A fruitful collaboration between the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR) and the County of Maui is empowering people on Molokaʻi to grow their own food, lower grocery bills and build community resilience.

The Seed to Harvest program, led by CTAHR鈥檚 team of extension agents on Molokaʻi, finished its third cohort in December, with each group growing between 300 and 400 pounds of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs. Funded by a grant from the County of Maui鈥檚 Department of Agriculture, the program addresses food inequity and the high cost of imported goods by teaching residents how to cultivate sustainable home gardens.

Extension agents Kyle Franks and Jennifer Hawkins designed Seed to Harvest with an emphasis on using on-island resources to reduce reliance on expensive imports. The program creates a complete cycle of education, teaching people the skills to propagate seeds, manage pests and harvest their crops.

“There鈥檚 been several generations not farming, not gardening, and so we wanted to help bring that back into the community,” said Franks. “The pandemic highlighted the level of food inequity across the island.”

For Kanoelani Dudoit, a lifelong Molokaʻi resident, the experience has been transformative. “It opened more avenues for each person to apply what they learned from the workshop right at home,” said Dudoit. She noted that the program helped her identify local stores, local prices, local items, allowing her family to “cut costs or reuse what we have here. That鈥檚 a major benefit for our community.”

Harvest to market

In early 2026, the team will launch Harvest to Market, a new program designed to teach home gardeners the business side of agriculture. The upcoming curriculum will cover marketing and branding, turning raw produce into jams, jellies, or freeze-dried goods that can be sold at farmer鈥檚 markets, and following state rules for selling produce and processed foods.

“Our growers are doing a great job, but now they have excess,” said Hawkins. “So the next step is helping them get their produce to market.”

A “pot of gold” awaited participants in this year’s “” Video Cooking Contest, organized by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa鈥檚 . Young cooks showcased their kitchen skills, creative use of local ingredients, and ability to explain recipes through fun, easy-to-follow videos.

The contest is part of 4-H’s mission to empower young people to reach their full potential through opportunities to explore topics within a welcoming and engaging learning environment, under the GET Local initiative.

2025 winners

The Grand Champion Award went to Tina from the 4-H Pineapples Club on Hawaiʻi Island for her “Pot of Gold” chocolate mango mini cakes. The dessert included mango, dates, walnuts, cocoa powder, avocado and agave syrup.

Honorable mentions:

• Pineapple fried rice by Alexandra (4-H Pineapples Club) with pineapple, chicken, shrimp, cashews, peas and spices.
• Okinawan sweet potato manapua by Shikinah and Genevieve (Schofield Barracks Bennett Youth Center) included Okinawan sweet potato and coconut milk.
• Mango thumbprint cookies by Maʻina with her own homemade mango jam, using sweet Ataulfo and Champagne mangos.

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Winners鈥� day celebration

The winners enjoyed an educational experience at the 糖心Vlog官方 Urban Garden Center in Pearl City, full of hands-on agricultural and learning opportunities in composting, gardening techniques, harvesting plants for recipes, and garden safety. They also picked fresh herbs to pair with local noodles from Adela’s Country Eatery, which the youth prepared along with a tossed salad. The end of the program had the winners showcase their recipes and explain why they chose their local commodity and what they learned from the process.

4-H and GET Local are part of the at 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa. The contest will run again in spring 2026, .

A hands-on learning initiative designed to introduce Hawaiʻi preschool keiki and their ʻohana (families) to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, agriculture and mathematics) concepts is expanding, thanks to funding from the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (UROP).

The S.T.E.A.M. on the Bookshelf program, developed in collaboration with 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR) Cooperative Extension faculty with initial funding from the Maui County Department of Agriculture, has already engaged over 200 ʻohana on Maui. Designed to support parent-child learning, the program provides preschoolers with themed books, interactive activities and family workbooks aimed at making STEAM curriculum accessible in a home-based setting.

“Parents state that their children love completing the learning activities and often request the books as bedtime stories,” 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Instructor Chad Junkermeier said. “We鈥檝e heard from parents that were in the program that their children are now reading the books to younger siblings.”

Bringing learning home

The initiative builds on an idea first proposed nearly 15 years ago by Heather Greenwood, a 糖心Vlog官方 CTAHR associate extension agent based on Maui. Recognizing that many Head Start ʻohana struggled to attend evening financial and nutrition training sessions, she helped develop a model where young children brought home books and activities covering these topics, effectively engaging parents through their children鈥檚 learning experiences. This project built on the initial model, enhancing it to incorporate more parent-child interaction and hands-on learning.

