UH Tropical Agriculture College celebrates 100th year in style

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, the founding college of the University of Hawaii at Manoa, is celebrating its 100th birthday with an open house at the UH Mealani Experiment Station in Waimea on the Big Island.

The free event takes place 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 26 at 64-289 Mamalahoa Highway.

The public will be able to listen to talks and view demonstrations and educational displays on a diverse range of topics, including vegetables, tropical fruit, chocolate making, taro, genetic engineering, hydroponics, invasive species, aquaculture, Taste of the Hawaiian Range, organic agriculture, coffee growing and cattle.

Tours of tea and blueberry plots will be provided, and The Plant Doctor will be set up to diagnose plant problems, and on-the-spot testing of soil and water pH will be conducted. Grass-finished beef barbecue, fresh poi and Mealani tea will be available for sampling.

For more information on the history of CTAHR and the UH Centennial Celebration, visit www.hawaii.edu/centennial/ or call the Cooperative Extension Service in Hilo at (808) 981-5199.