From native limu studies to hydroponics and horse therapy, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students showcased the power of learning by doing at the College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Natural Resource Management’s (CAFNRM) Ag Fair and Student Symposium on April 24.
Held in the college’s campus breezeway, the fair featured student-run booths, plant sales and interactive exhibits. Attendees explored locally grown produce, honey and starter plants, all cultivated by students at the UH Hilo farm in Panaʻewa.
“The event was to showcase what the College of Agriculture has to offer and what students have learned through their courses and applied to the farm by way of production,” said Jake Rodrique, manager at the UH Hilo Agricultural Farm Laboratory in Panaʻewa.
Hands-on learning
Inside UH Hilo’s classroom building, students presented research and projects as part of CAFNRM’s 5th annual student symposium. Topics ranged from in vitro orchid germination to the effects of compost on pole beans to the cultural significance of Native Hawaiian limu varieties such as palahalaha and ʻeleʻele. Some teams explored food security; others tackled virus spread in bananas.
The event was started in 2018 by CAFNRM director and horticulturist, Professor Norman Arancon to help students build presentation skills. Today, it’s a hallmark of the college’s hands-on learning model.
“Experiential learning is not just a teaching strategy, it’s our way of life,” said Arancon. “We don’t just teach you what to learn, we help you discover how to learn by doing,” said Arancon.
More than 20 student groups presented oral and poster projects. Some built community gardens, others studied plant pathogens or upcycling techniques in small-scale gardening.
For more on student research and projects go to UH Hilo Stories.
—By Susan Enright
