For more than a decade, the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� has been on the front lines of the battle against the invasive coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB). Now, researchers at the (CTAHR) are seeing progress in a promising weapon: viruses.

“Pathogens are being used, but viruses are being underutilized as far as I’m concerned,” said Mike Melzer, researcher and virologist at CTAHR’s Department of Plant & Environmental Protection Sciences. “I know we can find viruses that will have a really good impact on important target species that are pests in �鶹��ý.”

Unlike chemical pesticides, the virus infects CRBs from the inside, weakening and killing them before they reach adulthood. By targeting larvae, the virus can suppress beetle populations over time while minimizing harm to non-target species. Researchers believe the virus should also infect adults, making them lethargic and less likely to damage palms.

Rigorous safety standards

For 10 years, federal regulators told UH researchers that the CRB virus could not be brought into �鶹��ý due to a lack of adequate containment facilities. A breakthrough finally came in early 2025 through a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s permit unit.

Current permits specifically restrict research to the larval stage because larvae cannot fly, significantly reducing the risk of an accidental environmental release. “We rear CRB for research purposes and we’ve never lost an adult out of there,” he said.

Protecting the Kauaʻi stag beetle

A primary goal of the current lab testing is to ensure the virus is host-specific and will not harm �鶹��ý‘s native ecosystem. While the virus has been used effectively in other Pacific nations, Melzer emphasized that Hawaiʻi has unique native species to protect, such as the Kauaʻi stag beetle.

“Nobody really gives too much of a thought about CRB where the virus has been released” Melzer noted, explaining that while some damage remains, the virus keeps it at a manageable “two out of 10” rather than the devastating levels seen in �鶹��ý.

A good night’s sleep

In August 2025, Melzer and a former student, Nelson Masang Jr., traveled to Palau, a region where the virus has successfully managed the beetle for decades, to collect genetic variants of the virus. The research trip was part of a close partnership with Professor Chris Kitalong and Jacques Idechong of Palau Community College.

The research, led by doctoral student Kristen Gaines, involves infecting CRB larvae to observe how the virus spreads. Early results have been encouraging, showing that the virus can kill larvae within 12 to 30 days. “I sleep a little better at night because Kristen said she’s starting to see larvae getting lethargic and dying after just being exposed to the virus,” Melzer said.

A University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa research project focused on agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI) has been selected for support through the NVIDIA Academic Grant Program, bringing additional advanced computing hardware to the university.

The project, “AinaFarm: Building the Foundation for Scalable Agricultural Physical AI,” led by UH Mānoa (ICS) Assistant Professor , in collaboration with Professor , and , a recent (ECE) PhD graduate, competed in the Robotics and Edge AI track. The work explores how robotics and AI can support agriculture, particularly with vision-language-action (VLA) models that allow robots to see their surroundings, understand spoken or written instructions, and carry out tasks in real farming environments.

As part of the award, NVIDIA is donating hardware to UH Mānoa to support the research. The in-kind grant includes two RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell GPUs, high-powered computer processors designed to train and run advanced AI models, and four Jetson AGX Orin compact supercomputers, which will serve as the “brains” of farm field robots, enabling them to run AI applications and make decisions directly in real-world agricultural environments.

“This project is about building practical AI tools that can actually work on farms,” Chen said. “With NVIDIA’s support, we can combine robotics and advanced computing to support local agriculture, reduce labor challenges, and develop technologies that are especially relevant for �鶹��ý’s farming environments.”

In addition to hardware, the program offers access to NVIDIA development tools, models and training resources, as well as opportunities for broader visibility through presentations and promotional channels.

The NVIDIA Academic Grant Program supports researchers worldwide by providing access to high-performance computing resources, hardware and software. The program is designed to accelerate academic research and help move ideas from concept to real-world application.

