August 2008
PRESS RELEASE
Arbor Day 2008
Lawn & Garden Fair and Hawaiian Tree Give-away
On November 8th 9am-2pm 2007 Maui Nui Botanical Gardens (MNBG) in partnership with the Maui Association of Landscape Professionals (MALP) will for the second year combine their efforts to create a must attend event full of educational activities and demonstrations. In addition to the annual free 1,000 Hawaiian tree give-away there will be . . .
Native Hawaiian Plant Horticulture Website
Nursery Owners and other plant professionals,
We will be on Maui on May 27th and may be able to visit some of you. Hopefully you can come to our evening meeting on May 27th at 5pm at Maui Community College at Laulima, room 107 where we can explain this program in more detail.
We are supported by a federal grant from the US Department of Agriculture, so we are able to provide the online database on the horticultural of native plants, and web space for any business growing native plants without cost.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Priscilla S. Millen
Professor of Botany, Leeward Community College
*Phone: 808-455-0285
*Fax: 808-455-0509,
e-mail: pmillen@hawaii.edu
Dept. of Math and Sciences: 96-045 Ala Ike, Pearl City, Hawaii 96782
Priscilla Millen, Botany professor at Leeward Community College who has a grant from USDA to increase training and businesses in plant related fields. Her focus is to increase the numbers of native plant used in Hawai?i?s landscape. It provides environmental advantages and helps with education and conservation.
Shari Tamashiro of Kapi?olani Community College is the technological professional developing the website and database to go online.
David Eickhoff is a native plant specialist inputting the data and has a long experience with growing natives.
Any one growing natives on the islands will be able to put their business information and native plant inventory into the database. The website will be: nativeplants.hawaii.edu and will be active on August 1st. The site is designed to be user friendly.
A large part of the database will include native plant horticultural information, designed in view for usage by landscape architects, landscape contractors and installers. It should be useful for restoration work and homeowner?s application.
VOG
5-19-2008
Hawaii lawmakers will explore vog's effects
Bizjournals.com – Charlotte,NC,USA
The House committee will examine the vog's effects on public health and
safety, agriculture, water quality, pets and other animals, and
other areas. …
CLICK HERE to read complete article.
Financial and Management Audit of the Moloka’i Irrigation
Report No. 08-03 February 2008
Marion M. Higa
Office of the Auditor State Auditor
465 South King Street, Room 500
State of Hawai?i Honolulu, Hawai?i 96813
(808) 587-0800 FAX (808) 587-0830
Read the Full Report Here
http://www.state.hi.us/auditor/Reports/2008/08-03.pdf
Summary
We conducted this audit in response to Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 176, of the 2007 legislative session. The Moloka’i Irrigation System provides about 1.4 billion gallons of water annually to its users. Construction was started in 1957 to bring water from the eastern end of Moloka’i to the central farming areas as part of a federal and state commitment to native Hawaiian homesteaders. The system consists of collection dams and deep wells; a transmission tunnel, pipes, and flume; a reservoir; and distribution pipes to customers. Among the customers is the Moloka’i Ranch, via a rental agreement.
We found that while the Department of Agriculture inherited a broken system, little has been done to learn about system problems or to create a plan to address them. The department received historical data on the system from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and yet it was not clear that department personnel understood the significance of its history. Numerous studies recommended management and operational improvements. For example, problems reported in a 1987 study still exist today, unadressed.
The department?s flawed management endangers agriculture in Moloka’i. It has been unable to reconcile its responsibilities as stewards to the irrigation system and obligations to the Hawaiian homesteaders. While it recognizes the homesteaders’ two-thirds water preference accorded by Section 168-4, HRS, this is not reflected in any planning. Non-homestead farmers consume approximately 80 percent of the system’s available water. Effectively, the two seemingly complementary responsibilities have become competitors with the needs of the homesteaders subsumed to the interests of larger agricultural business.
State auditor: Molokai water system mismanaged
By CHRIS HAMILTON, Staff Writer
Maui News
WAILUKU ? The state auditor issued a blistering report last week charging the state Department of Agriculture with mismanaging the Molokai Irrigation System while simultaneously allowing it to deteriorate over a period of decades.
The irrigation system is crucial to the island?s agriculture-based economy but draws only about 4 million gallons a day ? less than 10 percent of its projected capacity when it was first planned.
?We found that while the Department of Agriculture inherited a broken system, little has been done to learn about system problems or to create a plan to address them,? state Auditor Marion Higa wrote in her 57-page report. ?The department?s flawed management endangers agriculture in Molokai.?
However, state Agriculture Chairwoman Sandra Kunimoto called most of the report?s criticisms ?overreaching? in a telephone interview Friday.
She said she felt as though the report?s dramatic statements weren?t backed up by the actual details contained within it.
Hawaii Crop Weather Weekly Report
Here is the PDF file for the Hawaii Crop Weather (crop progress and condition) Report for the week ending February 3, 2008.
Please visit the website for more information: http://www.nass.usda.gov/hi/
USDA NASS Hawaii Field Office
1421 South King Street
Honolulu, HI 96814-2512
1-800- 804-9514 February 3, 2008
“HAWAII CROP WEATHER” reports are available on our website and also PRINTED weekly. Subscriptions for PRINTED copies are free to those persons who report agricultural data to NASS, upon request and available for $20 per year to all others.
Agricultural Highlights
Fruits
Bananas
On the Big Island, mostly cloudy and rain-filled days slowed growth and fruit development during the week. The reduced sunlight also kept temperatures on the cool side. Incidences of Banana Bunchy Top virus remain isolated in the Puna and Kona areas. Overall, orchards in eastern sections of Hawaii County were in generally good condition. Oahu?s banana orchards were in fair condition. Fields in the leeward and central areas of Oahu made fair to good progress. Windward Oahu fields were in fair condition as cloudy conditions and cooler temperatures continued to slow crop progress and reduce yields. Kauai?s orchards were in fair condition. Harvesting was anticipated to remain steady during the coming weeks. Stripped leaves, as well as cooler temperatures and overcast skies, continued to slow crop development and fruit ripening.
Papayas
Cool, wet conditions slowed orchard growth and fruit development on the Big Island. Orchards in the Puna district remained in fair to good condition. New seedlings established quickly with the high rainfall. Active flowering was evident in most fields, but the heavy rains made fieldwork difficult. Spraying will have to be maintained once the weather clears. Orchards on Oahu were in fair to poor condition. Spraying to control disease and insect infestations remained steady. Kauai?s orchards made fair progress during the week. Acreage for harvest is relatively small, and overall pickings are forecast to remain light. Spraying for disease control was delayed because of inclement weather conditions.
Vegetables