New UH-Manoa facility dedicated in Hilo

November 22, 2009 - Hilo, Hawaii
VIDEO by Tim O Bryan

The College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at UH Manoa held a dedication ceremony in Hilo on Friday for the newly renovated Komohana Research and Extension Complex. Improved faculty offices and the newly constructed John H. Beaumont Research Wing were celebrated, and the administration wing was dedicated and named after Hilo's Tadashi Higaki.

The new $14.5 million project began in April 2007. Faculty and staff of the CTAHR Beaumont Agricultural Research Center relocated to Komohana from their facilities on Lanikaula Street.

The University of Hawaii says the newly renovated office space and new laboratories will "enhance CTAHR’s outreach to support, sustain, and enhance Hawaii’s agriculture, environment, communities and families, and serve Hawaii’s people for years to come."

A presentation was also made to the family of the late Tadashi Higaki - a Pepeekeo native and Hilo resident who served as a horticulturist, Hawaii County administrator and interim associate dean for the CTAHR extension. The Tadashi Higaki Administrative Wing now stands in his honor.