Students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo have started a medicinal garden on campus as an integral part of several sustainable gardens used as hands-on labs. The goal is to explore the medicinal plants of Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region through the involvement of agriculture students, the university community and several community groups.

Led by Norman Arancon, professor of horticulture and the college鈥檚 director, the builds on years of hands-on learning in which students in his sustainable agriculture course have managed campus garden plots using sustainable growing practices.

“Our students [are] learning how to propagate and identify if some of our plants have some medical constituent compositions,” said Arancon. “It鈥檚 exciting. The students are not just learning from us. We also get some planting materials from the community and insights on what we can grow that they think will be to them.”

Lavender, thyme and learning

Arancon鈥檚 sustainable agriculture class (AG 230) developed three plots in the garden with medicinal plants such as thyme, ginger, tobacco, turmeric and lavender. Students in a weed science course (HORT 481) were challenged to identify plants commonly considered weeds and research their potential medicinal value.

As a culminating project, students transformed common weeds into medicinal products, including a tea made from invasive honohono grass traditionally used to support respiratory health.

Community and collaboration

The medicinal garden is a collaborative effort involving the agriculture college, and .

Pharmacy students examine the plants鈥� medicinal compounds, while the Hawaiian language college brings in community healers to share traditional knowledge of local and native plants.

“We hope healers from the community can also provide seminars on how to use the plants properly and prepare them for use at home,” Arancon said. “I鈥檇 love for more classes to be involved with the project in the future, such as introductory courses on horticulture or animal science, to learn about health benefits for farm animals or pets.”

—by Samantha Dane

For more go to .

The Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching for a faculty member and a graduate assistant recognizes dedication and demonstrated excellence as teachers of undergraduate students. It was established as a memorial to the late Frances Davis, who taught mathematics at Leeward Community College and the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 for 19 years.

Kathleen Hagan

Kathleen Hagan is a professor of nursing at 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College, with almost 18 years of service as an undergraduate educator. She has championed integration of the Kaʻao Framework (糖心Vlog官方 Maui College鈥檚 framework for student success) into the nursing curriculum, and has taught every required course.

An avid lifelong learner and volunteer, Hagan consistently seeks out opportunities for her students to engage in community education and advocacy to advance their learning as well as the health of our island ʻohana.

“She has created an environment where learning goes beyond simply acquiring knowledge; it’s about cultivating our character and discovering the qualities that will make us compassionate, capable healers in our careers,” said a student.

Hagan believes college should be a transformational experience, instilling knowledge skills, and attitudes not only for career advancement, but also for civic engagement and life fulfillment.

Another student said, “Her warmth and professionalism have left a lasting impression on me.”

Nicholas Krueger

Nicholas Krueger is an instructor in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo. He is known for his dynamic instruction, community-based research and deep investment in student success.

A 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo graduate, Krueger returned to his alma mater to teach and lead research in agronomy, soils and animal science. He involves students in funded research tackling real-world challenges—from fermentation science to methane reduction in livestock—while mentoring them through writing, experimentation and presentation.

“I know for a fact that everyone feels comfortable and welcomed by Nick; to make mistakes, sound silly, or just be flat out wrong,” said a student. “And when it comes to learning, that makes all the difference in differentiating sheer luck and memorization from understanding.”

Krueger鈥檚 approachable style, high expectations, and commitment to real-world application have made him a transformative educator shaping the future of Hawaiʻi agriculture.

Mark Nartatez

Mark Nartatez is an instructor, the Dental Assisting Program director, and the clinical education coordinator at Kapiʻolani Community College. With more than 18 years of clinical and administrative experience, Nartatez brings industry expertise and a student-centered approach to the Dental Assisting Program.

Nartatez’s instruction integrates textbook knowledge with real-world application, ensuring students meet dental accreditation standards while emphasizing technological integration, critical thinking and compassionate care. His holistic approach encourages students to grow beyond technical skills and see themselves as educators, advocates and changemakers capable of influencing their peers and the broader healthcare community.

“Mark consistently demonstrates an innovative approach to education, creating engaging and meaningful learning experiences for his students,” shared one student. “One notable example of his creativity is incorporating case studies based on real-life scenarios students may encounter in the dental field. What sets Mark apart is his commitment to creating a learning environment where students feel heard and valued.”

Colleen Rost-Banik

Colleen Rost-Banik is an instructor in the Department of Sociology in the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 College of Social Sciences. She sees the classroom as a reflection of society, shaped by the wide range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives students bring. Over the course of a semester, she believes students have a valuable opportunity to learn from one another and engage in collective exploration.