The initial age-appropriate physics and engineering curriculum was piloted with families and 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College faculty and staff in 2021. With additional funding from the Maui County Department of Agriculture in 2023–24, the project expanded to include an agriculture and gardening curriculum, reaching 213 ʻohana across 15 preschool classrooms that school year.

Of the physics and engineering curriculum, one of the preschool parents stated, “They are learning advanced concepts in an easy to [understand] format.”

With support from 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program鈥檚 , two undergraduate students will work with the team to refine and expand the physics and engineering curriculum into three tracks: physics, astronomy and engineering. The funding, totaling $10,000, will allow the team to develop engaging learning activities tailored for young children.

As the program grows, efforts are also underway to incorporate new subject areas. 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补 Associate Professor Sladjana Prišić has joined the project to develop a microbiology curriculum, further broadening the educational scope of S.T.E.A.M. on the Bookshelf.

The program鈥檚 success is gaining academic recognition, with its first peer-reviewed manuscript recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Extension. The study highlights the effectiveness of the home-based model in fostering early STEAM learning and strengthening family engagement.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy and the School of Life Sciences are housed in 糖心Vlog官方 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 .

To alleviate issues within the Hawaiʻi livestock industry, members from the University of Hawaiʻi are aiming to restore the Waialeʻe Livestock Research Station on the North Shore of Oʻahu, which was once a heavily relied upon community resource for livestock feed, harvesting, research and more.

As the state faces limited livestock slaughter capacity, 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa (CTAHR) faculty, students, and Oʻahu North Shore stakeholders look to the front runners of the livestock industry as inspiration to revamp the research station.

Temple Grandin—a renowned livestock industry leader—expressed her support for the restoration of the station, and consulted with lifelong North Shore resident Paul Eguires to share her knowledge on new concepts of efficient and humane livestock-handling facilities. Eguires plans to return the site’s slaughter capability to a functioning state.

“Temple has had significant influence in the design and construction of efficient and humane livestock-handling systems across the U.S. and across the globe,” said Jeff Goodwin, leader.

"Grandin, also a widely respected and international spokesperson on autism, visited the Urban Garden Center to speak to members of the autism community. As an alumna of 4-H—;a national program with its Hawaiʻi branch sponsored by CTAHR's Cooperative Extension—she said that 4-H helped her get out of her autistic shell."

“It became obvious to the crowd that the way autistic kids experience the world relates directly to how Temple Grandin looks at the livestock facilities she plans and constructs,” said Goodwin. “These two fields of expertise, animal behavior and world-perception of an autistic youth, have many common elements to them. Temple uses her world-perception as an autistic person to design the most humane animal-handling facilities in the world.”

The mission of Grandin’s work in agriculture and her work in helping families touched by autism have a common goal.

“Making the lives of others better (human and animal), doing something of lasting value with your life, that’s the meaning of life,” said Grandin. “It’s that simple.” 

After nearly four decades of service at the University of Hawaiʻi, Glenn Teves will take his years of experience to the national stage, playing an influential role on the Tribal Advisory Committee within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Teves, a former 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa (CTAHR) agent on Molokaʻi, was recently appointed to be a part of the Tribal Advisory Committee by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

The Tribal Advisory Committee is tasked with offering expert counsel to the Secretary of Agriculture, contributing insights into Native equities within the USDA's framework. Additionally, the committee is required to develop an annual report to Congress, displaying the progress and challenges faced in Native-led agriculture.

Schatz emphasized that Teves' insights would play a pivotal role in steering the USDA's initiatives to support Native-led agriculture on a national scale.

“Mr. Teves has decades of experience practicing and promoting Native Hawaiian agriculture as a farmer, county extension agent and community advocate,” said Schatz. “The expertise he brings to the Tribal Advisory Committee will help guide USDA’s work to support Native-led agriculture across the country, including subsistence farming and related cultural practices.”

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR) has received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide language-appropriate outreach to Thai, Lao, Ilocano, Chinese and other immigrant farmers. Funding is made through the USDA Office of Partnership and Public Engagement鈥檚 Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers program, also known as the 2501 program.

“This grant gives us the ability to expand some of the long-term, ongoing work of CTAHR extension agents who have been striving to better serve the diverse populations we have in the state,” said Emilie Kirk, an assistant extension agent located on Kauaʻi and the (LIFE) program lead. “The funds will also help us revitalize the LIFE program as a statewide umbrella for these efforts that have been going on.”

The meaning of ‘LIFE’

The LIFE program first started as the Socially Disadvantaged Farmer Program by former Extension Associate Specialist Sabina Swift in 2002, stemming from the need to provide accessible pesticide safety education in multiple languages for Hawaiʻi鈥檚 diverse population.

