Re: A tidbit from Hawaii

**h*@aol.com**

Actually the very first thing I noticed was crabgrass.  It was growing at the base of a palm tree and was in full seed.  This was the broad leaf type.  I can only imagine that it was brought here like many other places as a potential grass plant to feed cattle.  I was also surprised when I visited a commercial foliage nursery today and pointed out a crabgrass plant to the manager and her response was "I thought that's what it was".  So it doesn't seem to be a problem but it's sure here.

I hadn't thought about invasives until  you brought it up.  As you know we're having quite a problem with oriental bittersweet vine in New York and it seems to be pulling down many of our large and older shade trees.  As I was driving from the north shore of Oahu today and up into the very wet rainforest area I couldn't help but notice the huge philodendrons (split leaf and pathos) that twine up the taller trees and eventually topple them.  Not sure if anyone considers them invasive though but a similar action on the taller overstory.

Other than that haven't really seen anything alarming.  It's been a very dry winter here though so it may not be a representative year.

All the nurseries and farming operations were remarkably clean of weeds and I've seen few disease or insect problems with extremely limited use of pesticides.

Lots of smaller farm to market operations and that seems to be hotter here than on the mainland.  All small operations but over 300 of them on the  island.  The larger markets are still buying their greens, fruits and veggies from the mainland because the claim is that commercial growing here is cost prohibitive due to high labor costs.  So a head of lettuce, an apple, a tomato is more than likely flown in.  But if you go to a local farmers market you can get just about anything except for apples and the like at very reasonable prices. 

As for high labor costs...Dole told me that they can no longer produce some crops here because there is a state law requiring employers to pay 80% of health care costs.  But a nursery owner told me they have no trouble getting good labor because unemployment rates are high.  At Whole Foods on the north shore they were selling Maui Gold pineapples for 99 cents.  In New York they're going for $4 and up.  Bananas in the super market here were $1.29 a pound and imported from Equador.  They were growing on the plants about a half a mile away but aren't grown commercially here any more.  

Sorry..you asked about invasives...lol

Andrew

-----Original Message-----
From: Teri Chace <terichace@aol.com>
To: gardenwriters <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org> foresty
Sent: Thu, Mar 28, 2013 8:50 am
Subject: Re: [GWL] A tidbit from Hawaii

Thanks--I think! (jealous!)--for this update, Andrew.

I am wondering if you are seeing invasive plants on the islands and if so, can 
you gauge the impact?
In particular: wood rose, Merremia tuberosa, and beach naupaca, Scaevola sericea 
var. taccada.

Teri Chace
Writer/Editor/Consultant
537 Garden St.
Little Falls, NY 13365
home: 315-866-6480
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website: http://terichacewriter.com/
email: terichace@aol.com
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-----Original Message-----
From: hamptongar <hamptongar@aol.com>
To: gardenwriters <gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wed, Mar 27, 2013 8:13 pm
Subject: [GWL] A tidbit from Hawaii

Several months ago I posted a note looking for feedback on an upcoming trip to 
Hawaii.  Many of you responded with some great suggestions of places to visit.  
I'm mid-way through the trip and spent most of today with some farming and 
agriculture people.  I was very surprised...maybe even mildly shocked...to find 
that as much as 1/3 of all the farming land on the island of Oahu is planted 
with GMO seed corn.  They get in three crops a year and the bulk of the seed is 
then shipped to the mainland for feedstock and ethanol production.   Great place 

to 'hide' the stuff and still be in the U.S. but I'm trying not to be syndical.  

Interestingly the locals feel that the three large companies that do the GMO 
corn farming are being great stewards of the land.  Interesting paradox. 

Very little in the way of pests and diseases in the agricultural crops here save 

for the coffee where up to 40% of the crop on Kona is being done in by a beetle.

The next biggest issue seems to be wild pigs.  Dole reports that one or two wild 

pigs can do in a quarter acre of pineapple in one night.  Well, guess that's why 

they're called pigs.

Lots and lots of interesting stories here.  

Ah, but back to the beach.....

Andrew
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