Rost-Banik emphasizes the importance of consistent practice in understanding sociological concepts, encouraging students to develop their skills through reading, writing and critical thinking. She acknowledges that meaningful learning takes time, patience, effort—and often involves trial and error.

Her courses also prioritize the values of care and community, which she believes are crucial to both the classroom and broader society. She believes supporting one another is key to success.

Student feedback highlights the impact of her approach. One student shared that her class was “filled with lots of exciting information on different theories and sociological perspectives,” and helped them gain practical skills such as conducting surveys and analyzing visual information.

Sara Maaria Saastamoinen

Sara Maaria Saastamoinen is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science in the 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 College of Social Sciences. She is also an exhibiting artist, abundant futures consultant and community organizer.

Coming from a long line of Karelian (Northern European region) teachers, she credits her family with inspiring her early passion for political inquiry and creative expression. Her courses explore topics such as the everyday politics of water and the societal sacrifices that sustain American political systems.

Students nominated her for fostering creativity and inclusivity, encouraging expression through formats such as sculptures, short stories, mixtapes and monologues.

“Sara鈥檚 commitment to deeper understanding challenged us to think critically about our choices and their broader implications for humans, the environment and other living beings,” one student wrote.

Another shared, “I have never learned as much as I did in Sara鈥檚 class—it will positively affect the way I view things and the kind of person I am for the rest of my life.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 in Panaʻewa hosted a special event on April 12, to honor the “bee-coming” community of students, donors, local farmers, island chefs and community members who are part of the university鈥檚 collaborative bee program.

The foundational buzz of the annual “Bee-coming Sustainable” event is a community-based partnership between Professor of Entomology Lorna Tsutsumi from 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 and award-winning Chef Alan Wong, who co-founded of the university鈥檚 “” program.

Wong, known as one of 12 co-founders of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine, teamed up with Tsutsumi and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo to build awareness and promote local solutions to sustain the honey bee industry in Hawaiʻi.

“Fifteen years after its inception, the Adopt-A Beehive program with Alan Wong is doing well in promoting the importance of honey bees to our local and global well bee-ing,” said Tsutsumi who is the coordinator of the apiary program located at the university鈥檚 farm.

Honey bee education

The program supports the at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo which teaches good practices to students so that they can properly manage and maintain honey bee colonies at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo farm laboratory in Panaʻewa. It also awards scholarships to beekeeping students and promotes the importance of honey bees. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $27,000 in scholarships to beekeeping students at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

“The program was the brain child of world renown Chef Alan Wong who believes that supporting the local honey bees through education is a win-win for students and the community and, of course, the honey bees,” said Tsutsumi.

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Every spring, the program invites community adopters to the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo farm to see the hives that are managed for them by the beekeeping students, meet the students, and engage with bee-minded people who together celebrate the importance of bees.

For more go .

—By Susan Enright

From native limu studies to hydroponics and horse therapy, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students showcased the power of learning by doing at the 鈥檚 (CAFNRM) Ag Fair and Student Symposium on April 24.

Held in the college鈥檚 campus breezeway, the fair featured student-run booths, plant sales and interactive exhibits. Attendees explored locally grown produce, honey and starter plants, all cultivated by students at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo farm in Panaʻewa.

“The event was to showcase what the College of Agriculture has to offer and what students have learned through their courses and applied to the farm by way of production,” said Jake Rodrique, manager at the in Panaʻewa.

Hands-on learning

Inside 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 classroom building, students presented research and projects as part of CAFNRM鈥檚 5th annual student symposium. Topics ranged from in vitro orchid germination to the effects of compost on pole beans to the cultural significance of Native Hawaiian limu varieties such as palahalaha and ʻeleʻele. Some teams explored food security; others tackled virus spread in bananas.

The event was started in 2018 by CAFNRM director and horticulturist, Professor Norman Arancon to help students build presentation skills. Today, it鈥檚 a hallmark of the college鈥檚 hands-on learning model.

“Experiential learning is not just a teaching strategy, it鈥檚 our way of life,” said Arancon. “We don鈥檛 just teach you what to learn, we help you discover how to learn by doing,” said Arancon.

More than 20 student groups presented oral and poster projects. Some built community gardens, others studied plant pathogens or upcycling techniques in small-scale gardening.

For more on student research and projects go to .

—By Susan Enright

This week鈥檚 糖心Vlog官方 News Image of the Week is 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo’s Camryn Hilder, an undergraduate student in .

Hilder shared, “While weeding in our garden for the sustainable agriculture class, Jack the horse decided he wanted to make a snack out of the cane grass we were trying to remove.”