Under the management of Extension Agent Jari Sugano from 2008, the LIFE program has provided training in addition to outreach, technical assistance and language accessibility to immigrant farmers with limited English proficiency, ultimately giving underserved producers more meaningful access to agricultural services.

With the current three-year grant, the LIFE program is collaborating with , the , and other partners, tailoring workshops and more to fit each community they work with specifically at the time. Structured to focus on two islands per year, the LIFE program is currently spotlighting the Thai and Lao languages on the islands of Kauaʻi and Oʻahu.

In the first half of 2023, the LIFE program has been able to support Thai farmers through an irrigation water management workshop on Kauaʻi; an agriculture land financing workshop given in both English and Thai on Kauaʻi; farmer resource fairs featuring more than 20 service providers and multiple language interpreters on Kauaʻi and Oʻahu; and Farm Doctor (a subprogram of the LIFE program) visits with CTAHR extension faculty on Kauaʻi to address farmer needs on an individual basis.

“We recognize the diverse needs and dynamic demographics of Hawaiʻi鈥檚 agricultural community,” said Kirk. “We want to remain adaptive and responsive to keep up and to the best of our abilities provide services to the full spectrum of our farmers across the islands.”

Upcoming events include an Oʻahu irrigation workshop, training video production and farm record keeping workshops on both islands.

The University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR) helped a midwest university club grow in horticulture knowledge during their five-day spring break trip.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln鈥檚 Horticulture Club journeyed to Hawaiʻi and explored research and horticultural opportunities and insight through CTAHR鈥檚 Cooperative Extension. The students toured the Waim膩nalo Research Station and Urban Garden Center and viewed the aquaponics and aquaculture field trial areas with the Sustainable and Organic Agriculture program. They also learned about minor crop registration issues on coffee with the Cooperative Extension鈥檚 IR-4 Minor Crop Registration Program and set up a static hydroponic system developed using CTAHR-generated science.

For a cultural learning experience, the Nebraskan club had the opportunity to visit the beginner farmer program to learn about food sustainability; they saw native Hawaiian plants and explored cultural preservation with the Master Garden Program, and learned about culturally important crops such as m膩maki (typically brewed for tea) and other local flowers and resources that could be used to make plant-based dyes and more with Oʻahu 4-H.

“As a faculty member with an extension appointment, I knew we would be able to see many horticultural opportunities by reaching out to CTAHR Extension,” said Terri James, associate extension educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

CTAHR鈥檚 team made up of Christine Hanakawa, Alberto Ricordi, Jensen Uyeda, Ted Radovich, Tina Lau, Eric Collier, Ken Leonhardt, James Kam, Richard Fisher and Pono Chung lined up horticultural examples in both the urban and research settings.

The students came away with a better understanding of the much different microclimate zones than their own zones, yet sharing similar issues such as a lack of rain on the leeward side of Oʻahu鈥檚 mountain range having a rain shadow effect. Nebraskans also have that effect on the western side of their state due to the Rocky Mountain range.

“My main goal with these trips is to have students see that, although they learn horticulture in one location, by understanding the basics, they can apply their knowledge to any geographical location,” James said. “Thank you CTAHR for hosting us. We had a fantastic time. I look forward to our next visit. And, if you are in Nebraska, please let us return the favor.”

Home gardeners learned about irrigation systems and how to build their own systems by using easily obtained products at a free workshop offered by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR). The educational event, held at the in Pearl City in February, was part of the CTAHR (CE) Garden series.

Led by Extension agents, participants got their hands wet by working together to organize common irrigation supplies found in local garden shops. After selecting materials, the group designed their own irrigation systems by connecting tubing to a garden hose attachment, punching a hole in the main line using a hole punch, and fastening a sprinkler emitter to the main irrigation line.

“The presenters spoke at a pace at which beginning gardeners could understand,” said one participant. “We learned the names of the parts, how to put the system together, and had a hands-on experience to help us feel more confident.”

“We take great pride in using the hands-on teaching demonstration method to engage with the public so they can play an active role in their learning. It’s what [Cooperative] Extension does best,” added Jari Sugano, Oʻahu County Administrator and organizer of the Extension series. “I love seeing participants light up with enthusiasm and help one another in understanding science-based concepts.”

Extension agents Joshua Silva, Tina Lau, Amjad Ahmad and Alberto Ricordi from CTAHR鈥檚 coordinated with Oʻahu County Extension staff members to host the workshop. With steady interest and positive feedback from the public, an advanced irrigation workshop is being planned for spring 2023.

