Meet O'ahu RC&D
Jean Brokish, Project Manager -Executive Director
Phone: 808-622-9026, E-mail: Jean.Brokish@oahurcd.org
Jean joined the O'ahu RC&D in January 2009 and works with landowners and partner organizations to improve water quality and restore watershed health throughout Oahu. Originally from Wisconsin, Jean grew up on a dairy farm and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Agriculture from UW-River Falls. She also holds a Masters Degree in Soil Science from Purdue University. Before coming to Hawaii, Jean developed the land protection program for a land trust in Michigan. She has also worked for a conservation district in Ohio, NRCS in both Wisconsin and Michigan, and spent two years as an Agriculture / Economic Development Volunteer with the Peace Corps in Lesotho (Africa).
Sandra Mitani, Finance Assistant
Phone:808-622-9026, E-mail: Sandra.Mitani@oahurcd.org
Sandy has been with O'ahu RC&D since October 2008 focusing on the finances. She has a B.A. in mathematics and statistical psychology and experience with environmental education and conservation non-profits.
Robert Maglasang, Conservation Specialist
Phone: 808-622-9026, Email: Robert.Maglasang@oahurcd.org
Robert provides technical assistance to agricultural enterprises by preparing Conservation Plans to address natural resource concerns such as erosion, runoff, soil loss, or misuse of herbicides and pesticides. He holds a B.A. in Mathematics and a B.S. in Meteorology and has served as Macadamia Orchard Manager for Mauna Kea Agribusiness and as Conservation Planner for the Ka'u, Puna and Hilo Soil and Water Conservation Districts. Robert joined O'ahu RC&D in September 2010.
Ann Bryant, Project Assistant
Phone: 808-622-9026, E-mail: ann.bryant@oahurcd.org
After volunteering weekly with O'ahu RC&D for six months, Ann was hired as a project assistant in January 2012. Her current projects include organizing the North Shore Gardening Workshop series, helping Bob with conservation planning, and helping wherever else she's needed. She has a B.S. in Biology from Brigham Young University and most recently has worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer with a conservation district in Maine and in the University of Oklahoma's Plankton Ecology Lab, studying an invasive species of algae.
Jolie Wanger, Project Assistant
Phone: 808-622-9026, E-mail: jolie.r.wanger@oahurcd.org
Jolie Wanger joined ORCD in October 2011 as a part-time Project Assistant to coordinate the Land Preservation in Hawaii Statewide Symposium held in January 2012. Currently she is helping coordinate an upcoming Master Farmer workshop series slated for summer 2012. Jolie has a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Boston University and a Master's degree from UH Manoa in Geography and has worked in conservation in Hawaii for more than ten years.
Pauline Sato, Mālama Hawai‘i Project Consultant
Pauline has always had a passion for protecting Hawaii's environment. Her childhood interests led her to receive a B.S. degree in Natural Resources from the University of Michigan and a Master's degree in Educational Technology at the University of Hawaii. Pauline has dedicated her career to environmental preservation through education and community outreach. She has worked with various non-profit organizations as an environmental educator, volunteer coordinator, teacher trainer, and community outreach specialist. She believes in working with partners to accomplish shared goals and with over 20+ years in conservation in Hawaii, she has built a broad network among those involved with natural and cultural resources conservation throughout the state. She is active with the Mālama Learning Center and the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai‘i. She is proud to be one of the founders of Mālama Hawai‘i.
Kevin Chang, Hawai'i Community Stewardship Network (HCSN) Director
Phone:808-626-5490, E-mail: kevin@hcsnetwork.org
Kevin Chang was born in Honolulu and raised in Ahuimanu valley, ahupuaʻa of Kahalu'u, moku of Koʻolaupoko, Oʻahu, where he graduated from J.B. Castle High School. He studied Psychology and law at the University of Oregon. Kevin joins HCSN after working with the Trust for Public Land and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. He currently sits on the Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu, the Hawaiʻi Rural Development Council and the Honolulu Clean Water and Natural Lands Commission. Chang is also a member of the local band Kūpaʻāina, using music as a tool to raise awareness of contemporary economic, social, cultural and environmental justice issues of Hawaiʻi. Kevin is excited and humbled to play a part in helping our communities empower, express and perpetuate their biocultural heritage in order to better Hawaii and the world.
Darlene Miwa Tamanaha, Hawai'i Community Stewardship Network (HCSN) Deputy Director
Phone:808-640-0743, E-mail: miwa@hcsnetwork.org
Hawaiʻi Community Stewardship Network (HCSN) is an innovative, community-driven initiative designed to empower grassroots, place-based stewardship of Hawaiian lands and waters. Miwa considers it an incredible privilege to work with communities around Hawaiʻi each day through HCSN. Miwa has spent the last 15 years committed to marine and watershed protection--from environmental education to advocacy in Hawai'i, rural Mexico, Central and Southern California, and Tanzania. She has an M.A. in economics from the University of Southern California.
Betty Gearen, The Green House
Phone:808-524-8427, E-mail: betty@thegreenhousehawaii.com
Betty has a B.F.A in art from the University of Hawaii and worked for eighteen years as an artist and art educator. She has a deep seeded love of the natural world that led her to work with the Sierra Club. Through her experiences with state government she came to the conclusion that real change must take place through education. Meeting other teachers that felt the same way, she began holding workshops in practical sustainable living from her own home creating The Green House, a Sustainable Learning Center whose mission is to reeducate children, adults, families, and communities in the sustainable environmental practices that were once present in daily life. Betty has worked with the Kokua Hawaii Foundation in their "AINA In Schools" program, writing and implementing garden-based learning in Oahu schools. She helped create an after-school Learning Environmental Awareness Program (LEAP) reaching at-risk youth in after school hours. She will now focus on the new Growing Green Schools Program, which will help support schools in becoming models of sustainable practices.
Gabriela Orantes, The Green House
Phone:808-524-8427, E-mail: gabriela@thegreenhousehawaii.com
Gabriela has been working with The Green House since August 2010. Her passion for social justice has taken her on different paths with a variety of environmental and human service non-profits in Honolulu and northern California. Today she works with Betty Gearen as a sort of administrative assistant wearing a variety of hats from sustainability teacher to grant writer. This role led her to UH Manoa's Public Administration where she is currently working on her master's degree with a focus in non-profit management.