Undergraduate interns from the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR) helped organize a hands-on family friendly event in honor of Earth Day in April.
“This is our fourth time hosting an Earth Day event. It’s a day to be mindful—by growing plants that nourish us, recycling to reduce waste, and making small choices that protect the Earth’s beauty for generations to come,” said Sothy Eng, associate professor of human development and family science (HDFS), and faculty advisor of student honor society Phi Upsilon Omicron.
Held at Mānoa Marketplace, the event brought together participants of all ages including lots of keiki. It featured booths hosted by student groups and community partners, including UH Mānoa Home Garden Network (HGN) and Master Gardener Program, Family Education Centers of Hawaii (FECH), Phi Upsilon Omicron.
Keiki planters, microgreens
Student leadership powered this year’s event. Makayla Sharp, an HGN intern and HDFS student, helped coordinate a clay pot painting activity. Using donated pots and recycled materials, keiki picked their own planters and brought them to life with vibrant designs—each one ready to be filled with seeds and soil.
“It was amazing seeing the kids’ smiles as they painted their pots and expressed themselves through art. Plus, it’s sustainable—we reused materials we already had instead of buying new,” said Sharp.
Sariah Hernandez, an intern with FECH and a HDFS undergraduate, introduced attendees to the world of microgreens. Participants assembled take-home kits using repurposed plastic containers, planting seeds that would grow into nutritious greens ready for harvest in just eight days.
“Our microgreen station showed people that you don’t need a backyard garden to grow food—you can do it even in a small apartment,” Hernandez explained.
Students from Phi Upsilon Omicron also contributed by preparing seed packets and soil kits for distribution. The UH Master Gardener Program was on hand to share information about native plants and gardening tips.
