Outstanding Leadership Awards

This award is given to a person who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in advancing environmental conservation in Hawai‘i over the short to medium term (several years to a decade). Examples of such leadership may be seen in creating avenues for rapid advancement in conservation through influencing management or programs that lead to significant better protection of the Hawai‘i’s native ecosystems. The award is determined by nomination and seconded, with majority consensus by the HCA partnership.

2011

Marjorie Ziegler, the Executive Director, Conservation Council for Hawai'i (CCH)

2010

Mark Fox, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i

2009

Lea Hong

2007

Peter Young

See other conservation organizations »

Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance Partners

Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources: Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DLNR/DOFAW)

Paul Conry, Randall Kennedy

The mission of DLNR/DOFAW is to responsibly manage and protect watersheds, native ecosystems, and cultural resources and provide outdoor recreation and sustainable forest products opportunities, while facilitating partnerships, community involvement and education. Ma-lama ika ‘Āina

hawaii.gov/dlnr/dofaw

Kamehameha Schools (KS)

Ulalia Woodside, Na-maka Whitehead

The mission of the Kamehameha Schools is to fulfill Ke Ali‘i Pauahi’s desire to create educational opportunities in perpetuity to improve the capability and well-being of people of Hawaiian ancestry. It is the policy of KS to manage their lands and resources to optimize the balance of educational, cultural, economic, environmental, and community returns and steward resources in an ethical, prudent and culturally appropriate manner.

www.ksbe.edu

University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa: Center for Conservation Research and Training (UH Ma-noa/CCRT)

Kenneth Kaneshiro, Rob Cowie

The mission of UH Mānoa/CCRT is to create the premier multi-agency, trans-disciplinary research and education center in the Pacific Asia Region whose mission is to develop a new paradigm for addressing ecosystem and human health issues within a socio-ecological systems framework that includes the spiritual values of traditional cultures.

www.hawaii.edu/ccrt

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS)

Lisa K. Croft, Gerry Davis

The mission of NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service in the Pacific Islands region is to achieve healthy marine ecosystems that provide for stability in fishery resources, recovery of endangered and threatened marine species, and enhanced opportunities for commercial, recreational, and cultural activities in the marine environment.

www.fpir.noaa.gov

University of Hawai‘i at Hilo

Jim Beets

The University of Hawai‘i at Hilo is a public university with a comprehensive portfolio of distinguished undergraduate programs, complemented by select graduate and professional degrees that seek to improve the quality of life of the people of Hawai‘i Island and state. We are committed to excellence in higher education and learning with aloha. We inspire our students to explore, investigate and discover, through the cultivation of innovation, creativity, and critical thinking. Our faculty and students undertake research activities that enhance both our students’ learning and our university’s contribution to academia and society. UH Hilo’s membership as part of the Hawai‘i Conservation Alliance is a strategic and important partnership for our university to achieve our mission with the communities of our island, the state and the region.

hilo.hawaii.edu

Bishop Museum

Timothy E. Johns, Allen Allison

Bishop Museum’s mission since founding has been to study, preserve and tell the stories of the cultures and natural history of Hawai‘i and the Pacific. Within this mission, serving and representing the interests of Native Hawaiians is a primary purpose of the Museum. The Museum gives priority generally to activities associated with the collections, and we favor activities that integrate culture and natural history (or the environment) rather than approaching them separately. Current thematic priorities are: Protecting Our Collections and Making Them More Accessible; Advancing Native Hawaiian Culture and Education; Strengthening Connections to Hawai‘i’s Schools; Conserving Cultures and the Environment in the Pacific; Opening a Science Center at Kalihi; Renovating Our Historic Buildings; and Strengthening Our Neighbor Island and Polynesian Presence.

www.bishopmuseum.org

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Ecological Services (USFWS/ES)

Loyal Mehrhoff, Steve Miller

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s mission is: “working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.” The Service manages migratory birds and nationally significant fisheries; conserves and restores vital wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Refuge System; protects and recovers endangered species; administers a Federal Assistance program; and helps other governments with conservation efforts.

www.fws.gov/pacific/ecoservices

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Forest Service (USDA/FS)

Christian Giardina, Susan Cordell

The mission of USDA/FS is through research, education, and demonstration, we provide scientific and technical information needed to restore, protect, and sustain forests of the Pacific for purposes of conservation and utilization. Our core focus research areas include ecological restoration at stand to watershed scales, effects of global change on wetlands, ecology and control of invasive species, and climate change impacts on Pacific island ecosystems.

www.fs.fed.us/r5

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration: Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (NOAA/NMS)

