Issue 31   |   June 30, 2014   |   Archive

News & Events

Pretty Fly for a Fruit Fly

Identi-fly that fly! The Dacine Fruit Flies of Asia-Pacific database has been updated to include a (rather scary) interactive distribution map for pest species. There are a lot of fruit flies out there! You can now check out which species of fruit flies have been found in which areas, from the Pitcairn Islands to Afghanistan, South Korea to Australia, and, of course, here in Hawai‘i. The database allows users to search for information using any combination of fruit fly genus, species, habitat, distribution, pest status, and host plant. The entire database was complied by Luc Leblanc (PEPS) and UH botanist Michael Thomas, and is part of the fruit fly systematics project, whose team members include Mike San Jose and Dan Rubinoff (both PEPS). It’s amazing how diverse and widespread such a little insect can be!

Grants & Awards

Kamehameha Schools Says, GoFarm!

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!

Spotlight on Our Community

Check Out What's Growing in China

Hye-Ji Kim (TPSS) and her students recently presented their amazing experiences on their Horticulture Production in China study abroad tour in a seminar. 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. Check out the awesome (and picture-full) blogs created by the students, David Shepard, Aleta Corpuz, and Flora Chen.

Happy Snails to You

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.

Alumna on Fire

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!

Fight Fire with Science

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.

New York Elements of Style

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!

Banquet Memories

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!

How to Take Over the World, One Aquaponics Tank at a Time

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.

Mmm, Persimmons

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.

Raise High the Roof Beams!

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!

New Publications

Mapping Power!

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.

In Memoriam

Mardonio Baniqued “Eniong” Orsino

We are saddened to report that retired agriculture research technician Mardonio Baniqued “Eniong” Orsino passed away on June 1 in Honolulu. He retired in 1994 after 36 years with the Horticulture Department at the Magoon Research Facility. Mardonio is remembered for being a quiet, hard-working individual who knew his job well. Online condolences can be posted for Mardonio’s family.

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