Ho'olehua Plant Materials Center

Ho'olehua, Hawaii

Established 1957 on Maui; moved to Molokai in 1972

The Ho'olehua Plant Materials Center (HIPMC) was established on Maui and moved to Molokai in 1972 on the fertile agricultural plains of Ho’olehua. The HIPMC service area includes the State of Hawaii, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia, The Republic of Palau, The Republic of the Marshall Islands, and American Samoa.

Soils are derived from volcanic lava, eruptive deposits of ash, tuff and cinders, and limestone and alluvial deposits from coral reefs. Land use is diversified with large acreages devoted to ranching, sugarcane, macadamia nuts, coffee, and pineapple and smaller acreages used for truck crops, orchards, and subsistence farming.

The Center develops plant materials and conservation technology for the unique volcanic soils of Hawaii, Guam, and other Pacific Basin islands. The Center has developed technology for cover crops, windbreaks, grazing systems, native plants production, and wildlife habitat. Controlling erosion and enhancing and protecting our natural resource base by using plant materials is our main mission.
The Hoolehua Plant Materials Center has developed ‘Tropic Coral’ tall erythrina for use in windbreaks; ‘Tropic Lalo’ paspalum for use in ground cover for orchards, waterways, and roadsides; ‘Tropic Sun’ sunn hemp for green manure, cover crops, and energy conservation; and ‘Tropic Shore’ seashore paspalum for stabilizing the shorelines and banks of aquaculture ponds, canals, and streams with brackish or salty water.

Contact

P.O. Box 236/ 4101 Maunaloa Highway
Ho'olehua, HI 96729

Telephone: 808.567.6885
FAX: 808.567.6537
Email: glenn.sakamoto@hi.usda.gov