For Cooperative Extension agents at the University of Â鶹´«Ã½ at Mānoa (CTAHR), language access is vital to being a good neighbor to farmers and communities.
“In Â鶹´«Ã½ we have this beautifully diverse community, and we want to make sure the services we¡¯re providing are accessible even if someone may not feel comfortable accessing information in English,” said Emilie Kirk, an associate extension agent on Kauaʻi and a member of the UH Language Access Committee.
The LIFE Program: A legacy of caring
The (LIFE) program was initiated more than 20 years ago when former Associate Extension Specialist Sabina Swift recognized that pesticide safety information was not reaching non–English speaking farmers, leading to health risks.
Today, the LIFE program and extension agents continue this legacy of grassroots support with long–term relationships and the trust of their communities. The LIFE program is supported by USDA funding through the 2501 grant program through September 2026.
During the past three years, the program team has worked with partners to:
- Lead or support more than 60 workshops and outreach events across six islands.
- Deliver one–on–one consultations in many languages.
- Create on drip irrigation basics and pesticide safety.
Tools for connection
CTAHR provides 24/7 access to a telephone interpreter service capable of identifying and translating dozens of languages, including ʻŌlelo Â鶹´«Ã½, Ilocano, Thai, Lao and Mandarin, within seconds. All state and county agencies should also be able to provide this service, as required by state and federal law.
The LIFE program also facilitates on–farm interpretation through multilingual agents or contracted local professionals for field–based support; CTAHR¡¯s initiative hosts hands–on workshops directly in languages other than English, moving from translation to provide accessible programming.
“It¡¯s not just about providing written translations of material that can be quite technical.” Kirk said. “It¡¯s providing one–on–one or small group hands–on activities in their preferred language to really bring a subject to life.”
CTAHR works with its extension colleagues at , and (formerly the Oʻahu Agriculture and Conservation Association), , , and others on language access.