JOB TITLE: Hui o Ko’olaupoko Executive Director
BENEFITS: starting at .80FTE (32hrs/week) $30/hr, including medical, with opportunity to grow into full-time based on funding availability
LOCATION: Combination of tele-work and field-work
START DATE: October 5, 2020
 
Hui o Ko’olaupoko (HOK) is looking for a part-time Executive Director to provide overall strategic and operational management to further the organization’s mission of protecting ocean health by restoring the ‘āina: mauka to makai. Candidates should have a strong knowledge of ecosystem and natural resource management, grant writing and fiscal management skills, and an understanding of the cultural and environmental issues affecting the Ko’olaupoko moku. The Executive Director is supported by the current HOK Board of Directors and HOK staff including the Project Director, Outreach Coordinator, part-time Accountant and seasonal interns. Please visit our website to learn more about Hui o Ko’olaupoko http://www.huihawaii.org/
 
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Promote the Vision and Mission of Hui o Ko'olaupoko and act as a spokesperson for the organization
• Identify new funding sources and oversee the development of grant proposals, fundraising plans, and other vital program documents.
• Strong fiscal capacity to manage and maintain current funding sources and grant deliverables
• Establish positive relationships and collaborative arrangements with community stakeholders
• Foster a strong staff and volunteer team

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated expertise in water/environmental resource management or other closely related fields
• University degree in a related field
• Knowledge of leadership and management practices as they relate to non-profit organizations
• Strong administrative and operational management skills
• Strong communication skills with a variety of audiences
• Grant-writing experience

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 3 or more years of progressive management experience in an environmental sector organization
• Knowledge of Hawaiian ecosystems and Hawaiian culture

 
TO APPLY 
Send a cover letter that details how your experience would allow you to further HOK’s mission as a non-profit organization in the Koʻolaupoko community. Detail the reasons for your interest in the position and how your background corresponds to the position requirements. Application packets must include: a cover letter, resume and a list of references with contact information. Please submit application packets to info@huihawaii.org . Position will remain open until filled. ​

Municipalities such as the City and County of Honolulu are required by federal and state environmental protection laws to effectively manage the City’s storm drainage systems.  This ensures compliance with regulatory permits that minimizes the pollution effect of storm water runoff to receiving waters such as streams, rivers, bays and the ocean.
    
Currently, to manage and maintain these programs and services the City & County government utilizes a budgeted portion of the Real Property Tax revenues paid by residential and business property owners. Federal and state facilities who are non-taxable do not pay these property tax and may not pay for these provided services.
The City is seeking shared financial responsibility of the services.
    
Under a new proposed plan, which is moving forward in the City & County government a new separate storm, water runoff utility program will be initiated tentatively scheduled to begin in 2022. They are seeking to generate a 40–100 Million dollar fund. This new utility will fund a storm water management program through the Department of Facilities Maintenance (DFM).  Real Property Tax revenues would no longer support these services.  Current recommendation for the utility will be based on square footage of storm water runoff surface area of a property. The more concrete and impervious surfaces on the property the higher the utility. For the median residential property owner on Oahu, with a property of 3,900 SF, that fee would be between $11.88-$16.19/month. Commercial property owners will be charged significantly more.
   
How can you learn more about this new tax initiative? 
Go to the City and County web site https://www.stormwaterutilityoahu.org/ and learn about the ongoing community meetings, storm water runoff program information, frequently asked questions and more. Stay informed and tell others about this new initiative.
What can you do to reduce your storm water runoff before the new utility is in effect?  Learn more about rain gardens, catchment systems, and erosion control low impact development projects here.

​By: Jeffery Harris, HOK Board of Directors President

Update: A previous version of this post called the utility fee a tax.

The Hawaiian Islands exhibit some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. These ecosystems range from tropical rainforests to alpine deserts. One ecosystem that you can find on all of the Hawaiian Islands is a rainforest known as a Tropical Montane Cloud Forest (TMCF). In fact, just look up at the Koʻolau mountains on any given day and you’ll likely see low lying clouds hiding the peaks. These clouds often surround the summit on even the sunniest days and cast shadows upon the valleys. But what really is a TMCF and why are they important to us?

What are “Tropical Montane Cloud Forests”? As the name suggest it is an atmospheric environment where the vegetation level is enveloped in clouds frequently or seasonally. They are a unique ecosystem that can be found between 3,000 -4,000 ft., with some starting as low as 1,650 ft. There are two general types of cloud forests that exist depending on amount of rainfall they receive. One is a wet windward TMCF and the other is a drier leeward TMCF. The Koʻolau mountain range falls into the first type of cloud forest, which has heavy orthographic rainfall with high annual precipitation.

Why are they important to us? Environmentally cloud forests are important to island people because they act as a starting point to our ahupuaʻa and help supply our downstream ecosystems with water. TMCFs are of high interest in research because of the value they give to an island hydrologic system. In times of drought cloud forests supply dry streambeds with water and help restore the island’s water reserve. Cloud water interception has now been identified as a biological source of water in mountain areas. However, many things still remain unknown about these isolated ecosystems.

By defining and understanding TMCFs we learn how to care for these important ecological resources and ultimately become better stewards of our ʻāina. Culturally, Hawaiians understood the importance of cloud forests and held a deep appreciation for their entire ahupuaʻa. The bond between Hawaiians and nature was truly unique and they developed names to describe the natural phenomena around them. These included the clouds, fog, and mist that develop on the island’s high mountain forests. The fog or clouds on the mountains were described by the Hawaiian word ‘Ohu and translates "to be adorned as with lei” perhaps to reference the ring of clouds that often encircle the Koʻolau peaks.

The natural water cycle provided by cloud forests help to cleanse and preserve the ecosystems from mauka to makai. The water resources provided by clouds forests eventually flow naturally throughout our biodiverse watersheds which ultimately help filter impurities and rejuvenate the lower lying ecosystems. HOK champions to effectively manage and protect our water resources. Protection of water quality and natural resources here in the Koʻolaupoko region begins with our upper most ecosystems. Your financial contributions and volunteer participation in our programs allows us to continue our mission.
​
By: Jordan Kilbey HOK Board of Directors Vice President