The AinaFarm project is part of a broader, interdisciplinary collaboration at UH Mānoa that brings together researchers from the , , and (CTAHR) to advance AI-enabled solutions for agriculture. This growing effort builds on recent successes in agricultural robotics, including UH Mānoa’s $10,000 grand prize win in the 2025 Farm Robotics Challenge, and reflects a shared goal of developing practical, field-ready technologies to support farming in �鶹��ý and beyond.

ICS is housed in the College of Natural Sciences, the Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences is housed in CTAHR and ECE is housed in the College of Engineering.

Scientists at the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� have found a new caterpillar species with unique and bizarre behaviors—it lives in spider webs and decorates its portable home with the body parts of the spider’s prey. This remarkable discovery, reported in , also reveals the species to be endangered.

The caterpillar, a member of the Hawaiian Fancy Case Caterpillar group also known as the genus Hyposmocoma, has been named the “bone collector” caterpillar due to its macabre habit of adding insect body parts into its silken, portable case. Researchers have observed these caterpillars measuring and attaching body parts such as fly wings, weevil heads and earwig abdomens to their cases.

“The bone collector caterpillar is another example of how incredible and unpredictable evolution in �鶹��ý can be,” said Dan Rubinoff, a professor at the UH ����ԴDz� . “Not only are they the only caterpillars in the world to decorate their homes with body parts but maybe more shocking, they make their living hanging around spider webs. This is something we never even imagined was possible. But in �鶹��ý, here it is.”

Rubinoff co-authored the new study with UH ����ԴDz� scientists Michael San Jose and Camiel Doorenweerd.

Carnivorous caterpillar

The caterpillars are carnivorous and live with spiders in webs located in tree hollows, logs, or rock cavities. The predator opportunistically feeds on weakened or recently deceased insects within the web, even chewing through silken webbing to reach their meals.

However, the study also reveals a troubling reality: the newly discovered species is already endangered. After decades of searching, the caterpillar has only been found in a small 15-square-kilometer area of forest in the Waiʻanae mountain range on Oʻahu.

Ancient roots

The researcher team estimates that the evolutionary origin of the bone collector caterpillar lineage dates back at least six million years, significantly older than the current islands of �鶹��ý. This suggests that the species may have once been more widespread across the ancient and now sunken islands to the northwest of the main Hawaiian archipelago.

Scientists at UH ����ԴDz� are calling for immediate conservation efforts to preserve the habitat of the bone collector caterpillar and prevent the loss of this remarkable species.

The University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has officially changed its name to the (CTAHR), in a step that CTAHR Dean Parwinder Grewal said will better reflect the college’s mission and vision (below).

“This update embodies our college’s commitment to fostering resilience across individuals, communities, economies and ecosystems, emphasizing its focus on sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, and family and community well-being,” said Grewal. “We at CTAHR define human resilience as building individual, community and environmental endurance in the face of challenges such as climate change.”

CTAHR aims to lead research and educational initiatives that help prepare �鶹��ý and the Pacific region to respond to and recover from climate-driven impacts to agriculture and communities.

“Our programs are centered on enhancing the human condition through a comprehensive approach to building resilience in agricultural and natural systems in the face of climate change,” said Grewal.

The process to change the name, which retains the college’s well known acronym, CTAHR, began shortly after Grewal started as dean of the college in March 2024. He had a series of meetings with faculty, students, staff, and alumni who all supported the name change proposal. A survey conducted among CTAHR faculty, staff, students, alumni and stakeholders found that more than 67% of respondents endorsed the change, with more than 72% agreeing that “human resilience” better captures the college’s mission and values.

The mission of several of CTAHR‘s departments already reflect the name change such as the , which conducts research and teaching programs on individual and family resiliency. The focuses on research and academic programs in human nutrition and dietetics, to enhance nutritional health of individuals, children and families. The explores human dimensions research through the relationships between humans and the natural environment for improved human management decisions and policy creation. CTAHR‘s extension programs focus on improving economic, social, and health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities and offer youth development programs such as 4-H to build teenage resiliency.

