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Maui County Pesticide Safety Educational Workshops

Posted on Mar. 11, 2026  /  Best Practices, Plant Pests, Safety  /  Subscribe 0

By: Mark Dragich, Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite, Hannah Lutgen, Jennifer Hawkins, Kawehi Horner, Kyle Franks, Maxwell Bendes, and Edmar Castillo.

Due to high demand for more training opportunities, UH Mānoa CTAHR Extension and other agencies collaboratively began conducting pesticide safety workshops in 2025 and 2026 in Maui County, and Mark continues to provide pesticide education across the state.

What are these workshops, and who administers them?

These workshops provide practical, science-based education for conservation professionals, landscape and golf course professionals, commercial farmers, and others who use pesticides in their work.

UH Mānoa CTAHR Faculty and Staff:

Mark Dragich, UH Mānoa CTAHR Assistant Extension Agent and the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) Coordinator, serves as the lead instructor and covers topics such as pesticide laws, label comprehension, pesticide calculations, and equipment calibration. He shares his 14 years of industry and academic experience along with science-based knowledge to help participants better understand safe and effective pesticide use. He collaborates with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) and the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH), whose education specialists also support these efforts.

Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite, Maui County Edible Crops Extension Agent, serves as the lead coordinator and has supported these workshops through generous funding from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture. She presented information on plant pests and integrated pest management. 

Hannah Lutgen, Maui County Ornamental and Landscape Extension Agent, assists with the coordination and provides education on weed identification and management, ornamental and floricultural crop production, and pest management.

Jennifer Hawkins, Jr. Extension Agent- serves the island of Molokai in the area of edible crops.

Kyle Franks, Jr. Extension Agent - DHHL; working with farmers across Molokai to increase productive capacity and local market influence.

Kawehi Horner, Operations Coordinator, provides administrative, financial, and operational support to ensure smooth office and program operations, helps organize and facilitate workshops in Molokaʻi.

State Agency Partners:

Maxwell Bendes, Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity Environmental Health Specialist, serves as a pesticide safety consultant and educator for the State of Hawaii. He contributed significantly to the development of the workshop content and co-teaches the 2-day CORE Skills Pesticide Workshop along with Mark Dragich, and collaborates with Mark and other CTAHR Extension Agents on other educational events and materials.

Edmar Castillo, Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) of the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health (HIOSH) division. In this role, he provides free guidance, training, and resources to help businesses, organizations, and communities to understand and comply with HIOSH regulatory standards. CAS focuses on education and outreach, promoting safety initiatives such as the Hawaii Voluntary Protection Program—an award program given to organizations with outstanding safety and health culture, and the Alliance Program, which fosters collaboration to share safety and health information, develop compliance tools, educate communities on employer and employee rights and responsibilities under HIOSH.

Figure 1. Project team at the Molokaʻi workshop February 18–19, 2026: top left – Kawehi Horner; top center – Mark Dragich; top right – Hannah Lutgen; center left – Maxwell Bendes; middle center – Jennifer Hawkins; lower center – Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite; lower right – Edmar Castillo.

What is the purpose of these workshops, and where are they offered?

The purpose of these workshops is to help the community better understand pesticide safety, practice calculating pesticide dilutions, calibrate equipment properly, and interpret pesticide labels and laws. UH CTAHR, together with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) and the Department of Labor Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health (HIOSH), strives to empower individuals to use and apply pesticides safely, to reduce human health risks, minimize environmental hazards, and effectively manage pests in landscapes, natural areas, and on farms.

So far, these workshops have been conducted in Lānaʻi, Maui, and Molokaʻi. Mark continues to provide pesticide education statewide.

Figure 2. Lead Instructors Mark Dragich and Maxwell Bendes demonstrate proper use of various pesticide equipment at the Molokaʻi workshop.

Figure 3. Maxwell Bendes provides education and demonstrates different types of personal protective equipment (PPE) at the Molokaʻi workshop.

Figure 4. Lead Instructors Mark Dragich and Maxwell Bendes demonstrate the importance of proper pesticide equipment calibration at the Molokaʻi workshop.

Why does pesticide safety matter?

Any employee or individual applying pesticides must follow federal, state, and local laws designed to protect applicators, workers, and the public. Regardless of legal requirements, pesticide safety education helps individuals properly use pesticides to minimize exposure, protect their health, and safeguard the environment. UH CTAHR is non-regulatory; we are here to support the community by answering questions and providing education.

Figure 5.  Lead instructors Mark Dragich and Maxwell Bendes teach pesticide application techniques at the Molokaʻi workshop.

Figure 6. Dr. Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite provides instruction on insects and integrated pest management, and Hannah Lutgen teaches a brief session on weed identification and management at the Molokaʻi workshop.

How can someone request pesticide other training courses?

For pesticide training requests, please contact Mark at [email protected]. For questions or educational requests related to edible crops, ornamental and landscape plants, or ecological and conservation topics, please contact your local UH CTAHR Extension Agent.

Mark Dragich*, Assistant Extension Agent and the Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) Coordinator,

Rosemary Gutierrez-Coarite*, Maui County Edible Crops Extension Agent,

Hannah Lutgen*, Maui County Ornamental and Landscape Extension Agent,

Jennifer Hawkins*, Molokai Edible Crops Extension Agent,

Kyle Franks*, Molokai Jr. Extension Agent - DHHL,

Kawehi Horner*, Molokai Operations Coordinator.

* UH Mānoa CTAHR Faculty & Staff.

 Maxwell Bendes, Hawaii Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity Environmental Health Specialist,

Edmar Castillo, Compliance Assistance Specialist (CAS) of the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health (HIOSH) division. 

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