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The University of Hawaiʻi at 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 in Panaʻewa hosted Bee-coming Sustainable, an opportunity for community members who have adopted beehives to meet with beekeeping students and witness the beehive they support on 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 farm. The special event on April 13 honored students, community donors, local farmers, island chefs, and others involved in the university鈥檚 collaborative bee program.

The event took place approximately 50 yards from the farm’s apiary, where sponsored beehives are housed.

“It was a wonderful gathering of like minded people who support the bees, sustainability, and the education of future beekeepers,” said Lorna Tsutsumi, an entomology professor from 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 , who coordinates the apiary program at the farm.

Buzz-worthy solutions

At the heart of the event is a community-based partnership between Tsutsumi and renowned master Chef Alan Wong. They co-founded the university’s program to bring attention to the honey bee industry in Hawaiʻi and to provide local solutions for sustaining it. The program helps fund the education of student beekeepers and promotes research into healthy beehive practices.

At the event, Chef Wong and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin distributed scholarships to 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo students Beija Ramos-Phair-Langi and Macy Iliahi Park who each received $1,000 scholarships to support their studies. Valerie Zbezinski was awarded a beekeeping certificate.

Adopt-a-hive

Adopters receive periodic updates and photos from the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo students caring for their hives, along with a personal supply of honey and honey-related products. They are also invited to join Chef Wong at special bee and agriculture-related events on campus or at the farm laboratory.

—By Susan Enright.

It鈥檚 National Honey Month and Vulcan fans who attended the women鈥檚 volleyball game on September 21 were treated to free giveaways of honey products courtesy of the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo beekeeping program.

“The program is grateful to athletics for allowing us the opportunity to celebrate National Honey Month at their game. It provided us the venue to share the importance of bees and share some of the bounty that comes from them,” said Lorna Tsutsumi, professor of entomology who heads the Adopt-A-Beehive with Chef Alan Wong program at the .

“It was fantastic to have a nice crowd on hand to not only witness a highly entertaining game but experience the great things that our students are learning at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo,” said Patrick Guillen, director of 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Athletics.

There were 637 fans in attendance at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo vs. Concordia University Irvine volleyball game, enjoying the action while also getting a taste of the popular beekeeping program.

Students from the introductory beekeeping class (Entomology 262) gave away honey bears, fans, pretzels and honey mustard made with honey from the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo beehives located on the university鈥檚 agricultural farm laboratory in Panaʻewa. Special lucky number gift bags filled with honey and other bee promotional items were given away during intermission. Fun bee facts were also announced throughout the games.

“It was nice to see the beekeeping students share their curricular knowledge with the community and their fellow students,” said Tsutsumi.“The best part was that 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo won!”

Guillen said the night was a huge success, adding a mahalo to Tsutsumi and her students.

For more visit .

—By Susan Enright

More young people will be able to train for careers in agriculture, thanks to a $200,000 gift from the Edmund C. Olson Trust 2 to the University of Hawaiʻi at 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 .

The gift from the trust of one of the largest private landowners in the state creates the Edmund C. Olson Trust 2 Scholarship for two years, with a preference for students from the Kaʻū District on Hawaiʻi Island.

The Edmund C. Olson Trust 2 is a private landowner invested in sustainable agriculture, managed natural-resource conservation and cultural legacy preservation, community development and renewable energy. Its assets include Hāmākua Macadamia Nut Company, Kaʻū Coffee Mill and OK Farms, which grows a variety of tropical crops on the rolling hills of Puʻuʻeo Mauka above Hilo.

Keeping young people in agriculture

Founder and trustee Edmund C. Olson is one of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 20 largest private landowners by acreage with 17,000 acres on Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu.

“Talking about the future of agriculture in Hawaiʻi and doing something about it are two different things, and we don鈥檛 want it to be different,” said Troy Keolanui, Olson鈥檚 partner in OK Farms.

He noted that there are many technological advancements that are gaining the interest of young people and drawing them to the agriculture industry.

“We need to keep them in agriculture, encourage them to stay in agriculture,” Keloanui said. “That鈥檚 one step in the right direction and that鈥檚 how we feel about this scholarship.”

Impacting students

Olson鈥檚 investment in Hawaiʻi Island鈥檚 agriculture community is a commitment to sustainability, said 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie D. Irwin.

“Ed Olson鈥檚 confidence in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 next generation of agriculturists will have a direct impact on Hawaiʻi Island鈥檚 sustainable future,” Irwin said. “We鈥檙e grateful for his foresight and commitment to the island.”

Keya Davies and Kassey Hanoa, the first two student recipients, recently met with Olson, his wife Sammie, and Keolanui.