Join future CE workshops in the garden by or call the main office at (808) 453-6050.

The bigger picture

Although this event allowed guests to take part in a fun DIY activity, it ultimately reinforced the importance of water conservation and showed guests the proper use of water, a precious resource in our islands.

During the workshop, CE shared the measures they have taken over the past three years to reduce potable water use at the garden, keeping in mind their neighbors in Red Hill and that community鈥檚 need for quality water for drinking, bathing, cooking and basic activities.

One of the first initiatives taken was selecting more sustainable plants for the typically dry and hot Pearl City environment. The Urban Garden Center also stopped watering their lawns and cut back on irrigating plants that could be rainfall fed. Additionally, they capped unnecessary sprinkler heads and moved to drip irrigation instead of manually watering plants.

“This week we started installing valves on each sprinkler in our greenhouses so we can turn off sprinklers when not in use,” said Sugano. “We removed plants which were highly dependent on daily watering. Slowly we are making strides in reducing potable water use so there will be more groundwater in our aquifers for those who need it.”

Sugano added, “Everyone from large farms to small backyard gardeners play an important role in ensuring our water systems are safe and available for generations to come. Water is the essence to survival in our island state.”

贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 general public may not know the twolined spittlebug (TLSB), but scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa have been intensely fighting the invasive insect since its discovery in Hawaiʻi in 2016. Within a scant eight generations, TLSB has spread to infest more than 176,000 acres of rangeland on the Big Island. In highly infested areas, the result was nearly 100% die back of key range forages, including kikuyu and pangola grasses. Their loss exposed the land to invasive plants such as pāmakani, wild blackberry and fireweed. Livestock producers faced devastating economic losses.

Within a scant eight generations, TLSB has spread to infest more than 176,000 acres of rangeland on the Big Island.

To combat the problem, the (CTAHR) Extension鈥檚 twolined spittlebug team has released a new reporting and decision-support smartphone app for the management of TLSB in Hawaiʻi. The tool allows users to learn about and correctly identify TLSB, giving landowners the ability to locate, map and manage outbreaks on their properties. Users can also assist experts as citizen-scientists by using the app鈥檚 reporting tool to geolocate sightings of the pest.

Tracking and documenting the spread of TLSB

“The app has four main features,” explains Mark Thorne, a CTAHR specialist. “First, an information guide that provides an overview of TLSB biology and ecology. Next, it helps users identify TLSB in the field and distinguish it from other, non-pest species. Third, users can report sightings of TLSB. Fourth, it allows users to determine the size of the TLSB population, and then, based on the potential damage threshold calculated, select from a series of integrated pest management decisions.”

The CTAHR team, which includes Specialist Mark Wright, Graduate Assistant Shannon Wilson and Assistant Extension Agent Melelani Oshiro, and Daniel Peck from Vestaron Corporation noted the reports include a geo-referenced picture and basic details about the habitat and geographical location of the pest. The reported data is then captured in a database and displayed on a web-based mapping tool.

Users have the option to enter data on TLSB population density and provide estimates on spatial extent and observed damage in their report. Data on TLSB populations is determined by following sampling protocols provided in the fourth tool.

“We spent two years drafting content and working with developers to get the app released, and we鈥檙e confident it will facilitate tracking and documenting the spread of this pest and lead to better pest management decisions for rangeland managers,” said Thorne.

To keep track of TLSB sightings, the team has created an administrative that displays a map of TLSB sighting reports by app users.

Go to the or to download the app.

What hasn鈥檛 changed during the COVID-19 pandemic is the need for research trials, such as the statewide variety trials of conventionally bred taro on Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu by University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR) Extension agents and the .

What has changed is the community鈥檚 greater need for food donations. Because of this need, researchers donated the surplus of taro corms to non-profit organizations to help feed communities after they collected data on fresh weights of underground makua corms, percent dry matter, and percent rot; compared how well the varieties grow under different environmental conditions; grew plants outside the measured rows to ensure uniform growth of varieties; and harvested taro corms in border areas.

On Hawaiʻi Island, about 175 pounds of taro corms were donated to the culinary arts program at ; some were used in their cafeteria and the remainder went to feed those in the Puna district through collaboration with Vibrant Hawaii and Chef Hui programs. In addition, Nicholle Konanui (former CTAHR plant research technician) organized a team of gleaners and harvested about 800 pounds for #FeedThePeopleHI-Puna project. Taro variety trials in Pepe驶ekeo were conducted with the assistance of Wai膩kea Research Station Farm Manager Angel Magno and his crew of agricultural technicians.

