Going Upcountry

The weather cleared beautifully, allowing us to enjoy a leisurely walk through Hugo and Shirley Buetler's farm in Kula. Their business, Upcountry Specialties, features a wide variety of agricultural crops, including persimmons, protea and Monterey pines (Christmas trees). Shirley makes delicious preserves, butters and breads out of the many fruits harvested on their farm and sells them in her outdoor store.

Ye Olde Wailuku Inn

"Agriculture and the Visitor Economy" was the theme for our field trips. Staying at the Old Wailuku Inn was a great first step into this theme. We were impressed with the home town care shown to make each room special, including the dining room where we shared breakfast together.

Maui Alumni Dinner

Due to inclement weather, the alumni dinner was moved from Avery's ranch to the Ag Extension Office at Maui College in Wailuku. The turn-out was great and the food was 'ono and plentiful. Everyone had a great time reminiscing and enjoying the slack key guitar music by alumnus George Kahumoku. Mahalo to Irene and Luisa from Class XII for doing so much of the behind-the-scenes work!

Seminar Two - Facilitation Class on Maui

Donna Ching led our group on a great two-day facilitation class for collaborative leaders on November 4 and 5. Everyone had a chance to be a facilitator and recorder, sometimes in some tough (and light-hearted) situations.

Hualalai Resort Natural Resources Program

On the final visit of our seminar on Hawai'i Island, we went to Hualalai Resort for an intriguing tour by NR manager David Chai. He's an aquatic biologist by training and saw to it that the anchialine ponds, among other things, were restored. It was an interesting juxtaposition of the human-made and natural realms, with the latter not possible without a lot of human intervention. Coexistence or a make-believe world?

Parker Ranch

We're about to embark on Seminar Two on Maui so I thought I'd post a few more images from Seminar One on Hawai'i Island. Here we were at Parker Ranch in Waimea with Keoki Wood (former ALP participant). He was proud to show off his beautiful horses. I believe he said they were for breeding but I forget the details. Anyone remember?

Mahalo Nui Loa

Hi Classmates! I'm so glad to have met you all and am really excited about the coming months ... err, years (even THE bird-thrower! Yeah, you know who you are!). Thanks to our intrepid directors, seminar 1 was a huge success. There were also a few classmates that helped out a great deal. Thank you Perry and Michelle for picking up and driving folks around. I know you had to leave Kona even earlier to pick up folks at the airport bright and early so we all appreciate it. Mahalo for bringing the coolers too Perry and mahalo Koa for bringing the delicious manapua. And thanks to all of you that helped set up and pack up the classroom supplies. You all rock! See you all soon on Maui!