Tracks & Sessions
Pests
SESSION 1 - 9:30 AM
Coconut rhinoceros beetle: current status and management
MIKE MELZER
KRISTEN GAINES
This presentation will provide an update on the current status of CRB in Hawai‘i and the Pacific. We will also share progress in the development of management tools, with a focus on biological control using a viral pathogen.
1.0 ISA, LICT, HDOA 1a, 2, 3, 6, 10
SESSION 2 - 10:30AM
Research updates on several important landscape pests in Hawaii: coconut rhinoceros beetle, hala scale, and more.
DR. ZHIQIANG CHENG
This presentation will provide research updates on management of several important landscape pests in Hawaii, such as coconut rhinoceros beetle, hala scale, and more.
1.0 ISA, LICT, HDOA 2, 3, 6, 10
SESSION 3 - 12:30 PM
Navigating Plant Management in Hawai‘i: Adapting to Changing Weather and Rising Pest Pressure
DR. LINDSEY HOFFMAN CHAPPELL
DOUG CLARK
Plant management in Hawai‘i requires adaptable, prevention-focused strategies as changing weather, diverse microclimates, and year-round growth increase plant stress and pest pressure. This talk explores how heat, rainfall variability, humidity, insects, diseases, and weeds interact—and how scouting, cultural practices, irrigation management, plant health, and well-timed applications support resilient, weather-responsive programs.
1.0 ISA, LICT, HDOA 1a, 2, 3, 6, 10
SESSION 4 - 1:30 PM
Understanding Pesticide Labels
for treating CRB on Palms
MARK DRAGICH
Presentation featuring the most common pesticides used for managing CRB on palms. The purpose is to give clear understanding of labels requirements and how to read and interpret these labels.
1.0 ISA, LICT, HDOA 1a, 2, 3, 6, 10
SESSION 5 - 3:00 PM
Worker Protection Standard Compliance Refresher
MAXWELL BENDES
KARI AGCAOILI
RAFIK ABRAHAM
An overview of commonly required practices for pesticide application under the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Attendees will learn about record keeping, notification requirements, restricted entry intervals, application exclusion zones, and more regarding WPS compliance. Even those who are not required to follow the WPS will benefit from this overview of best practices for safety from pesticides and their residues.
1.0 ISA, LICT, HDOA 1a, 2, 3, 10
Arborists
SESSION 1 - 9:30 AM
Viewing City Trees as Infrastructure: Communicating Ecosystem Benefits of the City and County of Honolulu’s Tree Inventory
LINDSEY WATANABE with MARIA WELVAERT & NAVIN TAGORE
Trees growing in urban environments provide numerous benefits to our communities, enhancing quality of life socially, environmentally and economically. Urban forestry is an essential asset to the City as infrastructure. By utilizing data from the Division or Urban Forestry’s Tree Inventory and Urban Tree Canopy Assessment we can get a better look at canopy coverage in urban spaces, identify known climate risks, and prioritize climate mitigation efforts with tree preservation and plantings.
1.0 ISA, LICT
SESSION 2 - 10:30 AM
Plant Less Trees
STEVE NIMZ
Size does matter in the world of urban trees. Trends have been to plant more small trees to replace large trees, but this is not an equal trade. Large, mature trees provide significantly more ecological and infrastructural benefits than smaller trees, including shade, urban cooling, stormwater management, and carbon storage. Tree planting efforts should shift the focus from quantity to quality, with emphasis on planting fewer large canopy trees to increase urban canopy cover.
1.0 ISA, LICT
SESSION 3 - 12:30 PM
Trunk Injection System Maintenance: Live Demonstration
DAVID GOLDEN
David will provide a live demonstrations of two trunk injection systems: Arborjet and Rainbow. An outdoor demonstration, he will provide recommendations on how to properly maintain the Injection systems, and how to troubleshoot common issues with the systems. Also includes a questions and answer session for Trunk Injection best practices for landscape maintenances.
1.0 ISA, LICT, HDOA 2, 3, 6, 10
SESSION 4 - 1:30 PM
The History of Rope Access Tree Climbing, the 70s, 80s, 90s and Beyond in Hawaii
TYLOR SCHWARZE
A live demo of tree climbing techniques to be performed on a Monkeypod tree outdoors. This demo will showcase the evolution of rope access climbing techniques throughout the decades with an emphasis on how tree work in Hawai‘i has changed with the times.
All source material gathered through interviews reliant on oral history from three generations of veteran arborists.
1.0 ISA, LICT
SESSION 5 - 3:00 PM
Follow the Drop: Honolulu’s Green Stormwater Incentive Program
LAUREN ROTH VENU
The Honolulu Rainwater Capture Incentive Program emerged from a public-private partnership among the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii Community Foundation, 3Rwater, local nonprofits, and contractors. The first of its kind in Hawai‘i, it provides free rainwater assessments and funds rain gardens, trees, and rainwater catchment systems. With over 3,000 applicants in 2025, this presentation will explore the program’s background, evolution, current activities, and growing community demand.
1.0 ISA, LICT
Nursery & Design
SESSION 1 - 9:30 AM
Up and coming variegated native Hawaiian plant selections for landscape and container
ORVILLE BALDOS
Variegated plants provide a fresh color palette for landscaping with natives. This talk will present new and soon to be released variegated selections of Carex wahuensis subsp. wahuensis, Peperomia leptostachya and Scaevola taccada.
1.0 ISA, LICT
SESSION 2 - 10:30AM
Weed control trials with saturated steam and boiling water
ORVILLE BALDOS with HANNAH LUTGEN
1.0 ISA, LICT, HDOA 2, 3, 6, 10
SESSION 3 - 12:30 PM
Autonomous mowing opportunities
MAT ROCHELEAU
A presentation featuring the current and future opportunities with autonomous mowing. Mat will answer the most common questions about the technology including: What is the ROI (return on investment)? What mistakes should I avoid? and Where does autonomous mowing fit in the current landscape business structure?
1.0 ISA, LICT
SESSION 4 - 1:30 PM
Tropical Green Roof & Living Wall Research
DR. ANDY KAUFMAN
DR. MYLES RITCHIE
Evaluating benefits and challenges of green roof and living wall technologies. This research/demonstration project at UH consists of green roof and living wall systems testing native Hawaiian and non-invasive ornamental plants, and edible plants. The major goals are to evaluate: Climate change mitigation; Urban food production; Plant selection and growth; Plant establishment; Stormwater mitigation; Heat mitigation & Energy savings; and System performances.
1.0 ISA, LICT
SESSION 5 - 3:00 PM
Identify Before You Buy: How to ID Pest, Disease, Soil, and Nutrient Issues
JOSH SILVA
ALBERTO RICORDI
Before spending on costly pesticides and fertilizers, proper soil and tissue testing and pest/disease identification can pinpoint the solution to the problem, in turn saving money and time. This presentation will walk you through common issues and their associated causes, as well as share information about available testing laboratories and resources in plant diagnostics and identification.
1.0 ISA, LICT, HDOA 1a, 2, 3, 6, 10
More info in program.
For complete event details, check out the program. Mahalo to all of the speakers, volunteers and partners who work throughout the year to put on this event.