Hanoa is a senior at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo majoring in with a focus on livestock whose family has a small working livestock farm in the Kaʻū community of Pāhala.

“I still don鈥檛 have my future completely planned, but this scholarship opened many doors for me,” Hanoa said. “I just thank God for putting me on the right path to have received this scholarship and Mr. Olson for this wonderful opportunity.”

Davies, who grew up riding horses in Kaʻū, is also studying animal science, with an , on the pre-vet track at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo.

“I have a huge passion for horses and want to work with them in my future,” she said. “I feel so thankful to have received this scholarship and am excited to finish off my degree and go off into the world!”

Olson has owned businesses and property in Hawaiʻi since first visiting the islands in 1959. He now owns 15,000 acres of agricultural and conservation land on Hawaiʻi Island and another 2,000 acres on Oʻahu.

“The land here is mostly prime agricultural land and it鈥檚 very fortunate for all of us that a man like Ed Olson was able to secure it,” Keolanui said. “I see good things in the future. I can鈥檛 say enough about Ed and his benevolence and love for the people of Hawaiʻi.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 in Panaʻewa hosted a celebratory “Bee-coming Sustainable” event on April 22, to honor students, community donors, local farmers, island chefs and others who are part of the university鈥檚 collaborative bee program.

At the heart of the event was a community-based partnership between Lorna Tsutsumi, professor of entomology at 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 and coordinator of the apiary program at the university鈥檚 farm, and renowned Chef Alan Wong, co-founder of the university鈥檚 program.

“Here鈥檚 where private and public meet, where the community gathered, where there was a real connection of bee-ing,” Tsutsumi explained. “There was a sense of ʻohana where we celebrated in both our students and the community.”

Wong, regarded as one of the 12 co-founders of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine, teamed up with Tsutsumi and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo to build awareness of the critical plight of honey bees and to promote local solutions to sustaining the honey bee industry.

In addition to Wong, there were several other well-known local chefs and culinary educators preparing food and hosting festivities at the event. Also attending were 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Chancellor Bonnie Irwin; representatives from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture and Department of Health; university staff from Sodexo鈥檚 campus dining services; community college instructors and students; and high school students.

Beekeeping scholarships

At the beginning of the program, scholarships were presented to select 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo students. Scholarships are awarded in the spring after students have taken a required advanced beekeeping class.

Valerie Zbesinski, an agriculture major, received the $1,000 . Elizabeth Schmitz, another agriculture major, was awarded the $1,000 spring 2023 . Wong鈥檚 Adopt-A-Beehive program has awarded more than $27,000 in scholarships thus far to 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo beekeeping students.

For a full recap of the event, visit .

—By Susan Enright

The is leading a collaborative project to create a new academy to enhance career opportunities in the bioeconomy, which encompasses the production of renewable fuel, energy, chemicals and materials from agricultural resources. The 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo , along with the at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and the nonprofit , have partnered to form ALAKAʻI, the acronym for Applied Life-Science Academy: Knowledge Advancing Industry.

“The bioeconomy is critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining and improving standards of living by replacing fossil fuels with renewable biomass for the materials and fuels we use daily,” said Bruce Mathews, dean of the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo agriculture college.

• Related 糖心Vlog官方 News story: Can sugarcane create jet fuel?, April 18, 2021

The academy is geared toward accelerating climate change solutions by developing industry-relevant training for delivery in Hawaiʻi and across the U.S. 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo will pilot flagship training in July 2022 and in summer 2023. Curriculum will draw on traditional Hawaiian and Pacific Island cultural perspectives to provide insights and guiding principles for effective sustainability.

According to Mathews, the bioeconomy bolsters agricultural economies by bringing new value to agricultural waste streams, growing crops grown on marginal lands not used for food production, and value-added bio-products.

“It is crucial to enhancing economic development and better living standards for America鈥檚 rural communities, and to creating new opportunities for students and the people of Hawaiʻi,” he explained.

ALAKAʻI aims to provide training for professionals in the bioeconomy, including operators, technicians, scientists, managers, policymakers, regulators, investors, advocates and students.

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—By Susan Enright

A scholarship has been endowed as a memorial to former University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo lecturer Margarita “Dayday” Hopkins by Kevin, her husband of 48 years and a retired professor from 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 . The purpose of the endowment is to carry on Dayday Hopkins鈥檚 work championing agricultural and Filipino communities in Hawaiʻi, which, after family, was the focus of her life.

The is open to any full-time undergraduate student pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo in agriculture or a related field at the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management. Preference will be given to students interested in the contribution of Filipinos and Filipino-Americans to Hawaiʻi鈥檚 agriculture.

