Learn more about Hakalau Forest
Getting involved, our Board of Directors, our annual meeting and more!
The Friends of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge (FOHF) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established in 2006 and devoted to helping the Refuge achieve its mission of conserving the flora and fauna of Hawaii. We provide vital fundraising, volunteer and advocacy support to help make Hakalau Forest NWR one of the most significant refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
FOHF has contributed directly to the quality of habitat at Hakalau Forest NWR by such efforts as providing volunteer labor to propagate and out-plant native trees and rare plants, conducting weed control efforts and by raising funds for the construction of much needed facilities including a 10,000 gallon tank to store water for the plant nursery and a new roof for the Volunteer Cabin.
FOHF is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors who work to support the Refuge. The Board has a wealth of experience in history, biology, refuge management, nonprofit organization, education, law and information technology. The Board meets once a month in Hilo to receive updates from Refuge staff and decide how best to support current needs. Members wishing to attend should email via our CONTACT US page to confirm the meeting time and date. Our Annual Meeting is held each January in Hilo. Anyone interested in supporting FOHF is eligible for membership and can be considered for a committee position or the Board of Directors.
Restated FOHF bylaws can be found here. Our EIN number is 68-0634915.
Read about Hakalau Forest
Hana Hou, the Hawaiian Airlines magazine, profiles Baron Horiuchi, the Refuge horticulturist, in an article entitled “The Green Baron.”
A Return to the Aina: Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge in Ke Ola magazine by Brittany Anderson.
Board Members
Dr. J. B. Friday (President) is a forester on the faculty of the University of Hawai‘i. His work includes promoting reforestation with koa and ‘ōhi‘a and combating forest health issues such as Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death. J. B. moved to Hawai’i Island in 1998 after eight years in Honolulu. He has also led forestry projects in Micronesia, the Philippines, and East Timor.
Debbie Anderson (Vice President) is an entomologist by training but spent her career in marketing and advertising after earning an MBA at the University of Hawai’i. Debbie co-founded the annual Hawai’i Island Festival of Birds in 2016 to help draw national and international attention to Hawaii’s endangered endemic birds. The Festival brought many visitors to Hakalau for educational field trips.
Dr. Peter Stine (Secretary) as been involved in wildland conservation and management for over 40 years, from Florida, to the Pacific Northwest, Hawai’i, and California. The first half of his career was with the USFWS, including a 5 year assignment in Hawai‘i as the endangered species recovery coordinator. This work included the design and preparations for establishing Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge. From 1984-1987 he worked closely with TNC and landowners to secure the sale of private lands to form the Refuge. For the last 20 years Dr. Stine been a research landscape ecologist with the Pacific Southwest Research Station of the US Forest Service in California.
Marcia Stone (Treasurer) was brought up in New England and moved to Hawai’i in 1990. In 2007 she and her husband retired to Hawai‘i Island where they are restoring a one-acre native forest around their house. Marcia volunteers with the Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, doing work in the nursery and restoring forests.
Members at Large
Kenneth R. Kupchak is President of Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert, a law corporation, and a former practicing meteorologist, who, with his wife Patty, has been volunteer planting in the Refuge for several decades , while serving on Boards of many community, educational and non-profit organizations in Hawai’i and the Country.
Brett Nainoa Mossman grew up in Heber City Utah where he first found a passion for nature and birds. At a young age he was exposed to Hawaiian birds through the Kamehameha Schools explorations program setting him on a path to the islands. He graduated from Utah State University with a degree in wildlife ecology and management in 2017. He subsequently moved to Hawai‘i Island, where he graduated with his Master‘s from the UH Hilo Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science program December 2020. Bret currently works full time with the Hawaiʻi Island Natural Area Reserve Program as the ornithological technician with the program.
Dr. Mike Scott is a retired USFWS /USGS research Biologist. He spent his first ten years with USFWS in Hawai’i conducting a statewide endangered forest bird survey to identify the most important areas to conserve habitat for both birds and plants. The area that is now Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge was one of the hot spots. The information from the survey was used by the Nature Conservancy and others to establish Hakalau Refuge.
Dr. Robert Shallenberger is a conservation biologist whose 50+ year career includes assignments as the Chief of Refuges for the Fish and Wildlife Service and Hawaii Island Conservation Director for The Nature Conservancy. Rob was the first Midway Refuge Manager. He has been a member of the Legacy Land Commission, the West Hawai’i Fishery Council and the Hawai’i Wildlife Center. Rob is a widely published aerial and wildlife photographer.
Jamie Tanino is a Watershed Resource Specialist at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply. She previously worked at the Army Natural Resources Program – O’ahu for eleven years as a Field Technician, Rare Snail Specialist, and Field Supervisor. She first volunteered at Hakalau Forest with the Sierra Club, Oahu Chapter in May 2010 and immediately fell in love with the Forest and enjoyed working and learning from Baron Horiuchi. Since then, she has led or joined 40 volunteer weekend trips.
Ross Wilson is the President of Current Events, a strategic communications agency in Kailua-Kona. He currently serves as the Executive Director of the Kailua Village Business Improvement District and as the West Hawai’i Field Representative for U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono. He currently serves as the Co-board chair for Ahu’ena Heiau, Inc., member of the Board of Directors of CU Hawai’i, member of the Pōhakuloa Training Area Advisory Council and many other Hawai’i-Island based boards. Ross was the 2021 Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Member of the Year and received the 2012 University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Distinguished Alumni Award and the 2010 Hawai‘i Community College Mahalo Award. He grew up in Hilo, graduated from Hilo High School and the University of Hawaii at Mānoa and resides in Hōlualoa in West Hawai’i.
Chris Yuen is Hilo born and bred. From St. Josephs to Stanford (Biology) to the State University of New York (Masters Forestry) to UH Law; Chris then then dabbled in private practice, Deputy Corporate Counsel, County Planning Director and became the owner of a 20-acre certified organic farm. Along the way he has served his community in many ways: two 8 year terms on the State Land Board (where he helped negotiate the Awake`e-Manini`owali land exchange and a revision of the conservation district rules), Vice President of Ka ‘Ahahui o Pu’uwa’awa’a and Friends of Makalawena. Chris has planted trees at the Refuge and has been involved in a number of pro bono efforts representing access and sensitive area protection.
