Executive Committee
2025
Chair: Ulu Ching – Conservation International – Hawaiʻi
Vice Chair: Nāmaka Whitehead – Kamehameha Schools
Chair Emeritus: Kevin Chang – Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo
Member-at-Large: Jeff Burgett – USFWS Science Applications
Auxiliary Member: 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 | Auxiliary Member / Permanent Chair | Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance Foundation Board President | |
| 2024 | Kevin Chang (Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo) |
Ulu Ching (Conservation International – Hawaiʻi) |
JC Watson (The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi & Palmyra) |
Jeff Burgett (USFWS Science Applications) |
Sharon Ziegler-Chong (UH Hilo / Office of the Vice President for Research & Innovation) |
Randall Kennedy |
| 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 |
Subcommittees
The Hawaiʻi Conservation 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
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.
Cultural Integration
The cultural integrations subcommittee leads protocol for the Alliance and the Hawaiʻi Conservation Conference including writing a unique oli.
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.
