Agriculture & Natural Resources

The Agriculture & Natural Resources program provides instruction for those in need of training, retraining, or skills upgrading in the field of agriculture, and those wishing to transfer to a four-year college or university.  Diverse learning activities are provided at facilities on Maui and Moloka‘i.  The Maui facility includes a 10,700 sq. ft. greenhouse and 1.5 acres of vegetable fields and landscapes.  The Moloka‘i Farm includes a 5,000 sq. ft. greenhouse, orchards, and vegetable fields on 28 acres of land.

Projections point to a continued need for well-trained people in all aspects of the green industry.  Hotels and condominiums face increasing demand for personnel to design and maintain aesthetically pleasing landscapes in an environmentally sound manner.  Farms and agriculturally related businesses need informed individuals to implement new technologies and sustainable agriculture techniques.  Numerous opportunities exist for entrepreneurs in vegetable, flower, and nursery crop production as well as landscape maintenance.  The New Farmer Institute at UHMC is devoted to assisting outstanding students and graduates with becoming agriprenuers.  Students interested in an interdisciplinary degree in cultural and natural resource management are encouraged to speak with the program coordinator.

Students may transfer to other institutions after beginning their academic and technical training on Maui or Moloka‘i.  Some agriculture courses are articulated or can be used as electives at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo or University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.  The Oregon State University eCampus offers a degree in general agriculture that allows UHMC agriculture students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor degree while living here in Maui County.

Contact the Program Coordinator, Ann Emmsley, at 984-3243 or by email at aemmsley@hawaii.edu for latest program schedule cycle.