Allen Tom, ‘Aulani Wilhelm

The mission of NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is to serve as the trustee for the nation’s system of marine protected areas, to conserve, protect, and enhance their biodiversity, ecological integrity and cultural legacy.

sanctuaries.noaa.gov/about/faqs/welcome.html

U.S. Department of Defense, Army Garrison Hawai‘i: Natural Resource Program

Michelle Mansker

The goal of the U.S. Army Garrison, Hawai‘i Natural Resource Program is to enable the installation to comply with the Endangered Species Act while maintaining military mission readiness. The Army in Hawai‘i has over 100 listed species on their lands; which account for one-third of the nation’s and the State’s total listed species!

www.25idl.army.mil/dpw

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS)

Larry Yamamoto, Gregory Koob

The Natural Resources Conservation Service works in partnership with private land owners and managers to protect, enhance, and preserve soil, water, air, plant and animals using sound science and professional expertise. Through our mission of “Helping People Help the Land,” we provide technical assistance and financial incentives for the implementation of conservation systems that help us to realize our vision of “Productive Lands, Healthy Environment.”

www.nrcs.usda.gov

The Nature Conservancy Hawai‘i (TNC Hawai‘i)

Samuel M. ‘Ohukani‘o-hi‘a Gon III, Manuel Mejia

The mission of TNC Hawai‘i is to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive. In the Hawaiian archipelago, our ecoregional goal is to bring active, protective management to representative, viable, native ecological systems and species of the Hawaiian Archipelago, and to thereby sustain the greatest possible complement of native Hawaiian biodiversity into the future. Working with partners, threats will be abated, health of terrestrial and freshwater ecological systems will be restored and maintained, and the unique biodiversity of the islands will be carried forward as an irreplaceable asset, meeting human needs and fulfilling ecosystem functions that serve all life in the islands. The Conservancy in Hawai‘i maintains a network of preserves, participates in watershed and other conservation partnerships, engages in active management of natural areas, and works to strengthen policies and capacity for conservation in Hawai‘i.

www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/hawaii

Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources: Division of Aquatic Resources (DLNR/DAR)

Bob Nishimoto, Kate Cullison

The mission of the Division of Aquatic Resources is to manage, conserve and restore the state’s unique aquatic resources and ecosystems for present and future generations. The DAR manages the state’s aquatic resources and ecosystems through programs in commercial and recreational fisheries and resource enhancement; aquatic resources protection, habitat enhancement, and education.

hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar

National Park Service (NPS)

Melia Lane-Kamahele, Cindy Orlando

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

www.nps.gov/state/hi/index.htm

Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture

Russell Kokubun, Neil Reimer

The Department of Agriculture’s (HDOA) mission is to develop and promote agriculture as a significant and respected driver of Hawai‘i’s economy. HDOA has many varied responsibilities including establishing and maintaining irrigation systems, managing agricultural lands, marketing and business development, preventing the entry of invasive species into the state, pest and disease control and eradication, maintaining healthy livestock industries, rabies prevention, and food safety and quality assurance programs. The Plant Pest Control and Plant Quarantine programs within the Plant Industry Division have a strong conservation focus as they are responsible for the prevention, early detection, response, eradication and control of invasive species.

hawaii.gov/hdoa

U.S. Geological Survey: Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (USGS/PIERC)

Gordon Tribble, Jim Jacobi

The mission of PIERC is to conduct and interpret scientific research to provide understanding and technologies needed to support and implement sound management and conservation of our Nation’s biological resources occurring in Hawai‘i and other Pacific island locations.

biology.usgs.gov/pierc

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: National Wildlife Refuge Complex (USFWS/NWRC)

Barry Stieglitz

The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans. The National Wildlife Refuge System manages 22 National Wildlife Refuges and 4 Marine National Monuments in Hawai‘i and the broader Pacific encompassing 215 million acres.

www.fws.gov/pacific/refuges

Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA)

Kevin Chang

To ma - lama (protect) Hawai‘i’s people and environmental resources and OHA’s assets, toward ensuring the perpetuation of the culture, the enhancement of lifestyle and the protection of entitlements of Native Hawaiians, while enabling the building of a strong and healthy Hawaiian people and nation, recognized nationally and internationally.

www.oha.org

National Tropical Botanical Garden

Chipper Wichman

The mission of the National Tropical Botanical Garden is to enrich life through discovery, scientific research, conservation, and education by perpetuating the survival of plants, ecosystems, and cultural knowledge of tropical regions.

www.ntbg.org

Activities