Meet Randy. He’s the Program Manager of this whole project. Then there’s the field crew, 6 of them, Peter, Givonn, Leeward, Dan, Nalu & Robert. They bust their bums out there protecting the rainforest with fence and muscle. And then there’s Allison who gets to spread the news about EMWP. She does the public relations and outreach. Audrey is the administrative wizard who works wonders with the numbers and the paperwork. Together we staff the East Maui Watershed Partnership, proud to be doing our part in preserving this island’s fragile ecosystem.
Randy Bartlett – Program Manager
Randy Bartlett was born and raised in Honolulu on the island of ʻOahu and graduated from the University of Hawaii. His conservation career started in 1985 as a summer intern in the Resources Management Division at Haleakalā National Park. Since then he has spent almost 22 years as the Puʻu Kukui Watershed Preserve Manager for Maui Land & Pineapple Company and now serves as East Maui Watershed Partnership Program Manager. We are lucky to have him!
Audrey Tamashiro-Kamii – Program Assistant
Audrey believes it is vital to protect what little natural resources we have left. She joined EMWP in 2007 to support conservation through administrative efforts. She grew up in Waikapu when it was just a speck on the map, majored in Japanese Art History and taught English in Osaka, Japan. She is an avid UH football fan and loves her sashimi and rice.
Allison Wiest – Outreach and Education Liaison
Allison is originally from Minnesota and Graduated from the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse with a degree in Recreation Management. After spending some time in Colorado she moved to Maui in 2002. Since then she has worked at Maui Eco-adventures leading environmental hikes and tours and with the West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership as a field assistant doing outreach for them in her spare time. She recently decided to make outreach and education her focus and joined EMWP in August 2010.
Peter Smith – Field Crew Supervisor
Mr. Smith has worked many years for The Nature Conservancy of Maui before moving on to EMWP. He loves to hunt and hike in the mountains. Born and raised in Keʻanae, Peter has spent many hours in ocean sports, fishing, taro farming, and picking ʻopihi on the rocky shores. Peter’s goal for conservation is to be a great role model for others and to leave an impact of true leadership.
Givonn Osterneck – Field Crew Leader
Givonn was born on Maui in beautiful upcountry Kula. He left Maui to get a degree from Indiana University in Earth Sciences with a minor in Environmental Management. Givonn felt a strong commitment to Hawaii’s unique biota and decided to return Maui to help preserve the island’s watershed. He is very happy to be a crew member of EMWP.
Dan Eisenberg – Watershed Field and Data Technician
Dan’s background studying geology in the desert southwest of the mainland U.S. brings a unique perspective to watershed conservation in East Maui. One of his favorite parts of his job is learning about the long histories of the places he works. When Dan is not working with EMWP he keeps busy gardening and taking care of a small orchard with his partner Kate and misbehaved dog Nanu in Kula.
Nalu Andrade – Field Assistant
Robert Vincent – Field Assistant
Robert got his start in conservation by volunteering a few summers during high school with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). In his high school junior year he received a internship with TNC. During his senior year he worked at Haleakalā National Park as a Youth Conservation Corps. (YCC). After high school he got hired with TNC through the Americorps program for 1 year. With so much conservation experience East Maui Watershed Partnership was happy to hire him in 2011.
Former Staff Members
Though we hate to see them go, we know that they’ve put in their time on the mountain, and they’re moving up in their natural resource management career.
Aloha and mahalo for your sweat and tears!
Alex Michailidis – Former Project Coordinator
Protecting East Maui’s watershed is an important job and without the assistance of our staff and partners, East Maui’s watershed wouldn’t stand a chance against invasive plant and animal species. The work we are doing will ensure East Maui with a source of fresh water and protect the native rainforest so future generations can appreciate the biological diversity and cultural significance of this area. Alex had been with the project since January 2002 and spent the past 16 years in the environmental protection field, mostly involved with projects relating to the U.S. EPA’s Clean Water Act. Alex is now working in Maryland for the conservation of endangered species.