On Oʻahu, more than 1,500 pounds of surplus taro corms were donated to a community food drive. The amazing yield and vigorous growth of taro hybrid #1005-84 at Waim膩nalo Research Station is attributed to their care by Farm Manager Roger Corrales and his crew of agricultural technicians.

“Research is often thought to have benefits over the long-term. In these cases, research resulted in immediate benefits to communities,” said Susan Miyasaka, Hawaiʻi County administrator. “Our faculty and staff are proud to help feed the community during these tough, pandemic times. Mahalo to Jari Sugano and Amjad Ahmad.”

For eight years and running, the , part of the Cooperative Extension Service housed in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR), has found a special way to bring out big smiles from its smallest members: a contest of giant fruits and vegetables.

Becky Settlage, Hawaiʻi County 4-H agent and state coordinator for the Hawaiʻi Junior Master Gardener Program, was looking for a unique and fun way to get youth excited about agriculture. Her goal was for keiki to appreciate and love the outdoors, and learn to be self-sustainable.

With the “stay at home” situation this year, the contest started earlier than normal as a way for keiki to do something while stuck at home.

This year鈥檚 entries exceeded 2019 by 236%, and several state records were added. A total of 75 entries ranging from tomatoes, giant pumpkins, watermelons, bushel gourds, long gourds and sunflowers, were weighed and measured through the end of October.

“Little do these children realize that, besides having fun trying to grow a giant pumpkin, giant watermelon, giant tomato or giant sunflower, we鈥檙e also secretly teaching them a love of science, and skills such as problem solving, responsibility, teamwork, recordkeeping, and of course, getting outside and being active in a safe way,” Settlage said.

Wendi Sasaki, a parent participant who has entered the contest the last two years, said “The opportunity to grow ‘giants’ with my children is a blessing. We were able to spend quality time together, learning and 驶growing.鈥�”

The winners were presented their award during a virtual ceremony on Saturday, October 31.

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All things ʻōhiʻa lehua, the most abundant tree in Hawaiʻi鈥檚 native forest, will be celebrated during the , which runs Monday, November 16鈥揝aturday, November 21, 2020. The week-long virtual festival pays homage to ʻōhiʻa lehua trees, which are important to Native Hawaiian culture, and critical to recharging 贬补飞补颈ʻ颈鈥檚 aquifers and protecting our nearshore reefs. The festival also raises awareness about preventing the spread of Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death (ROD) disease.

The 4th annual event is free and open to the public, and will feature online workshops on ʻōhiʻa seed sowing, identification and seed banking, hands-on demonstrations, keiki activities, music, ʻōhiʻa themed keiki books storytelling, screening of the documentary , a pre-recorded field trip of a day in the life of an ʻōhiʻa field crew, and a Bishop Museum herbarium and ethnology collection video with live panel discussion. Registration for events is available .

Starting on November 2, a free keiki crafts kit, which includes a coloring book, field guide, crafts and a sticker, is available while supplies last. The keiki kits can be picked up at the Hilo Public Library, Wailuku Public Library, Hawaiʻi State Library, Hanapepe Public Library, Kapaʻa Public Library, K艒loa Public and School Library, 尝墨丑耻ʻ别 Public Library, Princeville Public Library and Waimea Public Library.

“This event has usually been held on Hawaiʻi Island, but since it is virtual we can expand to a statewide, national and international level, and this is important because we have found ROD on Hawaiʻi Island, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu and Maui,” said Ambyr Mokiao-Lee, University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR) festival coordinator and ROD statewide outreach coordinator. “Although we have found this disease on these islands, the vast majority of these forests are still healthy and we are working to protect them for future generations.”

The festival is hosted by the ROD program of 糖心Vlog官方鈥檚 CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service. Other festival support comes from the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, local invasive species committees, Hawaiʻi Tourism, and the Omidyar ʻOhana Fund of the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation.

糖心Vlog官方 the for a schedule of events, and visit or for updates.

Recent wildfires ravaging the West Coast highlight the importance of preparation and understanding the threat everywhere, including Hawaiʻi. A team at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will work to improve assessment and communication of unique wildland fire risk the state faces.

The 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa (WRRC), the (College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources), and the (College of Engineering) secured nearly $1 million in funding for the project. The grant is from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through partnership and cooperation with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) and 糖心Vlog官方 Mānoa.

The project will develop a high-resolution fire risk index for Hawaiʻi using spatial data on historical fire occurrence, climate, vegetation and the built environment. The end-product will be a daily map of fire risk for the state published online that uses real-time climate products produced by WRRC and the 糖心Vlog官方-based ʻIke Wai program. This work will be led by Sayed Bateni (principal investigator), associate professor in civil and environmental engineering and WRRC, Clay Trauernicht (co-principal investigator), extension specialist in ecosystem fire in the , and Tom Giambelluca (co-principal investigator), director of WRRC.