Hopkins died on November 6, 2021, after battling ALS for four years. She was 71.

She was born Margarita Leyson in Maasin, Philippines, one of three daughters, and given the nickname Dayday, which means “little one.” She attended St. Joseph鈥檚 College on a scholarship, earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in accounting.

After graduation, Hopkins moved to the island of Mindanao where she met her future husband, Kevin, a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer who was working in the same fisheries office as her sister. They were married after a short courtship of only five months. She enrolled in a master鈥檚 degree program in agricultural economics at Xavier University, studying the marketing practices of small-scale fishermen. She also worked for the Peace Corps as a language instructor.

After Kevin鈥檚 Peace Corps service was complete, the couple moved to Alabama, where he earned a master鈥檚 degree and a doctorate in fisheries and aquaculture and an MBA from Auburn University. Dayday was the first woman of color appointed to a research associate position in Auburn鈥檚 Department of Fisheries and Allied Aquaculture and conducted the first organized sales of tilapia in the United States.

In 1988, she and Kevin moved to Hilo, where Kevin became a professor in the College of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resource Management at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo. Dayday was hired as an economic development specialist by the County of Hawaiʻi, responsible for its agriculture and natural resources programs, and later became head of the county鈥檚 Department of Research and Development. She retired from the county in 2012 after 23 years of public service.

Dayday loved teaching, she was a 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo lecturer in economics and ag business. Unfortunately, ALS robbed her of her ability to speak and the use of her hands, ending her teaching career. She continued to help her husband with his research and consulting work by using a computer system controlled by her eyes.鈥疭he is survived by three children, daughters Leyson and Alyxandra and a son, Shanon, and 11 grandchildren.

The has launched an online map of the many gardens on campus. The website gives visitors a bird鈥檚 eye view of the campus with a marker on each of the gardens. There are many instructional gardens across 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 campus, some for cultural awareness, and others that offer a hands-on agricultural experience. The website invites all members of the campus community to participate in campus improvement and garden projects as a way to learn about native plants, history and host culture.

糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Botanical Garden

Along the campus鈥� residence halls lies the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Botanical Gardens which were created about 30 years ago by Emeritus Professor Don Hemmes.

“When I first came here, it was to teach botany,” Hemmes said. “I was teaching the life cycle of a pine tree, and one of the students in my class raised her hand and said, ‘What鈥檚 a pine tree?’ She had never seen one, so I planted the first pine trees over here, and it just got out of control.”

The botanical gardens were carved out of an overgrown gulch and paths were built through the conifer trees for students who had never seen a live pine. Planted nearby are close to a hundred species of cycads from Africa, China, North and Central America and Australia. Hemmes, who has since retired, still maintains the lush area.

Individuals or groups are invited to visit the garden. For more information contact Hemmes: hemmes@hawaii.edu.

Other gardens on campus

Located in the quad outside of the Life Sciences buildings is the Natural and Health Science Native Forest M膩la. Graduate students in the program and Biology Club plant and tend to the gardens.

Volunteers can help maintain and initiate new native plant projects at the K墨puka M膩la located at the . Work days are held twice a month. For more information, contact: kipuka@hawaii.edu

糖心Vlog官方 Hilo students learn first-hand about sustainable agriculture through maintaining a garden space outside the Edwin H. Mookini Library. To volunteer contact: normanq@hawaii.edu

For more go to .

—by Susan Enright

A groundbreaking study investigating the growth of selected varieties of sugarcane to convert into high-performance jet fuel is underway at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo (CAFNRM). Utilizing advanced technologies in agronomics and bioeconomy, the researchers are ultimately looking to improve the island鈥檚 environmental sustainability, build a stronger economy and create educational opportunities for students.

“The aviation industry recognizes that bio-based or sustainable aviation fuels are essential to the future of aviation,” said CAFNRM Dean Bruce Mathews, a principal investigator on the project. “Fully one-half of the industry鈥檚 greenhouse gas reduction goals for 2050 can only be achieved via sustainable jet fuels. Electric airplanes are only feasible for small planes on short-distance flights and the only electric airplane under development that has substantial range is a hybrid that still requires liquid fuel.”

Field trials growing different varieties of sugarcane at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo in Panaʻewa began in February, with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center in Hilo.

The project is a collaboration between the CAFNRM and the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) in California, one of four regional U.S. Department of Energy-funded Bioenergy Research Centers.

Why sugarcane?

Peter Matlock of JBEI, is also serving as CAFNRM鈥檚 bioeconomy research and commercialization specialist. Matlock, a strategic advisor for aviation fuels, said sugarcane was selected as the crop of focus because it is a tremendously prolific biomass (plant material) producer.

