New farmers market opens to warm welcome on Maui
Maui Community College is usually quiet on Fridays, when only a handful of classes are held, but there was a festival atmosphere on campus yesterday as the Aloha Friday Farmers Market debuted to a crowd of hundreds.
Sensor spots forest invaders
Researchers using a sophisticated sensor aboard an aircraft flying at the edge of space were able to spot an invasive tree species starting to take over native forests near the Big Island's Kilauea volcano, according to a study published yesterday. The sensing instrument pinpointed where Myrica faya trees, originally from the Canary Islands and the Azores, are starting to take over native ohia trees in and around Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Deal ensures farm use of Kipahulu site
A Kipahulu landowner has granted a conservation easement to the Maui Coastal Land Trust to assure that a 75-acre property will remain in agricultural use for perpetuity, trust President Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez has announced. The property formerly was in sugar cane and used for grazing, but the owner, a family trust, has begun restoring the land as an organic agricultural operation. The farming operation will include orchard trees as well as construction-grade bamboo and varieties of trees that can be harvested as timber, including koa, kou, kamani, mahogany and teak. The area has been named "Ola Honua", for "life-giving earth".
Lawmakers likely to look at genetic altering of crops
Growth in genetically engineered crops, along with mounting public concern over possible risks, is expected to renew debate on the subject at the state Capitol this session. Lawmakers are expected to introduce bills aimed at increasing regulatory safeguards.
Among them is state Sen. Gary Hooser, D-7th (Kaua'i, Ni'ihau), who is vice chairman of the Water, Land & Agriculture Committee. Hooser plans to submit measures by Thursday's deadline that would make public information about genetically engineered crop production more available. The bill also would ban the production of certain test crops in the open air, an effort to reduce the risk of contaminating crops in neighboring fields.
Taro patch experience helps problem kids
Island children are discovering themselves and their roots in the taro lo'i (patches) of Kapahu Farm in Kipahulu. "Many of the kids have never been in mud, were not raised in taro," says Tweetie Lind, a longtime resident of the rural Maui community. "A lot of them have problems; there are special-ed kids, high-risk kids, those who have to take Ritalin to keep them controlled in school. They're dealing with pressure from their parents and teachers. They need help." Lind and her husband, John, are showing that working with taro can do that.
New Sustainable Agriculture Website
The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program recently unveiled a new website designed to help farmers and ranchers increase profitability, protect the environment, and improve rural communities.
Hawaii: Land of 5,000 farms
There more than 5,000 farms in Hawaii, and that's actually a much bigger number than three decades ago. A farm census by the Hawaii Agricultural Statistics Service counted 5,398 in 2003. That's down 1 percent from 1997. But in 1974 there were only 3,020. What's been happening for 30 years is a shift to a larger number of smaller farms. The average size of a Hawaii farm in 1974 was 702 acres; now it's 241 acres.
Last fertile tree breeding hope
Two tender keiki, under the care of Martha Vockrodt Moran, are the last hope of an entire species. As the first offspring from the only known viable alani tree left on Earth, they represent the fine line between the continuation of life and extinction. Halfway up the slopes of Haleakala, inside the grassed-over cinder cone of Puu Mahoe, the impossible seems to be happening.
Genetically modified corn is on the rise
Most genetically modified seed corn is produced in Hawaii, where a large majority of all the corn grown is raised expressly for the production of genetically modified seeds. More than 50 percent of the papaya grown in the United States, all of it in Hawaii, is genetically modified.
Sickly sugar
Sugar producers and processors from the US and the European Union have persuaded sugar-exporting countries in Africa and the Caribbean to join them in attacking proposed WHO guidelines intended to encourage governments to adopt policies that would reduce sugar consumption.
Organic lawn care growing
There's a small but growing movement in Hawai'i toward lawn-care techniques that involve less chemical intervention - less herbicide, less insecticide and more compost-based products in place of chemical fertilizers. "There's a lot more interest in nonchemical lawn-care products," said Lorra Naholowa'a, general manager of Hawaiian Earth Products, the firm that makes Overton's favorite compost. "A lot of the people seem to be retired folks who have the time to learn about it."
Puncturing the GM Myths
Entirely new genes and combinations of genes are made in the laboratory and inserted into the genomes of organisms to make genetically modified organisms. The process is not at all precise. It is uncontrollable and unreliable, and typically ends up damaging and scrambling the host genome, with entirely unpredictable consequences.
 Taro: The Roots of Hawaiian Agriculture
There is no one product more Hawaiian and "Made in Hawai'i" than taro. If you look back into the history and legends of Hawai'i and Hawaiians, you find the rootstock of all life is embodied in the taro plant.
Taro production hits record low
A report issued by the Hawai'i Agricultural Statistics Service put last year's taro production at 5 million pounds; the previous low, reached in 1997, was 5.5 million pounds. Urbanization has driven down harvests from a high of 14.1 million pounds in 1948; more recently the decline has resulted from pests and diseases, according to the report. Median production in the past decade has been about 6.1 million pounds.
Conservation experts embrace new tool: fences
To Maui biologist Art Medeiros, a fence is a magical thing, a conservation tool capable of pulling off miracles. "They're just pieces of metal, but you twist them together and the effect can be phenomenal," said Medeiros, a U.S. Geological Survey scientist. The native vegetation in Hawai'i's natural areas is under attack by wild pigs, goats, sheep and deer. Many native forest plants have been mowed down and chewed to the nub by these foraging animals, while others have become extinct. Put up a fence, however, and it's like turning back the clock, says Medeiros: What emerges are plants and landscapes known only to ancient Hawaiians.