“The incredible diversity of climate types and vegetation in Hawaiʻi means that the standard fire prediction tools used on the mainland simply don鈥檛 work for us. This effort will use climate products developed for Hawaiʻi and integrate local knowledge of forecasters and fire responders to validate and interpret the final product,” said Trauernicht.

Developing comprehensive fire-risk alert system

Beyond mapping daily fire risk, WRRC and 糖心Vlog官方 will work with the National Weather Service and federal, state and county emergency responders to integrate the maps into the current Red Flag Warning System and agency readiness plans. The only fire-risk alert system actively in place is the by the National Weather Service.

However, because the system is based on a single weather station, red flag warnings may not represent conditions across the state or a red flag may not be declared despite high risk conditions elsewhere. For example, no red flags were declared during any of the multiple, record-breaking large fires on Maui in 2019 due to different rainfall patterns over Honolulu. The project will also use the fire-risk index to examine the historical frequency of fire-risk conditions across the state and work with the non-profit to educate land managers, planners and the general public about how the products can inform proactive risk reduction efforts.

“As our constant brush fires present new challenges to us during both hurricane season and a pandemic, HI-EMA鈥檚 hazard mitigation program grant program is critical in getting the proper funding to battle these threats,” said HI-EMA Administrator Luke Meyers.

Fires cost in land skyrockets over years

Wildland fire is a persistent and increasing threat across Hawaiʻi and places significant burden on federal, state and county emergency management agencies. The annual area burned has increased by 300% across all four counties of Hawaiʻi within the past several decades, such that fires often burn a greater proportion of Hawaiʻi land area than many states in the Western U.S. Fire-risk warning is especially critical in Hawaiʻi both due to the vulnerability of populated areas and natural resources to fire impacts and because the majority of wildland fire ignitions are caused accidentally by people.

With U.S. organic food sales topping $50 billion in 2018, statistics from the Organic Trade Association indicate that fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops combined make up 36.3 percent of total organic sales, up 5.6 percent from 2017. In order to meet consumer demand, farmers may need to use essential oils to battle pests and diseases that often accompany organic crop growth.

Solutions to improve the feasibility and long-term profitability of organic fruit production is the basis of a nearly $2 million awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-National Institute of Food and Agriculture to a team of 15, including Associate Extension Agent Andrea Kawabata of the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 (CTAHR) Cooperative Extension in Kona.

The four-year project is titled, “Plant Safety, Horticultural Benefits, and Disease Efficacy of Essential Oils for Use in Organically Grown Fruit Crops: From the Farm to the Consumer.”

CTAHR researchers and extension faculty will work with certified organic producers in Hawaiʻi and four other states (Florida, South Carolina, Georgia and California) to evaluate the effectiveness of organically certified plant essential oils (EOs) on major fruit pathogens such as avocado scab, anthracnose (fungal disease), and powdery mildew in targeted tropical and temperate fruit crops such as avocado, mango, blueberry and peach.

Efforts will look at increasing organic orchard productivity of Hawaiʻi‘s more than $2.4 million avocado and mango industries and offering growers an organic spray program using organic plant EOs. The goal is for crop producers to rapidly adopt the organic practices set forth by the researchers as a result of the data they gathered, thus improving their market competitiveness.

“By being the boots on the ground, I will assist researchers and growers with data collection, as well as conduct the project’s Hawaiʻi outreach and communicate project results to the farming community,” said Kawabata.

Lisa Keith, research plant pathologist at the USDA-Agricultural Research Service in Hilo, is among the researchers collaborating on the project.

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Extension Agent Kyle Caires is helping the Maui community get fed, and livestock producers who have been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic stay in business. Caires along with Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino and others, announced , a new CARES Act-funded partnership with local ranchers to provide ground beef to people in need.

Caires helped facilitate the county鈥檚 commitment of $200,000 to support the ranching community, and the purchase of cattle from independent ranchers. About 1,000 pounds of ground beef, per week, will be processed and distributed to individuals, nonprofits and community feeding programs.

Beginning on Monday, September 14, the program received Maui County approval to expand the ground beef purchase program to the island of Molokaʻi to support their ranchers and local harvest facility.

Another program that is helping Maui ranchers is the (LPAP), an initiative of the Maui County Farm Bureau, which has awarded more than $12,000 in funds to 19 livestock producers on Maui and Molokaʻi whose families represent agricultural production on 9,345 acres of land, totaling more than 1,500 cows, 980 hogs, 670 goats, 150 sheep, 70 horses and 330 laying hens.