Traditionally, the commercial industry has accessed only the sucrose from the plant, which continues to serve as a foundation for the world鈥檚 sugar industry. But when growing sugarcane solely for sugar, the rest of the crop, specifically major plant biomass components known as lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose, normally go to waste.

The conventional practice of burning sugarcane prior to harvest is to eliminate extra biomass material that previously had limited value, and residual biomass left over after sucrose extraction is typically burned to make power. Converting this biomass into high-valued products such as high performance jet fuel generates more revenue from the same plant material and eliminates incentives to burn crops鈥攔educing air pollution as a bonus.

“The interesting thing is if we can take the rest of the plant and break it apart, we鈥檇鈮� also have yummy digestible bits that can be fed into microbes to make our end products,” Matlock explained. The end product he mentioned would be the conversion of sugarcane into biofuel for aviation use. This fermentation process is much more ideal than traditional chemical synthesis, which often involves high heat and high pressure to force a reaction.

—By Kiaria Zoi Nakamura, a 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo student earning a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in performing arts and a certificate in educational studies.

After a decades-long effort of cross breeding taro in the hopes of developing a species resistant to taro leaf blight (TLB), a highly infectious plant disease, a team of researchers has turned their sights on genomics. It鈥檚 a painstaking study of nucleotide sequences in the chromosomes of an organism. A research paper on the genomic work was published online in on August 1.

In the study, researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi, University of Tennessee and the U.S. Department of Agriculture generated a high-quality genome assembly for taro, a root crop that is widely cultivated in tropical regions and is important for food security.

The results are intended to inform studies of the origin, evolutionary history and breeding of the South Pacific crop. It is hoped the genome may also stimulate new genetic insights into this important tropical species.

“Overall, this project was a large team effort, involving three universities and U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers,” explained M. Renee Bellinger, a postdoctoral affiliate faculty and adjunct assistant professor of bioinformatics and genomics at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo who conducted genomic research on the project.

The long fight against taro leaf blight

All Hawaiian varieties of taro are vulnerable to TLB caused by the oomycete pathogen Phytophthora colocasiae.

糖心Vlog官方 researchers Professors Michael Shintaku and Susan Miyasaka have been trying to develop resistance to taro leaf blight for decades through breeding programs, but some trials resulted in varieties unacceptable for commercial poi processors. “TLB has been causing serious problems in Hawaiian kalo fields since the 1920s,” Shintaku said. “Samoa didn鈥檛 have TLB until about 1990, and then suffered dramatic losses.”

A Palauan taro resistant to TLB crossbred with Hawaiian taro produced some very good hybrid varieties that are currently used in commercial poi.

But while Shintaku and Miyasaka have worked toward a genomic project for decades, only recently have the cutting-edge genetic tools become accessible to conduct genomic research with this level of depth.

“This is the first genome assembly of taro that has been associated with genes that underpin resistance to taro leaf blight, information that may enhance taro breeding programs,” Bellinger said. “To me, this project exemplifies synergies that can be achieved by research teams working collaboratively towards a common goal.”

Horticultural students at the are conducting important trials on the potential economic viability of growing exotic rice cultivars in East Hawaiʻi. The broad objective of the project, which runs through June 2020, is to evaluate the performance of selected exotic rice varieties cultivated in Hawaiʻi. But an equally important part of the project is in using the trials as a way to educate undergraduate students on rice husbandry practice through experiential learning.

Students enrolled in agriculture and horticulture courses are mentored in growing rice and trained in the procedures of conducting experimental trials. The students learn about rice seed sowing, seedling transplanting, how to develop experimental pot and plot settings, labeling, fertilizer application, data recording, harvesting and data analysis. At the end of growing out the rice, soil samples will be taken, and the soil nematodes will be extracted, identified and correlated with the rice yield. The students will then assess the potential economic viability of rice production in East Hawaiʻi.

The principal investigator of the project, “Evaluation of rice (Oryza sativa) varieties for an experiential education in Hilo, Hawaiʻi,” is Sharad Marahatta, an assistant professor of horticulture, and Norman Arancon, associate professor of horticulture, is the co-investigator. Both teach and conduct research at the and say the findings of this project could benefit the farmers and the entire agriculture community of Hawaiʻi.

“This grant has encouraged us to continue rice research, involve undergraduate students in research and evaluate rice agronomic practices in Hawaiʻi,” says Marahatta.

Rice project details

The project involves the rice varieties Carolina Gold, Koshihikari, White Basmati and Jefferson, which will be seeded separately in community pots in greenhouses. At one month, rice seedlings will be transplanted into pots and/or field plots. Each transplanted rice variety will be replicated at least four times and the transplanted pots and plots will be arranged in randomized complete blocks.