Jordan Jokiel – Former Project Coordinator
Jordan joined the crew in October of 2003 as the Field Crew Supervisor. He was soon promoted to Natural Resource Manager, and on July, 2007, Jordan had taken over as the new project coordinator. Jordan was born and raised in Kaneohe, ʻOahu and has a long history of working in the conservation field. He started out working in the Natural Area Reserve System on Maui and the Big Island. He then moved on to serve as a field technician in the United States Army. Jordan spent some time as a pak ranger for the Naʻpali Coast State Park before becoming an ecologist for the National Guard working to save endangered plants
Christopher Grasa – Former Field Crew Leader
Born on Maui, Christopher has spent the last 10 years as a chef, including his own business on Maui for the past 5 years. When asked why he decided to switch professions, he replied, “Conservation work in Hawai’i is very much needed.” The work he does for EMWP is “fulfilling”. His grandfather also worked in conservation, for Haleakalā National Park. Christopher is glad that someone in the family is continuing the legacy. Grasa is now living on the Mainland and taking care of his family.
Clinton Fukushima – Former Field Crew Leader
Clinton came to us with previous forestry experience from volunteering for Americorps and for The Nature Conservancy on Maui. In addition to making a difference and trying to save Hawaii’s rare plants and animals, he likes his job because “I’m out in the jungle playing in mud, knee high, camping, hunting and, at the same time, working hard”. Clinton is a graduate of King Kekaulike High School and joined the East Maui Watershed Partnership in October of 2002. Clinton now works for Haleakalā National Park.
Dave Quisenbery – Former Field Technician
Born and raised in Haʻikū, DQ worked as a seasonal Wildland Firefighter for the Forest Service for 3 years while attending college at San Luis Obispo, CA where he studied agriculture. With the completion of a B.S. in Fruit Science and a concentration in weed and insect pest management, he returned to Maui where he was employed with the Maui Invasive Species Committee’s Miconia Project in Hana for 1 year before joining the EMWP field crew in April of 2004. DQ finds conservation work with EMWP physically challenging and mentally stimulating. “It makes me feel alive”. Aside from work, DQ enjoys surfing, paddling, exploring the mountains, diving, and hunting. DQ now works with EMWP’s partner agency, the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Eric Luke – Field Crew Leader
Born on ʻOahu, Eric has lived on Maui since he was one year old. He was taught at a young age how to survive by gathering from the land and ocean. Having worked in the business sector for a number of years, Eric has returned to working with the land, joining the EMWP team in October 2006. “I took this job to help ensure that some of the island I experienced growing up remains for our children and future generations. These islands have given me and my family so much for so long, it is time for me to give back.
Greg Czar – Former Field Technician
In 1982 Maui was blessed with the birth of a new conservation warrior. Growing up in Kula, Greg spent most of his time hiking, hunting, and fishing around Maui. Now he spends his time growing native plants, helping local ranches, and chasing Maui’s four-legged animals. With his knowledge of the mountain and wilderness, Greg has been a great asset to the team. An opportunity to work with a professional hunting business from New Zealand nabbed this watershed warrior from EMWP, but we are sure that the Hawaiian forests have not seen the last of Greg Czar.
John Comcowich – Former Field Technician
Born and raised in the heart of the Rockies at 10,152 ft. in Leadville, Colorado, “Johnny Colorado” as the staff affectionately call him, moved to the Valley Isle in 2002 shortly after receiving his degree in Natural Resource Management from Colorado State University. John eagerly joined the East Maui Watershed Partnership in April of 2004, after working in the service industry on Maui’s west side because “only in nature can one be ‘out standing’ in his field”. John took the opportunity to move up in his career as a field crew supervisor for the West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership.
Jon Ciacci – Former Field Technician
“With development comes destruction…we need to save what we have that is Hawaiian and keep it Hawaiian. If we don’t do it…no one else will.” Besides building fence, Jon spends his free time hunting, fishing, surfing and sleeping. A Baldwin High School graduate, Jon started working at EMWP in October of 2002.
Kat Lui – Former Public Relations / Admin
Kat enjoys playing with birds, running around in the rainforest and teaching kids. She’s worked previously for the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project and on the Big Island helping with avian malaria research. Through creative communication, she hopes to connect the community with their natural resource using fun, “out-of-the-box” methods. Kat started with EMWP in June 2003.
Leeward Akahi – Field Assistant
Born and raised on Maui Leeward is a professional roofer and avid hunter. He came to EMWP during the slow time of construction and was a great asset to have in the field, utilizing his carpentry skills to fashion some of the best outdoor luas we have ever had. He enjoys camping and being outdoors. He now works in construction on Maui.