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  • 糖心Vlog官方 has beef with Wagyu reproductive rates, May 15, 2020

“The COVID-19 crisis reminded us all of the importance of ensuring our island鈥檚 food security,” said Caires, who is chair of the program. “We all know that empty shelves in the grocery store can be frightening, but I assure you that vacant fields and empty pastures would be far more devastating to our island culture and economy as we move into the future.”

Caires added, “Livestock help manage thousands of acres of land in Hawaiʻi and provide overlooked ecosystem services, such as fire suppression during times of drought like we are experiencing now. Our awardees represent roughly 693 years of ranching experience in Maui county, and we鈥檙e glad that the LPAP was able to help these ranchers weather the storm and stay in business.”

A creative program on Maui has found a way to bring grandfamilies (grandparents who are primary caregivers for their grandchildren) and food truck owners together to help each other during the COVID-19 crisis. The program was developed by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Intergenerational Extension Program on Maui.

Grandfamilies are especially vulnerable during this pandemic since they are considered a high-risk group and are often living on fixed incomes. At the same time, food truck owners, like most restaurateurs, have been hit hard by the coronavirus shutdown.

The teamed up with , 糖心Vlog官方 Foundation, Maui County Office on Aging, Maui Food Technology Center and Kamehameha Schools to bring food and education to grandfamilies and k奴puna in Maui County during the pandemic.

Owners of food trucks are coordinating with the Maui Food Technology Center to provide daily contactless delivery of prepared meals, from June to August, to participating families in the Intergenerational Extension programs GRANDcares, ʻOhana Garden & Grindz and Powerful Tools for Caregivers, as well as k奴puna who are registered with the Maui County Office on Aging.

The project served 186 meals to 62 individuals in 13 households in the first week alone. By the third week, it jumped to 350 meals.

The grandfamilies and other food truck customers also received developed by CTAHR extension faculty, including the Extension COVID-19 Communications Team. The materials covered topics such as: nutrition, food safety, cooking with keiki, dealing with kitchen waste, CSAs (community-supported agriculture), self-care, stress management and more.

The Maui County Office on Aging will match private support dollar for dollar, and hopes to expand the program. Kamehameha Schools鈥� Maui Regional Office was the first funder to generously donate to this initiative, followed by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation. 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College is also working to secure other potential funders. To donate to the project, email Extension Agent Heather Greenwood-Junkermeier.

The , part of the Cooperative Extension Service housed in the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR), has named the winners of the . Contestants, ages 12–18, created videos demonstrating a healthy recipe along with a photo of their completed dish featuring a locally-sourced ingredient. Both 4-H members and non-members were eligible.

High school winners:

• Emma Ching (Oʻahu) for her Citrus Asian Mahi Medley
• Luke de la Pena (Kauaʻi) for his Green Papaya Salad

Middle school winner:

• Sophia Kato (Maui) for her Mango Salsa

Runners-up:

• Prince Baltero (尝腻苍补ʻ颈) for his Banana Blossoms Fishballs
• Liliana Dutcher (Oʻahu) for her Banana Macadamia Nut Crisp
• Ramsey Hillen (Maui) for his Hawaiian-Style Poke and Steamed Kalo
• Charlize Kenney (Kauaʻi) for her Kalua Pork Taro Hash Patties

The winners received cash prizes provided by The Ardis Tanaka Foods and Nutrition Project and a culinary knife set. Runners-up received a culinary knife set.

The contest was a collaboration between CTAHR鈥檚 programs and was supported with resources from the . Participating in the contest helped the aspiring cooks learn food safety, kitchen skills, nutrition facts and presentation skills.

Wagyu, a Japanese breed of cattle, produces high-quality meat prized by chefs the world over. Unfortunately for steak lovers, Wagyu are also known for having poor reproductive rates. University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补鈥檚 Extension Agent Kyle Caires is on a mission to change that.

Caires, who works in the , recently took the next step in his long-term quest to improve the reproductive technologies of cattle with his paper, “.”

Along with collaborators from Brazil and Washington State, Caires is combining econometrics (the application of statistical methods to economic data) with scientific outcomes. The goal is to implement the advanced reproductive technologies that are necessary for cattle producers to make rapid genetic improvements in a cost-effective manner.

“For local ranchers raising Wagyu, our research team developed a framework to nearly double pregnancy rates, at nearly 70 percent less cost than typical genetic improvement strategies鈥攁 true game changer for high-quality beef in Hawaiʻi,” said Caires.