The school will be changing its signage and webpages over the coming months to reflect the name change. “Human Resources” was added to the then “College of Tropical Agriculture” in 1978 when the college merged with the UH �鶹��ý Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, which was dissolved in 1999. The meaning of “human resources” has since shifted from resources for people, like healthy food and clean water, to primarily being associated with business and personnel management.

CTAHR was the very first college at the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa when it was founded in 1907 under the Morrill Act as a land-grant college of agriculture and mechanic arts. The flagship campus now has 17 colleges and schools.

CTAHR Mission

CTAHR creates and delivers knowledge that supports and strengthens families, agricultural and food systems, and the natural environment. We educate and serve the people of �鶹��ý and those from around the world with integrity and excellence.

CTAHR Vision

CTAHR provides exceptional education, research, and extension programs in tropical agriculture and food systems, family and consumer science, and natural resource management for �鶹��ý and the international community. We cultivate innovative scientific inquiry, solve real world challenges, and provide experiential learning in an interdisciplinary setting with global impacts.

For his work on Native Hawaiian moth conservation, a graduate student in the University of �鶹��ý at Mānoa (CTAHR) took home “best student talk” at the Annual Meeting of The Lepidopterists’ Society’s graduate student competition held at Cornell University in July. (Lepidopterists study butterflies and moths.)

Kyhl Austin’s presentation, in collaboration with CTAHR Professor Daniel Rubinoff and Junior Researchers Camiel Doorenweerd and Mike San Jose, documented the decline of many Native Hawaiian moth species, with the extinction of some and the rediscovery of others. Austin then returned home to give a similar talk at the �鶹��ý Conservation Conference.

“I’m grateful to have won and happy to bring �鶹��ý insect conservation to the attention of an international audience,” said Austin, of the CTAHR .

Austin’s research focused on assessing the patterns and timing of extinctions of Hawaiian moths. He accomplished this by looking through the historical and modern collection records in the UH Insect Museum, the Bishop Museum, and elsewhere to assess when hundreds of species were last seen, and then estimating the extinction rates in various moth groups.

“From this, we can get a handle on which species or groups are most vulnerable and begin to draw attention to their conservation,” said Rubinoff. “To a great degree, �Ჹ�ɲ���ʻ��’s insects are left out of conservation planning, and a lack of data has sometimes been used to excuse this exclusion. Kyhl’s work is a move toward making insect conservation in �鶹��ý part of the discussion. By all accounts, he gave a great presentation and wowed the judges!”

The Lepidopterists’ Society is the preeminent society for amateurs and scientists who work on all aspects of butterflies and moths, from new species descriptions to conservation and ecology to genomics and gene function.

The lush plants and trees of the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� provide a vibrant environment for research and recreation, making it one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. The health of those flora are in part due to an initiative to manage green debris on campus and make mulch (material spread around or over a plant to enrich or insulate) 100% from campus resources.

Green debris from UH ����ԴDz� facilities are processed in an on-campus machine called a forestry tub grinder, creating organic mulch that helps regulate soil temperature; retains water and reduces water usage; adds micronutrients to flora as it decomposes; helps suppress grass or weeds competing for water and nutrients; and adds to the beautification of the campus.

Green debris grinding saves the green

Previously, the landscaping department utilized a chipper to help break down green debris, and large green debris that could not fit in the chipper was transported to in Wahiawa—two to three truckloads were transported per week. Moreover, landscaping had to purchase mulch when the in-house supply fell short.

Once the tub grinder was introduced to the campus in 2010, landscaping was able to more effectively grind the campus’ green debris down to organic mulch. With the expertise of Siausage “Sonny” Ugaitafa, one of the equipment operators who processes the green debris, the campus was able to go from turning 30% of green debris to mulch in 2010, to 70% in 2017, and now 100% reusable mulch.

