Executive Committee
2024
Chair: Kevin Chang – Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo
Vice Chair: Ulu Ching – Conservation International – Hawaiʻi
Chair Emeritus: JC Watson – The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi & Palmyra
Member-at-Large: Jeff Burgett – USFWS Science Applications
Permanent Chair: Sharon Ziegler-Chong – UH Hilo / Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation
Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance Foundation Board President: Randall Kennedy
| Chair | Vice Chair | Chair Emeritus | Member-at-Large | Permanent Chair | Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance Foundation Board President | |
| 2023 | JC Watson (Hawaiʻi Association of Watershed Partnerships) |
Kevin Chang (Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo) |
Sharon Ziegler-Chong (UH Hilo) |
Jeff Burgett (USFWS Science Applications) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy |
| 2022 | Sharon Ziegler-Chong (UH Hilo) |
JC Watson (Hawaiʻi Association of Watershed Partnerships) |
Allen Allison (Bishop Museum) |
Gordon Tribble (USGS Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy |
| 2021 | Allen Allison (Bishop Museum) |
Sharon Ziegler-Chong (UH Hilo) |
Emma Yuen (Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife) |
Michelle Mansker (NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy |
| 2020 | Emma Yuen (Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife) |
Allen Allison (Bishop Museum) |
Chipper Wichman (National Tropical Botanical Garden) |
Michelle Mansker (NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy |
| 2019 | Chipper Wichman (National Tropical Botanical Garden) |
Emma Yuen (Dept. of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife) |
Brutus La Benz (Office of Hawaiian Affairs) |
Michelle Mansker (NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy |
| 2018 | Brutus La Benz (Office of Hawaiian Affairs) |
Chipper Wichman (National Tropical Botanical Garden) |
Nāmaka Whitehead (Kamehameha Schools) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy | |
| 2017 | Nāmaka Whitehead (Kamehameha Schools) |
Brutus La Benz (Office of Hawaiian Affairs) |
Sam ʻOhu Gon (The Nature Conservancy – Hawaiʻi) |
Christian Giardina (USDA Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy |
| 2016 | Sam ʻOhu Gon (The Nature Conservancy – Hawaiʻi) |
Nāmaka Whitehead (Kamehameha Schools) |
Gerry Davis (NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service) |
Christian Giardina (USDA Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy |
| 2015 | Gerry Davis (NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service) |
Ulalia Woodside (The Nature Conservancy – Hawaiʻi) |
Christian Giardina (USDA Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry) |
Kenneth Kaneshiro (UH Mānoa Center for Conservation Research & Training) |
Randall Kennedy |
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee, comprised of one representative and one alternate representative from each member organization, provides overall direction for the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance and makes decisions on how to implement the Alliance’s Strategic Action Plan.
View our Member Organizations
Subcommittees
The Alliance has formed several subcommittees to develop and support implementation of programs or activities described in the Strategic Action Plan. Subcommittees include both Alliance members and partner organizations working in relevant fields.
Nāhululeihiwakuipapa
The Nāhululeihiwakuipapa subcommittee develops and implements projects that cultivate and model conservation leadership in Hawaiʻi using trans-disciplinary strategies, generational bridging, and Hawaiian Values to support the growth of future generations of environmental stewards.
Members: The Nature Conservancy – HI, Conservational International, US Fish and Wildlife Services, Kupu, Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation, Pacific Internship Programs for Exploring Sciences (PIPES), UH Hilo, Army Natural Resource Program – Oʻahu, Mālama Learning Center
Projects: Nāhululeihiwakuipapa Emerging Professionals Workshop, Nāhululeihiwakuipapa’s Pūlama Kuamoʻo Mentorship Program
Effective Conservation
The Effective Conservation Subcommittee developed a database of geospatial data to advance landscape-scale conservation and applied this data to design and pilot Community Watershed Snapshots with 3 communities.
Projects: Conservation Maps, Community Watershed Snapshot, Status of Conservation Report
Climate Crisis Action
More information coming soon!
Projects:
Community
The community subcommittee supports increased community participation and leadership in resource stewardship. This group worked with members of the effective conservation subcommittee to develop and pilot the Community Watershed Snapshot project and is currently developing a guidebook for groups interested in conducting their own Community Watershed Snapshot project.
Projects: Community Watershed Snapshot
Cultural Integration
The cultural integrations subcommittee leads protocol for the Alliance and the Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference including writing a unique oli.
Projects: Position Paper | Hawaiian Language Curriculum Units / Hoʻoulu Maluō
Biosecurity
The biosecurity subcommittee identifies opportunities for the Alliance and its members to support implementation of the Hawaiʻi Interagency Biosecurity Plan and to identify complementary actions that can help prevent spread and introduction of invasive species.
Projects: Position Paper