Caires added, “There is a plethora of reproductive management programs out there to choose from, and it can get complicated and costly for ranchers, even overwhelming at times. Our team conducts applied research to help take the guesswork out of the process for beef producers. This will lead to improvements in cattle fertility and lower costs for genetic improvement. I鈥檓 excited to help our Hawaiʻi ranchers remain competitive in a dynamic, ever-changing global beef industry.”

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Hawaiʻi is home to the most geographically isolated human population on the planet. With the current COVID-19 pandemic and more than half-a-million housing units packed throughout the islands, containerized vegetable gardening is ideal for small spaces: apartments, condominiums, patios as well as areas with poor soil conditions. With sufficient growing space, soil drainage and aeration, sunlight, adequate nutrients and irrigation, people can grow vegetables quickly—right at home.

University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 Cooperative Extension Service Agents Jari Sugano and Kalani Matsumura offer tips on transforming commonly discarded items into food-producing vegetable gardens.

Pots and root space

Plastic, clay or cement pots are excellent for vegetable and herb production. But in a pinch, many common household items can be used as planting containers—leftover plastic take-out food containers, old gutters or storage tubs. Use a little potting soil and fertilizer, and be sure to cut or drill enough holes for drainage: about a half-inch wide, evenly spaced.

Selecting the right container starts with knowing how much room the roots will need to fully develop. Some crops need more root space, such as cucumber, eggplant, daikon, soybean, ginger, taro, squash, rosemary, ung choy and pepper. They should be planted in large containers—a 3- to 5-gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom is great. Medium-size plants, such as green onion, lettuce, spinach, basil, beans, mint, cabbage, kale or radish should be placed in 1陆- to 2陆-gallon containers. Small herbs like mizuna, chives and parsley can thrive in 陆- to 1-gallon containers, like a plastic milk jug with the narrow top cut off. In general, it is better to plant crops in a larger container rather than something too small that might limit the root development.

Soil

Be mindful that containerized vegetables are vulnerable to the same pests and diseases as vegetables grown in the ground. If soil-borne plant diseases are a problem, try using 鈥�“soil-less” potting mixes. , especially in Hawaiʻi.

For specific questions, visit the .

Two local industries hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic have been brought together by the University of Hawaiʻi at 惭腻苍辞补 (CTAHR) .

Pig farmers had no feed for their pigs and papaya farmers had no market for their papayas. Approximately 75 percent of swine producers鈥� feed comes from food waste generated by schools, restaurants and hotels. This supply has dwindled radically since Hawaiʻi residents began sheltering in place. Papaya growers have also found their markets slashed since U.S. mainland distributors stopped buying papaya during the crisis, as consumers focus on stockpiling canned and other non-perishable items.

Faced with the shortage, pig farmers quickly switched to purchasing mainland grain. However, this caused a shortage of pig pellets at local feed stores, leaving the islands without feed until the next boat. It is also not a sustainable solution. Pig pellets are more costly and require more fossil fuel to transport, and local farmers have to rely on a supply chain that may break down at any stage. Transporting large amounts of feed also puts a strain on the shipping industry which is already struggling to keep Hawaiʻi supplied with essentials for humans.

At the same time, papaya growers were in danger of going under. Approximately 50 families, independent growers and members of the non-profit Hawaii Papaya Industry Association (HIPA) are in desperate need of immediate assistance. They have no other income than selling papayas, and their market has crashed, yet they do not qualify for unemployment.

CTAHR coordination

CTAHR extension livestock agent Mike DuPonte, a member of the Hawaii Island Pork Association, began coordinating with HIPA president Eric Weinert of Hilo packing plant and exporter, Calavo Growers.

Together, they created a short-term means to protect both industries and Hawaiʻi鈥檚 precious food supply. Pigs readily eat papaya, and there are plenty to be had. DuPonte coordinates with the animal farmers needing a food source by providing an estimate of need. Papaya farmers will pick and supply the papaya to be used as feed. Weinert opens the packing plant as a marshalling yard to receive and distribute the papaya. HIPA provides forklifts, scales and recordkeeping.

While this is not a complete solution, this locally grown partnership is keeping both industries afloat while they explore other solutions, ensuring that essential elements of our Islands鈥� food sufficiency can survive.

Papaya does not provide all the nutrients that pigs need over the long term, and swine producers cannot afford to pay the prices that papaya farmers usually command from human consumers. CTAHR agents are also helping members of both organizations get financial funding and other emergency aid from the federal government and large corporations such as Land O鈥� Lakes, which runs a feed and shipping program and will work with farmers to subsidize them.