The trials are being conducted at the 110-acre located in Panaʻewa, 5 miles south of Hilo. The farm is an experiential place of learning where students put classroom theory into practice with projects in hydroponics, floriculture, forestry, vegetable cultivation, sustainable agriculture, livestock production, equine science, beekeeping, tropical fruit and aquaculture.

The project is funded by the County of Hawaiʻi via the .

—By Susan Enright

At the March 28 University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents meeting, President David Lassner unveiled the renewal of the 糖心Vlog官方 System鈥檚 sustainability and resilience initiative with a video highlighting 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 dedication to the issue. The five-minute video, produced by the 糖心Vlog官方 Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, was the result of more than five months of interviews and filming with key 糖心Vlog官方 faculty and administrators. They were involved in different and diverse facets of sustainability and resilience research, curriculum, operations and community engagement, and deep cultural connections.

“When we embarked on this project to reaffirm 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 commitment to sustainability and resilience, we anticipated featuring three to four key individuals,” said 糖心Vlog官方 Vice President for Research and Innovation Vassilis L. Syrmos. “However, as the project developed, we began to realize the complexities and often interwoven efforts made it a necessity to expand the scope of the video. We decided to include a larger cross section of individuals to provide a better perspective on the depth and scale of work being done at 糖心Vlog官方 in this vital area.”

With erupting volcanoes, frozen summits, tropical rainforests, deep canyons, coral atolls and the deep ocean, Hawaiʻi is one the most geographically diverse locations in the world. This is one factor that gives 糖心Vlog官方 a distinct advantage in research over other institutions.

“It is this backdrop that gives the University of Hawaiʻi the perfect working laboratory to conduct research and to develop a new cadre of scientists, scholars and practitioners well-versed in sustainability and resilience,” added Syrmos. “It is our strong belief that 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 collaborative efforts across our 10-campus system—in research, curriculum, operations and community engagement with deep cultural connections—will serve as a model for sustainability and resilience not only here in Hawaiʻi, but across the globe.”

Individuals featured in the video (listed in order of appearance):

• 糖心Vlog官方 System President David Lassner
• 糖心Vlog官方 System Director of Sustainability Initiatives Matthew K Lynch
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Director Makena Coffman
• Global Executive Director Ray Shirkhodai
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Associate Dean Chip Fletcher
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Associate Professor Kamana Beamer
• 糖心Vlog官方 System Program Director Gwen Jacobs
• 糖心Vlog官方 West Oʻahu Assistant Professor Albie Miles
• 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Entomology Professor Lorna Tsutsumi
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 (HNEI) GridSTART Chief Technologist Leon Roose
• 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 HNEI Ocean Energy Program Manager Patrick Cross

Local celebrity chef Alan Wong has partnered with the and to host a fundraiser for the university鈥檚 equine program. The benefit will support the care of horses and a miniature donkey named Bob-Bob that have been displaced by the recent lava flow.

The “Bento Benefit for Bob-Bob” fundraiser is set for Monday, September 24, at 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo. Both Chef Wong and Bob-Bob will be there. The $10 bentos are available only through pre-sale on Monday, September 17.

The animals are being kept at the in Panaʻewa, where student volunteers under the supervision of farm staff are providing care.

“Bob-Bob is a mini-donkey who has been on the ag farm since early May as a result of the lava activities,” says , professor of entomology, who organized the event. “He serves as the poster child for the group of displaced horses on the farm.”

Tsutsumi says the horses are not considered livestock by their owners, but large pets, and knowing that they are being cared for while their owners reshape their lives has been a great relief for many.

“The existing equine-related infrastructure and pastures that were initially slated for use by the equine courses enabled the farm to host the displaced horses. However, there are other needs such as medications, supplements and veterinarian visits,” explains , dean of the . “Chef Wong, Sodexo and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo demonstrate how partnerships can achieve beneficial goals. Everyone shares the same values in their support of the local community, local agriculture and 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo students.”

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—By Susan Enright

Agricultural researchers at the analyzed soil and tissue samples from sweet potato fields along the H膩m膩kua Coast to see if current fertilizer practices can be improved at the sites. Horticulturalists Chantal Vos and Norman Arancon, from the , randomly collected soil samples from at least 30 different locations throughout the fields using a hand shovel at a depth of 0–6 inches.

Tissue samples were collected from farms growing the Okinawan purple sweet potato variety, which is the principal variety grown for export to the continental U.S. Recently fully-developed leaves without petioles were harvested randomly from 20 to 30 sweet potato plants throughout the planted fields.

