Previous Staff & Interns

HOK is always looking for interested individuals to help with our program and projects, offering a wide range of opportunities for those passionate in helping the environment and improving ocean health. Below are brief descriptions of past HOK interns, their responsibilities and experiences while working with our organization. Click here for more information and to apply as an intern.

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​Malia McDonald
Community Liaison: October 2024-September 2025
Malia was born and raised in Haiku, Maui and has been on Oahu since 2016 to study Natural Resource and Environmental Management at UH Manoa. She has worked with various conservation and community outreach organizations such as Pacific Rim Conservation, Pacific Whale Foundation, and the Hawaii State Energy Office. Malia will initially be focusing on connecting residents to Little Fire Ant resources and management solutions. "I’m hopeful that these continuous conservation efforts will strengthen the health of our ʻāina and communities so that our families far into the future can partake in what we are so privileged to experience every day. I look forward to being part of this important journey with all of you!"

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​Sanna Bergstroem Matheny
2019-2020 KUPU Americorps Member 
September 2020- April 2022 Staff, Outreach Coordinator

Sanna Bergstroem Matheny, originally from Sweden, moved to Hawaii 7 years ago to study marine biology at Hawaii Pacific University and graduated with a B.S in Marine Biology in spring 2016. Sanna has worked on different tours boats around the island and interned at the Waikiki Aquarium before accepting the position as the  Kupu Americorps member for Hui o Ko’olaupoko from October 2019 through July 2020. She  gained many new experiences working with land-based restoration and community outreach projects during her KUPU term and we are excited to offer her a position as a part of our staff moving forward. In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors, with her husband, hiking, kayaking, or free diving​

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​Jamie Miller
Staff, Outreach Coordinator: September 2018-March 2020
​Americorps KUPU Intern June 2017-August 2018

​In June 2017 we added Americorps intern, Jamie, to the team. Jamie grew up in Kailua but moved to the mainland for high school and college. She graduated from the University of South Carolina Beaufort with her B.S. in Biology concentrating in coastal ecology and conservation. After Jamie graduated in December 2015 she moved back to the islands to start a career in environmental management. She is an avid animal lover and enjoys hiking, exploring new places, and spending time with her family. Jamie will be taking on the bulk of the Community Coordinator's position and will assist with volunteer recruitment and training, facilitating community workdays and conducting field work at all of HOK's project sites. We are very excited to have her working with us and can't wait to watch her grow in this position.

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KUPU Amreicorps July 2020
Tiare G.

Tiare will be with us in the field for the month of July 2020. Born and raised in Kapahulu. She moved out to Washington for college and is back for the summer before starting her Masters degree in Urban Environmental Education.

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Americorps KUPU Intern 2018-2019
​Hannah A.

The 2018-2019 Kupu CLDP intern is Environmental Scientist Hannah Azouz. Through Americorps we have welcomed her onto the team for watershed management fieldwork, and she is ready to collaborate on more environmental projects at hand. She grew up in California, and attended the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa for a Bachelor of Science in Geology & Geophysics (2016) and a Master of Science in Environmental Geology (2017). By age 23, she graduated with her MS and began a local environmental sampling company called Āina Wai Ea, and is interested in integrating more scientific evidence of the restoration benefits HOK has been working on. Hannah looks forward to spreading her passion of the earth with each volunteer that joins HOK on our workdays and ultimately using science for the greater good of the community and future watershed research.

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KUPU Americorps Intern 2016-2017
Tyler "TJ" C.

Tyler "TJ" Calistro is KUPU Americorps intern who was placed with HOK for an 11 month program.  TJ is a Kamehameha Schools class of 2012 graduate who was born and raised in Kailua, O'ahu.  TJ attend the University of Oregon and received a Bachelor's of Science in Globalization, Environment, and Policy. Since graduating in the Spring of 2016, TJ moved back to Kailua and began working at Ho'okua'āina, a lo'i located in Maunawili. He then got an Americorps internship through the local organization, KUPU, and was chosen to work with HOK. 

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Year Round Intern 2015-2016
Chad N.

Chad is an Australian born student who graduated in the Spring of 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Hawaii Pacific University. He volunteers as a Hui o Ko'olaupoko Intern from May 2015 to May 2016.  Chad was a vital addition to our team and we wish him success with his future career.
"I was able to work on projects where I could learn about key environmental issues regarding watershed and stormwater management, as well as gain valuable knowledge towards my degree. My internship allowed me to work with enthusiastic volunteers and community members who provided me with many unique experiences of the culture and ecosystems that only Hawaii has to offer. During my time as an Intern at HOK I was able to develop friendships that will last years to come" Chad says of his experience with HOK.

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2016 Summer Intern
Andrea R.

When Andrea completed her Bachelor in Geography and Environmental Sciences, she decided to move to Hawai'i all the way from Lima, Peru. Her greatest interests are focused in the field of Ecology and conservation, which is why she used to work in the Amazon rainforest in Southeast Peru, focusing efforts in protected areas where she contributed to the conservation of primary Brazil-Nut forests (Bertholletia excelsa).  She believes that every single place in the world must be conscious of the watershed in which they find themselves; this is why she came to Hawai’i and to us in HOK.
 “The sense of community and partnership that I have seen in Hawai’i towards the conservation of their incredible natural resources at every level of the watershed is something I would like to take back to Peru. One can see organizations and the community itself working in the forests, streams, native species, and beautiful marines resources.  HOK links all these areas and works ‘hands-on’, locally and strategically, from Mauka to Makai; I can’t be more excited to be a part of this organization!”    

