About Us:
Our goal is to provide opportunities for outdoor experiences closer to home by bringing Puna students to sites in our district, and South Hilo students to our site near their community. Malama O Puna has undertaken several major restoration projects in sensitive areas of our watershed which will be the living laboratories for the outdoor part of our program.
In the Puna District these include:
Wao Kele O Puna: a 27,000 acre swath of lowland wet forest which covers 20% of the Pahoa Aquifer, our islands largest source of fresh water.
Wai ‘Opae: a system of coral tidepools and surrounding coastal forest.
Ha’ena/Paki Bay: a coastal site with a salt marsh near a spring fed lagoon at Ha’ena.
Our Hilo site is Lihikai (Onekahakaha):
A coastal site invaded by red mangroves with high volume spring outlets.
Malia Messick – Project Coordinator (Malama O Puna)
Malia has a wealth of experience in project management, having coordinated large, long term design and planning projects such as municipal parks and regional trails. She spearheads Malama O Puna’s outdoor service learning program and has worked with many local schools, clubs and student volunteers. She will oversee the project and serve as the primary point of contact for the schools and other partners.
René Siracusa – Fiscal Coordinator (Malama O Puna)
René is founder and president of Malama O Puna. René will be the fiscal manager for this project. She has implemented and supported many long running community programs and has administered numerous grants. She will also conduct outreach and network to attract other funding sources for the project’s long term sustainability.
Sherry Palmer – Media Coordinator (Malama O Puna)
Sherry brings her background in fine art and broad experience in digital arts, graphic design and web development to the project. She is a freelance web designer who created and maintains Malama O Puna’s own website. Sherry has been an instrumental organizer of many local environmental and community projects. As Media Coordinator, she will develop and maintain the project website, coordinate with the Kea’au Youth Business Center to assist with student access to facilities and instruction, and help organize community events showcasing student work.
Dr. Ann Kobsa – Technical Advisor (Malama O Puna)
Ann is Malama O Puna’s Vice-President and invasive species coordinator. She directs the island-wide, $145K mangrove eradication project. Ann has served the community in myriad ways, volunteering her time for environmental education work, invasive species control, habitat restoration and other community projects. She will contribute her scientific expertise as a research biologist, assisting in developing site specific curriculum materials, advising the Project Coordinator and assisting in student project design. Ann will offer support for students and teachers throughout the project, and will also assist with hands-on outdoor activities.
Dr. Rex Palmer – Technical Advisor
Rex is a field botanist who has gained an intimate knowledge of the native flora through his work as an environmental consultant. He has conducted botanical surveys over much of Hawai’i Island, and is very familiar with all of our project sites. He will contribute to the development of site specific curriculum material, advise the Project Coordinator and assist teachers and students in project design and development.
Donna Ball – Technical Advisor (US Fish and Wildlife Service)
Donna has participated in numerous local outdoor education programs. She will lead students in outdoor activities at our project sites, conduct classroom presentations, and will be a resource as students design and implement their projects. She will advise the Project Coordinator and provide input for educational materials.
Page Else – Technical Advisor (Big Island Invasive Species Committee)
As the Outreach and Education Specialist for BIISC, Page is has first hand knowledge of how invasive species effect watershed health. She will assist in developing curriculum materials and will provide existing materials and resources to teachers and students. Page will serve as a resource throughout the project and will do classroom presentations and lead outdoor activities.
Luana Jones – Cultural Advisor (Cultural Practitioner)
Luana is a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner and community advocate. She is also a kahuna la’au lapa au, a traditional herbal healer, and has taught many classes and workshops to keep this knowledge alive. She will advise on cultural issues, provide significant input for educational materials, conduct classroom presentations and lead students in outdoor activities. She will also invite other kupuna to contribute their expertise as appropriate.
John Kahiapo – Technical Advisor (Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources
As DLNR’s Education Specialist, John has a wealth of experience in outdoor education. His background in marine biology, stream ecology and his intimate knowledge of the island make him a rich resource for students. John will assist with data collection and lead students in hands-on outdoor activities.
Dr. Richard MacKenzie – Technical Advisor (USDA FS Institute of Pacific Island Forestry)
Rich is a research ecologist who has worked extensively with alien species in coastal ecosystems. He has conducted fish monitoring for the Wai ‘Opae Mangrove Eradication Project since 2007. His working knowledge of this and other sites is a real asset to the project. He will assist students in data collection during site visits and advise the Project Coordinator.
Linda Natec Penn – Media Advisor (Kea’au Youth Business Center)
Natec is a professional videographer and editor, specializing in short documentaries and theatrical presentations. She has been teaching for over 30 years. She has taught video production for the 4H Club in Pahoa and the Hiccup Circus in Puna. She is presently teaching at the Performing Arts Learning Center at Hilo High School and instructing at Kea`au Middle College High School.
Partner Schools:
Hawai’i Academy of Arts and Science Public Charter School
Koa’e 4H Club
Lanakila Learning Center (Hilo High School)
Pahoa High and Intermediate School
Partners:
Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC)
Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)
Kea’au Youth Business Center
Ms. Luana Jones, Cultural Practitioner
US Fish and Wildlife Service
USDA Forest Service Institute of Pacific Island Forestry