Landscape management conference Oct. 28
“Back to the Basics” is the theme of the 9th Hawaii Island Landscape Management Conference Oct. 28 at the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. The 2022 event returns to its in-person format with a full lineup of educational offerings, trade show and optional post-conference tour the following day.
Geared to landscape professionals, tree workers, property managers and proponents of sustainable landscape management, the conference is presented jointly by the Hawaii Island Landscape Association and University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension and is open to the public.
“This year’s program features local and visiting experts from the Green Industry, the University of Hawaii and beyond,” said Ty McDonald, UH Extension Agent. “We had to postpone our conference last year, due to you-know-what, so we are very excited to convene in person again to advance the professionalism of the landscape industry through communication, education and fellowship.”
The plenary speaker is David Tamura, renowned landscape architect based in Hilo, who will share his thoughts and vision of getting “back to the basics” in designing landscapes on our island home.
Identification and control of current pests and diseases of ornamental plants in Hawaii will be provided by Hannah Lutgen, University of Hawaii Extension agent from Maui, while Don Hemmes – professor emeritus from UH – will discuss fungi (mushrooms) in the landscape.
Clifford Vianzos, with Echo Incorporated, will discuss the appropriate applications of battery tools in landscape maintenance. SelecTree, a new online tree selection guide for Hawaii’s cultivated trees, will be discussed by its developers – Jenn Yost and Matt Ritter, biology professors from Cal Polytechnic University.
Yost and Ritter will also lead hands on tree identification and selection training during the guided tours the following day to Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, Hawaiian Gardens and Ili Kupono Gardens Nurseries.
Registration is online at hilahawaii.com. For more information, contact Ty McDonald at tym@hawaii.edu or (808)322-4884.
