Agriculture in Poamoho
Poamoho
Big Mamaki
Māmaki (Pipterus albidus) is a native shrub that grows in the shade of Hawaiian forests, and it is a home for the native Kamehameha Butterfly. Māmaki is an important plant in Native Hawaiian culture: the bark was used to make Hawaiian clothing called kapa, and the fruits and leaves were used as various medicines. Today, many farmers and gardeners grow māmaki and prepare its leaves as a tea to help with various health related ailments.
Papaya trees
Papaya (Carica papaya) is a healthy fruit, rich in Vitamin C, and grow on herbaceous “trees” as tall as 30 feet! Papaya, like other fruits, begin green in color but transform into a yellow-orange color as it becomes ripe. At the CTAHR Poamoho Research Station, different papaya varieties are grown for seed, which are then grown by local farmers and gardeners…eventually ending up on the breakfast plates of students!
Waialua/Kaiaka Bay
The Poamoho Research Station overlooks historical Waialua town and Kaiaka Bay. In the early 1900’s, Waialua was a bustling agricultural center, known worldwide for its tremendous sugarcane production. With the end of the sugarcane era in Hawai`i, much of Waialua farmlands have transitioned to diversified agricultural crops such as banana, avocadoes, asparagus, and many other vegetable crops.
Weather Station
Water is a critical resource for growing fruits and vegetables, as well as for our own drinking water. Therefore, weather stations like these are important for water management by monitoring rainfall and evapotranspiration patterns. These patterns are then used to schedule irrigation of fruits and vegetables, ensuring that farmers apply the exact amount of water each plant needs to grow strong and healthy.
