Kona Test
On June 17th the Landscape Industry Certified Technician (LICT) Test was held in Kona at the University of Hawaii CTAHR Experiment Station in Kainaliu, with thanks to the dedication and hard work on the part of the Board of Directors of the Hawaii Island Landscape Association (HILA).Tests were conducted in Ornamental Maintenance, Softscape Installation and Irrigation. The test started with a traditional pule, blessing our candidates and volunteer judges for a safe and successful day. Then the candidates went to work, showing their skills learned from the Landscape Maintenance Training program and Test Prep Intensive day that most participated in.
Candidates passing the test and receiving their LICT certifications are as follows:
In Ornamental Maintenance:
Bruce Costello of Bruce Costello Landscape Maintenance
Clinton Hirayasu of Kukio Community Association
Daniel E. Damazo of MLM LLC
Melvin K. Thomas Jr. of MLM LLC
James Spencer of Chambers Landscape and Irrigation
Rocco Mico-Talen of Bezona Botanical
Nephi Brown of Four Season Resort Hualalai
Zachary Price of Landes Home Service
Sean Prentiss self-employed
In Softscape Installation:
Richard Ostrander of R and R Complete Landscaping
Esther Aila of Royal Contracting, Ltd.
In Irrigation:
Danny Aegler of Hawaii Lawn and Landscapes
Ian Robledo of Pacific Aina Management LLC
HILA would like to thank our UH Extension Agent, Ty McDonald, for his excellent work in preparing the candidates through our Landscape Maintenance Training classes, and Garrett Webb, LICM, for administrating the test. We would also like to thank all our volunteer judges for their continued support of this test, many who return year after year to give back to their Green Industry: Hugh Landes, LICT; Lee Wolske, LICT; Gary Duguran, LICT; Mel Palea, LICT; Justin Smith, LICT; Kerry Wells, LICT; Caz DiMarco, LICT; Desmond Toson, LICT; Sean Strauss, LICT,; Ken Sugai, LICT; Erin Lee, LICT; Jeff Cerezo, LICT; Michael Talesfore, LICT; Keone Kealoha , LICT; Mark Sayers, LICT; Jennifer McDaniel, LICT; Micah Barker, LICT; Wynton Wizinowich, LICT; Fred Boeck, and Chris McCullough.
Through this test and the certification of many of our candidates HILA accomplished its objective and mission of raising the bar of landscape skill in our Hawai’i Island landscape community.
By: Chris McCullough
President, Hawaii Island Landscape Association