Cane versus commercial development: value in A&B farmlands
A mainland stock analysis firm says Alexander & Baldwin has only just begun to tap the value of its massive land holdings in Hawaii. But the glowing report is based on the assumption that its Maui canefields will inevitably be developed for more profitable uses.
Hawai'i's farm acreage smaller, but profits increase
Recently released figures from the 2002 U.S. census of agriculture also draw a picture of a Hawai'i farmer, who in comparison to Mainland counterparts, runs a smaller, more profitable farm, and is more often female. The census data confirms that Hawai'i's $536 million agriculture sector is moving away from large plantation crops such as sugar cane and pineapple to diversified products such as flowers, melons and seed crops. That slow transition is responsible for much of the drop in farm acreage as land that once was filled with sugar cane lay fallow, according to agriculture officials. However, much of that land remains ready to plant, said Steve Gunn, state deputy agriculture statistician.
Ho'olawa Farms: Native Hawaiian plant nursery
Above the bay at the end of Ho'olawa Road, near Hana Highway on Maui's remote North Shore, Anna Palomino and Don Bowker worked hard for thirteen years, growing, selling and educating people about rare and endangered native Hawai'ian plants in their "off the grid" nursery named after the area. About two years ago, that property was sold; Ho'olawa Farms has relocated, and is now growing and thriving in Ha'iku.
Preservation stressed at sustainability gathering
To sustain the good life led by almost a million O'ahu residents, natural resources must be preserved, and economic development cannot come without environmental safeguards, urban planning, agricultural experts said yesterday at the 2004 City and County of Honolulu's sustainability workshop.
Ag is a priority in water debate
As Maui debates how to satisfy its thirst for water, one aspect is easy. Not only does the state Constitution require it, but local sentiment is overwhelmingly in favor of maintaining agriculture as a way of life and as an economic support. It's just part of Maui, and it is impossible to imagine the island without it.
What Do We Really Know About the Impact of Golf Course Chemicals on Our Islands?
"...imported soil on a lava flow in an arid area of the island is a short term unsustainable system or a potent pollution source regardless of what soil is used." The developers who have understood this have developed environmentally sensitive golf courses with the help of Audubon International.
E.P.A. to Study Use of Waste From Sewage as Fertilizer
The Environmental Protection Agency will sponsor a series of scientific and public health studies on the safety of using sewage sludge as fertilizer, including nationwide chemical tests and building a human health complaint database. The studies, in combination with the agency's announcement on Wednesday that it will more closely regulate 15 chemicals found in sewage sludge fertilizer, are part of the agency's efforts to address public concerns about an agricultural practice that has grown rapidly around the country over the last decade.
Hawaii GM tests draw more suits
Environmental groups are suing the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to halt open-air field tests of biopharmaceutical crops in Hawaii until officials assess the environmental and public health risks the plants may pose. Such legal action represents mounting activism in Hawaii, the world leader for agricultural biotechnology trials.
Agriculture in Hawai'i at the Crossroads
In this comprehensive piece, South Kona activist, farmer and environmentalist Jack Kelly, a regular contributor to the Hawai'i Island Journal, takes a hard look at land-use issues and new agricultural methods that threaten to overwhelm family farms in Hawai'i. Kelly calls for awareness, and action, to save the state's farmlands, and farmers.
How economics may reshape green policy
It's always been an uphill fight for environmentalists arguing to protect the landscape, save an obscure species from extinction, or clean up the air and water. Opponents are quick to rebut with bottom-line statistics about jobs lost and productivity harmed. It came as a surprise, therefore, when the White House Office of Management and Budget recently declared that environmental regulations are good for the economy.
Lingle says state needs to clarify laws on land use
The Legislature should change land-use laws to avoid another quandary like the one surrounding the controversial Hokuli'a development on the Big Island, Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday. The governor said she does not yet have a clear idea of what should be done, but believes that lawmakers, at the very least, need to clarify the definition of agricultural land and other classifications used by the state Land Use Commission.
Living the Lo'i
A restored taro patch becomes a place for learning.
Kipahulu `Ohana website
The Kipahulu 'Ohana is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of Hawaiian culture and the restoration and conservation of natural resources in the Kipahulu area of East Maui. Through a cooperative agreement with Haleakala National Park, the 'Ohana is restoring ancient lo'i kalo (taro patches) to active organic production at Kapahu Living Farm, and offers educational hikes and tours, as well as community workdays.
 Eat food grown closer to home
There was a time early in Hawai'i's history when all the food consumed here was grown here. Imported food grew in importance after Captain Cook's visit, but during World War II, old-timers say, food quickly got back into the neighborhood. Folks grew backyard victory gardens, and farmers produced a lot of the fare for local markets.
Farm Plans designed to assure compliance with law
In order to comply with state and county laws that require houses on agricultural-zoned land be farm dwellings accessory to agriculture, Maui County is requiring Farm Plans. The submittal and review process have been designed to be very easy. All that is required is an application form, an 8.5-by-11-inch sketch indicating that more than half of the parcel will be farmed and an agreement that the county will record with the State Bureau of Conveyances
Farmland boom hurting growers
Farmers across the state are finding their livelihoods threatened by neighbors who build expensive homes on agricultural land but don't want to farm.
Developing old cane lands not so simple
Peter Martin heads a quartet of investment groups that are planning to convert thousands of acres of former Pioneer Mill land in West Maui into a mix of residential and agricultural uses. But the rules have changed.
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Unbroken vistas of farmland have been part of Maui's history for 150 years. Today, agriculture-zoned parcels of land are being sold for housing developments at a rapid pace. Rising land values make it difficult for small farms to continue the essential work of growing food for the community.