STAFF
Rae DeCoito
Executive Director With Rae DeCoitoʻs undergraduate degree in accounting, and an MBA, Rae has been able to streamline the organizations operational and financial systems. Rae’s well-rounded leadership skills focus on creating and... |
Tony Morlock
Kia‘i Born and raised in Waialeʻe on the island of Oʻahu, Tony Morlock has been the kiaʻi, caretaker-security, of Loko Ea since 2003. Tony is from the Kaluhiokalani ʻohana and has... |
Ikaika Lum
Kulaiwi Nani Restoration Program Director Ikaika is from Waipiʻo, Oʻahu and graduated from Mililani High School in 2000. In 2011, Ikaika received his BA in both Hawaiian Language and Studies. Prior to working at Loko...
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Sayo brings over ten years of environmental education experience to Loko Ea. Her goal is to share her passion of nature, culture and preserving open spaces with students. Sayo splits...
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Nitasha Stiritz
Aquaculture + Communications Nitasha is from the mokupuni of Maui. Tash considers herself haumana, or student, of Loko ea. She handles a wide range of activities from water quality + pond/pua related observations to... |
Ikaika Bernaldes
Program Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator As Program Assistant/Volunteer Coordinator, I am responsible for assisting the Executive Director with organizational operations ranging from volunteer data management to grant writing...
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Joslyn Kikila - KUPU Intern
My name is Joslyn-Marie Kikila. I am one of the Kupu year long interns here at Malama Loko Ea Foundation alongside with Mikala. I graduated from Leilehua High School back in 2016. I like learning new things about my Hawaiian culture and sharing my knowledge with other people who are willing to learn. I am very passionate about the ocean. One day I want to turn my passion into a job, and that is why I am participating in this internship with Kupu. I want to learn as much as I can and apply it in the classroom.
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Mikala - KUPU Intern
My name is Mikala but most people know me as Kala, I was born and raised in Kona on the Big Island. Some of my hobbies include going to the beach to surf, hanging out with friends, or just staying home to watch movies and anime. I found out about Loko Ea because I went through the Kamehameha Schools programs that they have for children and this is a place that they come to. I fell in love with the beauty of this ʻaina and with the really friendly staff. Hopefully some day I can use the knowledge I acquired or will acquire from my observations and learning to help with Hawaiiʻs growth and ability to become self-sustainable.
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Adam Hanohano
Adam Hanohano currently resides in Ewa Beach but hails from Waipahu, Oahu. He is presently enrolled at Leeward Community College in the Plant Biology/ Tropical Agriculture program. and intends on pursuing a BS in Botany from UH Mānoa. Adam is also a botany assistant at LCC and oversees the maintenance and development of the agroecological spaces on campus and is a current intern with Leeward’s Ho’oulu Project under the direction of Kimi Makaiau. The Ho’oulu Project has partnered Adam with Loko Ea in an effort to aid him in his academic and cultural development. Adam would like to aid Loko Ea with their vision of fertile and fruitful māla (garden) and the overall restoration of the fishpond. Adam see’s Loko Ea as the cultural component which has been absent in his academic life and hopes to it will help him view the world through a more indigenous len. In his spare time, Adam enjoys nothing more than company of his beautiful wife and daughters and working with them in their little home garden.
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PAST KUPU EIP INTERNS
They have gone and spread their beautiful wings but they still remain a part of Loko ea and who we are today. Mahalo kākou!
Aulani Herrod
Past KUPU EIP Intern As a recent graduate from UH Hilo and a native to Hale'iwa nei, Aulani struggled with figuring out what her next step would be in regards to her future. She had developed a special love for the deeply cultured and little country town of Hilo and hadn't planned on returning to the crazy and busy island of O'ahu. During the process of applying for the KUPU Extended Internship Program (EIP), Aulani planned on working in Hilo or in Moloka'i, leaving O'ahu her last choice. Sure enough, she got the position in Hale'iwa. Although it was tough at the moment, Aulani laughs now that she ended up back home. In the Hawaiian culture, the piko (umbilical cord) of the child is buried near their home, establishing a connection between the child and the 'aina. In her mother's words, "the child will return home." That's exactly what has happened. "Ua ho'i no au i ku'u one hanau," said Aulani. "I have returned to the sands of my birth." As a kama'aina to Hale'iwa, there are kuleana that need to be fulfilled. Malama 'aina is a huge in Aulani's daily life and what better way than to care for her homeland. |
Noah Manning
Past KUPU EIP Intern Noah will be assisted with the restoration, education and the maintenance of Loko ea. His kuleana here was great but he did it with hardwork and lots of laughter. During the course of his internship, Noah expanded his knowledge on native plants and fish, loko i’a restoration and management, and has begun pursuing a career working in conservation. Noah enjoys being outdoors, is a part-time surf instructor where he teaches people of all ages the art of surfing, and is currently starting his own mala ‘āina. |
PAST INTERNS
Tehani Louis
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Ty
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Kaumakamanōkalanipō ʻAnae
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