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2015 Summer Intern
Nicolas R.

Nicolas traveled all the way to HOK from France!  He is studying horticulture and landscaping at a college just outside of Paris.  Nicolas says "It was a teenage dream to go to Hawaii and I’ve truly enjoyed my trip.  The work in the field with other volunteers was so fun and the fact that we were helping the restoration/protection of the natural resources of Hawaii makes me proud.  Added to this, the work in the office really helped me learning more about native plants and invasive species of Hawaii.  The internship also gave me the opportunity of discovering all the beautiful landscape of Oahu, and having an immersion in the Hawaiian culture.  I couldn’t say  thank you enough for all the wonderful times I had."

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2015 Summer Intern
​Mubarak U.

Mubarak is working towards his Masters in Global Sustainability at Patele College in Florida.  His passion for water, wetland and coastal restoration led him to seek out an internship with HOK.
While here, he hopes to work closely on our He'eia Estuary Restoration project and incorporate what he learns into his thesis and future work experiences.  He is also looking forward to traveling to other islands to fully explore Hawai'i's many unique ecosystems.

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2014 Year-round Intern
Danielle J.

Danielle is pursuing a bachelor of arts in Environmental Studies and minor in Global Communication at Hawaii Pacific University (HPU). She is interning with HOK over the summer to work on our social media and community outreach efforts.  She hopes to expand the community's knowledge of our organization and bring more awareness of our goals for ocean health. Danielle has been involved with HOK over the past few years, through stream monitoring activities at He'eia Stream and building rain gardens, she also volunteers at several other organizations throughout Oahu. In the future, she hopes to continue her environmental passion, whether removing invasive species, improving water quality or educating people about the importance of taking care of the environment for our generation and the next.

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Summer 2014 Intern
Celina S.

Celina recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Growing up in Santa Monica, California, she frequently explored the local ocean and mountain ecosystems which inspired her passion to pursue a career in sustainable city planning, ocean conservation, and environmental education.  After interning with Hui o Ko'olaupoko,  she plans on attending Oregon Leadership in Sustainability, a year-long graduate program at University of Oregon to further her education on sustainability and the environment.

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Summer 2014 Intern
Lucy R.

Lucy is a rising Junior, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at Washington University in St. Louis. She is majoring in Political Science and minoring in Environmental Studies and Psychology. She is interning with HOK over the summer to assist with developing plans for future restoration projects, as well as helping with volunteer work days. She is also taking environmental studies-focused courses this summer at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She is very interested in the conjunction of policy and science, and was brought to Hawaii and HOK by her passion to work in a hands-on manner with both. In the future, she hopes to use her political science background to create effective environmental policies and spread awareness and information on environmental issues to the public in an easy to comprehend manner.

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HOK Project Coordinator, November 2013-July 2014
Annie Lovell

Ms. Lovell is an environmental scientist with five years of experience as an environmental consultant working on natural resource management projects in the Pacific. Ms. Lovell worked full time with the HOK team as the Project Coordinator.  Through this position, Ms. Lovell assisted with HOK’s watershed management initiatives, and specifically focused her efforts on storm water management, community outreach and education within the He'eia watershed as well as management of the Residential Rain Garden Co-Op Program.

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Spring 2014 Intern
Emily M.

Emily MacNintch is pursuing a bachelor of arts in environmental studies, and minor in economics at Hawai’i Pacific University (HPU).  Emily is interning with HOK for the spring 2014 semester to work on HOK’s residential non-point source pollution outreach program and will be helping to develop this program by applying the methods of Community-Based Social Marketing.  Emily has previously been involved with HOK through stream monitoring activities at Heʻeia Stream.  As an Undergrad Liaison for the HPU Leaders for Sustainable Futures Club, and active in the University of Hawai’i Ethnobiology Society, The Sustainable Leader Blog, and Mālama Inā Ahupua’a Service Learning, her interests have also led her to previous volunteer experience researching for Hawai’i’s Genuine Progress Indicator Initiative.  In the future she seeks to make strides in the field of water quality, and/or economic reform to improve the environment and human health.

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Ali (left) and Cindy (right) take a moment to enjoy the view from the ridge above the Hakipu'u Stream Restoration Project.

Summer 2013 Interns
Ali G. & Cindy G.

Ali focused mostly on fieldwork, working with HOK's Community Coordinator Kristen Mailheau to get rid of invasive species, propagate native plants, and maintain current HOK stream restoration and rain garden project sites. "I learned so much during this internship. It was a great experience and definitely one of a kind. Being in Hawaii makes every day great; it's a wonderful state and was a great opportunity for me. I gained a better understanding on how a non-profit environmental organization works," Gorman said.

Cindy focused on managing HOK's social media and worked towards improving our website; some of these takes included testimonials, pictures, videos and writing press releases. Cindy also joined her fellow intern in the field getting her hands dirty while learning a different side of the organization. "It was quite the experience working in the field and I am glad that I had the opportunity to help HOK inside and outside the office!" Gamboa said.

Central Washington University and Carthage College both offer study abroad programs through CISAbroad, whose role is to match students based on their educational background to an organization or business in the same field. Cindy and Ali said they have always dreamt of living in Hawaii and this internship provided an opportunity to test the waters living out of their home states for six weeks without having to make a huge commitment.

"We feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to intern for an organization that focuses on the restoration of natural resources along with on-the-ground and educational projects where volunteers play a big role and help with the success of the organization. We also really enjoyed exploring the island and trying new things," the girls added.