“Our mulch initiative has developed significantly over the past decade,” said UH ����ԴDz� Landscape Manager Yosuke Jo. “Since we are able to produce 100% sustainable mulch on-campus, we save nearly $500,000 a year in transportation and mulch purchase costs. We hope to continue our mulch initiative with improved technology.”

Ugaitafa received a for his work in the mulch initiative. He helped identify designated areas for green debris pick up and removal while ensuring the campus remains safe and upkeeps aesthetic standards.

“The process to create 100% sustainable mulch has been very efficient,” said Ugaitafa. “I’m proud to play a major role in the campus’ mulch initiative, and the health and beauty in our campus plants and trees is a testament to the landscaping department’s hard work and dedication to the initiative.”

The landscaping department also distributed mulch to , , the �鶹��ý Department of Land and Natural Resources, the reforestation project and others.

Battle against beetles

Mulch is a common breeding ground for the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB), a pest known to kill and damage the native endemic Hawaiian loulu, a palm tree with fanned fronds, which grows in protected populations due to their threatened and endangered status.

The landscaping department remains diligent in the battle against CRB in their mulch initiative by carefully monitoring the green debris that is processed; maintaining CRB compliance with the �鶹��ý Department of Agriculture ; and, since October 2022, only exchanging with entities that are also CRB compliant.

Furthermore, the landscaping department participates in training sessions to remain up-to-date and educated on CRB. Led by Michael Melzer, an associate researcher in the ’ , landscaping staff attend an in-person classroom lecture that discusses the history, biology, symptoms and control methods available for CRB, followed by a visit to the containment lab to see CRB larvae and adults. Landscaping leadership also receive CRB compliance agreement training.

“[The landscaping department has] been very engaging and keen to keep the beetle off campus,” said Melzer. “I am impressed by their genuine concern for how the campus looks, and am thrilled every time I get a question as to whether they are seeing CRB damage.”

A native plant that was first discovered in the forests of West Maui in 2020 by a University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� expert has now been officially recognized as a new Hawaiian species.

The plant, named Clermontia hanaulaensis, was found during routine surveys by Hank Oppenheimer, Maui Nui (PEPP) coordinator. The program is part of the in UH ����ԴDz�’s .

According to experts, the plant species is only found in �鶹��ý and is likely unique to the mountains of West Maui.

“I decided to just turn a different way and look over a ridge I hadn’t explored before and there they were,” Oppenheimer said. “They looked very different from other Clermontia.”

Clermontia is a genus of plants that evolved in �鶹��ý and is found nowhere else in the world. They grow as small shrub-like trees on the six largest islands from about 600 to 6,000 feet in elevation. Their long, paddle-shaped leaves grow atop branches that fork. This species flower is lavender and white.

Botanists across the state studied the found plant’s flower and leaf structure, comparing it to herbarium specimens and photos to try to verify that it is a previously undiscovered species. The botanists also ruled out the possibility of the plant being a hybrid of other Clermontia species.

Critically endangered

The patch of this rare plant is currently the only known population, numbering less than 80 adults and 20 seedlings spread out in an area about the size of 10 football fields. They are not growing on protected state lands, however, the private landowner has been a longtime conservation partner.

Since it exists only as a small population with a limited range, it’s already being proposed for critically endangered status. Because there are so few of this rare species in the wild, PEPP has collected seeds and will continue to monitor the population to ensure its survival.

Key threats to rare plants across �鶹��ý are introduced plants, slugs, pigs and rats which eat seeds and fruit. On Maui, Axis deer pose additional threats.

Clermontia are usually pollinated by native forest birds, which are absent at this population’s elevation due to mosquito-spread avian malaria. They usually grow as mid-canopy plants, under larger trees. A hurricane knocking down larger trees or a single fire could wipe out this newly discovered species.

PEPP marks its 20th anniversary in 2023. .

With more than 50 varieties of carrots to choose from, picking the right one to grow successfully in �鶹��ý can be a daunting task.

