I am a PhD candidate in the Tropical Plant and Soil Sciences Department at UH Mānoa studying the formation of volcanic soils here in Hawai'i. My research looks at the evolution of soil from beginning to end, from fresh lava rock to highly weathered oxisols, using Hawai'i as a model system. This work has taken me all over the islands, from Hawai'i Island to Molokai, collecting samples from young to old and dry to wet soils. With these samples, I am building a matrix dataset which can help us look at the effects of climate, time and parent material on the pedogenesis of Hawai'i's soils and how they accumulate and deplete soil nutrients.

Based in Hilo on Hawai'i Island, I am working with Dr. Lincoln and other ICS lab members at the Komohana Research Extension Center where we are conducting various soil analyses, investigating the connection between traditional Hawaiian agriculture systems and the natural soil fertility of the land, and having pau hana volleyball matches when the work gets tough. Feel free to email me any time: thaensel@hawaii.edu.  Aloha!

Talofa! I'm a PhD student from Samoa working on ulu quality and postharvest. The goal is to improve harvest and postharvest handling practices that can prolong ulu shelf life and in turn improve profit for breadfruit farms and farmers. I am in the field every two weeks or weekly with other ICS lab members to collect data, harvesting, pruning, fertilizing, and other tasks. I also work closely with USDA-PBARC in Hilo to do ulu nutrient analysis, fruit edible coating and near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) analysis.  

If you are interested in knowing more on ʻulu and want to come out with us on a field day, email me at: autufuga@hawaii.edu. Faafetai!

I'm a Master's student in the CTHAR TPSS Indigenous Cropping Systems Lab researching 'awa nutrient demands and hydroponic growth potential. I currently own and operate several kava ('awa) establishments in the Bay Area and became curious about the nutrient demands and potential capability of growing 'awa in hydroponics. As a root crop with a long growth period, it certainly presents unique challenges to the traditional hydroponics set up. Therefore, my current study focuses on the feasibility of an in-house design for hydroponics that takes these challenges into account. 

I am also researching more of the general characteristics of 'awa and trying to shed a little more scientific light on the plethora of ancient wisdom and reverence for this intriguing plant. In my spare time, I enjoy drinking plenty of 'awa coupled with my love of freediving the beautiful coasts here and piloting the short flights between the islands.

I am a PhD Candidate in Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of British Columbia, Canada. I have been working with Indigenous and local communities in the Indian Himalaya, Zimbabwe, and Japan, using art to revitalize their climate resilient and culturally important small grains cultivation. My current research involves understanding the meanings of the cultivation to the community members, including food security, and wellbeing for the people and the land. As an artist, I incorporate photography, drawings, and documentary films as part of my research. I look forward to exploring biocultural diversity with the lab!

I am currently attending The University of Hawaii Hilo in for my Bachelor in Tropical Agroecology. I am a research assistant at the indigenous Cropping Systems Laboratory helping with data collection and photo analysis for a study on Ulu postharvest and processing. Originally from New Mexico I came to Hawaii to complete my undergraduate degree because of the year-round growing season and the chance to learn about and grow a wider variety of plants. I plan to use what I learn in school to contribute to increasing the resilience and sustainability of agriculture and to help conserve the unique biodiversity in Hawaii.

Christian Buehler has managed the ICS Labs experimental greenhouse at the Magoon Research Station in Manoa, Hawai'i for the past four years. During this time he has overseen projects on nitrogen fixation in sugarcane, the use of traditional mulches in kalo cultivation, breadfruit nutrient deficiency trials, and has maintained a breadfruit propagation program that has produced and distributed over 4,000 breadfruit trees in Hawai'i!

       Aloha nui kākou! ‘O au nō ‘o Malia Benz-Marrs. He pua nō au hānai ‘ia ma Kahikinui ma ka mokupuni ‘o Maui. I am a Ka Haka ‘Ula o Ke’elikōlani graduate currently assisting with the propagation of various ‘ulu varieties at the Komohana Research Extension Center in Hilo. It has been fascinating to be able to see ‘ulu growth using different propagation methods. Every time I see roots, I think of how many people will be fed one day. “I ola ‘oukou, i ola mākou nei.”

       I have always had my hands in a māla, with the intention of securing something for the future generations, even if it’s ‘ike, or knowledge, that I will pass on.

Aloha kākou! ‘O Kahiau ko’u inoa. I am currently a student at Hawai‘i Community College studying Tropical Ecology and Ahupua‘a Management. Soon, I hope to transfer to UH Hilo and continue learning more about Traditional Hawaiian agriculture and indigenous crops. Currently, I work as the lab pack mule, maintaining our ‘ulu orchards and germplasms while also getting some experience in the lab analyzing soil samples.