on the pulelehua, or Kamehameha butterfly. All these pictures just go to show that members of the CTAHR ‘ohana are dedicated, skilled, effective…and even photogenic!

New Publications

Malama Keiki

COF has released the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s 2016 KIDS COUNT© Data Book, which looks at child well-being and how it’s affected by the economy, parents’ education, health, and other life circumstances. This year’s report shows that Hawai‘i ranks 23rd in the nation in overall child well-being, a slight improvement from last year. Ivette Rodriguez Stern (COF) explains, “The most troubling news from this year’s report is that Hawai‘i continues to see increases in the share of children growing up in poverty and harsh economic conditions.” Research shows that growing up in financial hardship can profoundly effect children’s cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. However, as Ivette explains, “One bright note is that, despite economic challenges, Hawai‘i teens are making progress”: the teen birth rate has decreased, and the proportion of high school students graduating on time has increased slightly. Barbara DeBaryshe (COF) points out that one of the most important things to be done to continue to help children is to expand access to high-quality preschool and early childhood services. Another recommendation in the report is increased paid family leave, which can help family economic security in the face of a health crisis or major family event.

Food Now

Want to know about the place of food at this point in time? Check out these bulletins! Merchandisers must take the new generation of Millennials into account, Aurora Saulo (TPSS) explains in “Millennials and Food.” She gives insights culled from recent research into what they’re eating, when, and why. She shows that Millennials like to eat smaller meals throughout the day, similar to snacks, and favor bowls over plates. They form opinions about what to eat based on social media; they’re interested in diverse taste experiences and enjoy ethnic foods, including exotic fruits. Offering another perspective on food and food value at this particular time is the latest from Matthew Loke (NREM, HDOA) and PingSun Leung (NREM) on the “Value of Hawai‘i Agriculture 2013.” Continuing their important work on the value of ag in the state, the bulletin shows that ag’s overall value has risen since 1997, though its share of contribution to Hawai‘i’s economy has fallen. The good news is that ag’s contribution to employment has stayed steady over the same time period, through the closure of three plantation operations, so diversified ag is up. Now how about planting more exotic fruits?

On Fire

Did you know that when it comes to wildfires, what you do to help prevent them before and after they happen might just be as important as what you do while they’re occurring? Two publications by Clay Trauernicht (NREM) and his co-authors, “Pre-Fire Planning Guide for Resource Managers and Landowners in Hawai‘i and Pacific Islands” and “Post-Fire Vegetation and Soil Monitoring in Hawai‘i” explain this essential point. Forethought is essential—making a map of the property will point out any high-value areas that need special protection and will show you whether firefighters will have the access they need to put out the flames. It’s important to figure out what possible problems exist and how to solve them before fire shows up; hopefully this preparation will keep it from showing up at all. It’s just as necessary to monitor the growth that returns after a fire to make sure it’s not going to be fuel for the next. Take a look at these very timely publications while nothing’s on fire!

Cloud Watchers

See those puffy white things overhead? They’ve got serious research tracking them. MS grad Mallory Barnes and her advisor Tomoaki Miura (both NREM) recently co-authored a paper on clouds in the Islands with Thomas Giambelluca of the UH Geography Department, based largely on Mallory’s thesis work. “An assessment of diurnal and seasonal cloud cover changes over the Hawaiian Islands using Terra and Aqua MODIS,” published in the prestigious Journal of Climate, shows an analysis of more than 10 years’ worth of satellite data and develops an understanding of the chance of cloud cover occurrence over the Hawaiian Islands. This study produced the first high-spatial-resolution cloud-cover dataset in Hawai‘i!

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