To offer hands-on guidance on selecting the most productive carrot, and address the public’s interest for learning more, the University of �鶹��ý at ����ԴDz� (CTAHR) Oʻahu County Extension agents held a workshop at the Poamoho Experiment Station on August 5.

Agents Jensen Uyeda and Koon-Hui Wang of the met with more than 30 growers and community members to share what carrot varieties grow best, in addition to management practices—such as fertility, nematode (plant parasites) control and irrigation—to help growers overcome challenges related to growing carrots. Each participant was able to observe carrots available in the field, as well as harvest varieties they were interested in tasting.

“It was so enjoyable seeing all the participants with arms full of carrots that they themselves pulled from the field,” said Uyeda. “Hopefully, this sparks more interest in growing carrots, and will help increase the success of carrot production in �鶹��ý.”

The field day followed a successful trial by CTAHR Extension to evaluate 20 carrot varieties (five red, one purple and 14 orange) to determine their viability for production in the state. Based on this trial and evaluation, CTAHR Extension was able to recommend to community members one purple, two red and six orange varieties, based on weight, length of root and resistance to nematodes, which cause damage to carrot crops.

Uyeda and other CTAHR Extension agents plan to conduct additional variety trials to identify new, more productive varieties and management practices to help commercial producers continue or expand their production.

High school students from across Oʻahu received hands-on training in agriculture directly from the industry’s workforce, thanks to a new program designed by the . In line with CTAHR’s goal to advance workforce and economic development, its Urban Garden Center partnered with Waipahu High School and its , a pilot program funded by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

When Oʻahu County extension agents learned that Oʻahu high school students were interested in receiving training in landscape and garden maintenance, CTAHR responded by designing a program that addressed specific and individualized workforce development needs. In addition, the program exposed the students to broader career and college opportunities. This partnership supports the goals of the �鶹��ý State Department of Education and UH Mānoa’s strategic mission.

Student interns learned how to put in weed mat barriers; plant various crops such as ʻulu; harvest seasonal fruit using a fruit picker; install irrigation and secure a weather station. They also harvested and washed lettuce for the chefs at Kapiʻolani Community College and packed local produce for the �鶹��ý Foodbank. This month they took a field trip to Magoon Research Facility, where the student interns learned about flowering crops such as anthurium, and did orchid work with associate researcher Teresita Amore. Amore spoke about the importance of volunteering and adding service to the students’ resumes.

The interns have also experienced job interviews, worker orientations and safety trainings prior to doing actual work with CTAHR agricultural technicians and extension agents, including Christine Hanakawa and Alberto Ricordi.

Students from Waipahu High School, Pearl City High Shool, Aiea High School, Kapolei High School, Mililani High School, �鶹��ý Baptist Academy and a student visiting from Washington state participated in the program.“The students from Waipahu High School and Pearl City High School graduated and returned this summer to help with the program, and high school students from Aiea, Mililani and Kapolei are returnees,” said Jari Sugano, Oʻahu County administrator for CTAHR. “It started as a small group of friends who are telling other friends to stay busy this summer versus staying home.”

“Our students were presented with certificates to validate their immersive work and contributions to lifelong serving,” said Ken Kajihara of the Waipahu High School Academy of Natural Resources. “After they graduate, we are hopeful that funding can be secured to make this pilot program a permanent one.”

“We want to engage more students and young adults to enter agriculture. Students have the opportunity to work with the land and see if agriculture is something for them. We try to keep it fun and educational, but it is very hard work,” Sugano said. “They have to be passionate about plants, food security and the environment to make agriculture a career. Not all will end up in agriculture, but we hope they gain life long lessons to take them wherever they go. They did an outstanding job for us this summer.”

The long-term goal is to support graduates in securing long-term jobs in the field of agriculture to ultimately support the advancement of �鶹��ý’s landscape, crop production, and nursery and/or greenhouse industries.