Between April and October 2017, a total of 16 commercial sweet potato fields were surveyed. All soil samples were analyzed by the of the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补. Leaf samples were analyzed by Waters Agricultural Laboratories, Camilla, Georgia.

“Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) production along the H膩m膩kua Coast can be increased by addressing the nutrient imbalances in the soil,” conclude Vos and Arancon. They write that results show adequate concentrations of nitrogen and sulfur, but low phosphorus and potassium, and very low calcium and magnesium levels.

Vos and Arancon recommend applications of dolomitic limestone to increase soil pH and plant available calcium and magnesium.

“Increasing soil exchangeable potassium to at least 200 ppm may increase the quantity and quality of sweet potato yields,” they write. Muriate of potash or alternatives such as sulfate of potash and sulfate of potash magnesia can be used to increase available potassium.

The fertilizer recommendations were shared with sweet potato farmers based on soil reports per field.

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Now in its 7th year, the program has awarded more than $20,000 in scholarships to beekeeping students at the . This year’s recipients are Daniel Lunnom, Batina Grossett and David Russell, who each received a $1,000 scholarship at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo in Panaʻewa.

“The program is unique because it allows the community to engage in student learning,” said Lorna Tsutsumi, professor of entomology at the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo and program lead of the Adopt-A-Beehive with Alan Wong program.

Tsutsumi explained, “The students enrolled in the beekeeping courses care for the adopted hives on the 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo Ag Farm and write periodic updates to the adopters on the health and status of the hive. Once a season, the adopters are invited to the farm to see their hive, meet the student that cares for their hive, tour the bee grounds, learn about student projects and enjoy honey food samples. Every season, Chef Alan Wong greets the adopters and personally thanks them for their support of the program and their commitment to bee awareness and sustainability.”

The good work of the program is spreading beyond campus and the local community. This June, the program will be showcased in Washington, DC, for Congresswoman Mazie Hirono and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaiʻi’s Hawaiʻi on the Hill. And most recently, representatives of Yamada Bee Company from Japan visited the bees on the farm to see “Hawaiian” bees and document the experience. The first of several parts of their visit can be seen in the video below.

“There is no doubt that this program is a special experiential learning opportunity for 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo students and helps to promote the importance that bees play in local and global sustainability,” Tsutsumi said. “Blending a celebrity chef with 糖心Vlog官方 Hilo beekeeping students and a good cause supported by the community is a recipe for success.”

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—By Susan Enright

Researchers from the , in affiliation with Duke and Cornell Universities, have authored a study that suggests making croplands more efficient through algae production could unlock an important negative emission technology to combat climate change.

The authors include Colin Beal and Ian Archibald of 糖心Vlog官方 贬颈濒辞鈥檚 (CAFNRM), Mark Huntley and Charles Green, who are affiliated with both CAFNRM and Cornell University, and Zackary Johnson of Duke University. Their study creates a new, combined process to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, produce food and electricity and reduce deforestation.

“Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)” burns wood to generate power, captures the resulting carbon dioxide and buries it underground. But BECCS has been strongly criticized for threatening land and water resources that support natural forests and agriculture production.

Marine microalgae as a promising source

Marine microalgae has emerged as a promising source for food and biofuels. The tiny plants can be produced using seawater, grown in higher quantities than land crops and in areas unsuitable for agriculture. The main drawback is that algae growth requires large quantities of electricity and carbon dioxide.

The study鈥檚 authors combine BECCS with algae production to create a new synergistic process called “Algae with Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (ABECCS).” A conceptual model is created by replacing soybean cropland with an algae production facility that requires less land to produce the same amount of higher quality protein. The leftover land is then used to grow timber for a BECCS system to generate power and carbon dioxide to drive the algae production. By using less land, additional electricity can be exported and the carbon dioxide sequestered, or the excess land can be returned to natural forest.

The financial viability of an ABECCS system remains an area of active research. The proposed system in its current form requires a sale price for algal biomass that is significantly greater than that for soybeans or many other terrestrial crops. Options include targeting algal protein for human consumption to provide a higher value product instead of replacing soy as a source of animal feed.

“The motivation for this study was to evaluate the potential for an alternative BECCS system that integrates algal biomass production to sequester CO2 without reducing agricultural output,” the authors wrote. “Based on these results, and with favorable economic conditions, ABECCS could be a leading candidate to contribute to the reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere in a sustainable way.鈥�

The study, “Integrating Algae with Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (ABECCS) Increases Sustainability,” is funded by a U.S. Department of Energy award and .

—By Alyson Kakugawa-Leong