Hui o Ko'olaupoko Staff

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President & Founder
​Jeff Harris

Mr. Harris is one of the founding members of HOK's parent organization the Kailua Bay Advisory Council (KBAC). Jeff grew up on a  rural farm in Michigan, which developed his passion for sustainable agriculture and development. Nearly 40 years ago, Jeff came to Hawaii to build the first Urgent Care clinics for his uncle Dr. Simich, and has been living in Kailua ever since.  Mr. Harris holds a BS in Agriculture Engineering & Technology from Michigan State University, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems Certification from Cornell University, and is a State of Hawaii licensed Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator. As a Board member of HOK, Mr. Harris  says "I support our programs and projects that develop community partnerships to address remediation of environmental pollution, that educate ourselves to be good stewards through sustainable development in our community, and seek to pass on our experience and knowledge to the keiki through hands on experiences."

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Project Director
Kristen Nalani Kane

Mrs. Kane is a life-long Koʻolaupoko resident and is a graduate of University of Hawaii with a BA in Environmental Studies.  Mrs. Kane has been with Hui o Ko'olaupoko since October 2008 and has played various roles for the organization including Volunteer Coordinator (2008-2016), Executive Director (2016-2019), and Project Director (2019-current).  She works to engage the volunteers and community stakeholders in monthly volunteer activities and educational events, manages restoration activities, directed PR and social media activity, and solicited grants and programmatic funding.   Previously, Mrs. Kane worked with Oahu Army Natural Resource Program for three years as a field technician and horticultural assistant as well as interning with environmental organizations on Kaua'i and Maui.  

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Outreach Coordinator
Sanna Bergstroem Matheny

​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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Accountant
Safia Lehua Slater

Safia Lehua Slater has been with HOK since March 2013. Born and raised on the northeastern shores of Maui, Lehua moved to O’ahu in 2006. An accountant by profession, and an environmentalist at heart, she received her first BA in Botany in 2008 with focus on environmental conservation and ethnobotany studies and second BA in Accounting. She has over 10 years’ experience working with non-profits and small businesses supporting the community and grassroots organizations. 

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Board of Directors

• President: Jeff Harris, Manager of Maintenance and Security, Oceanic Institute
• Vice President: Jordan Kilbey, Fire Protection Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Treasurer: Jenna Masters, Natural Area Reserves Specialist IV, Division of Forestry and Wildlife
• Secretary: Ku’upuamae’ole Kiyuna, Post-Juris Doctor Legal Fellow, Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law
• ​Director: Elizabeth Cody, Kailua Resident and active community volunteer
• Director: P. Kalawai'a Moore, Assoc. Professor and Director of the Hawaiian Studies Program, Windward Community College

Click here to read more about our Directors

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Internships with HOK

HOK is always looking for interested individuals to help us with our programs and projects,
offering a wide range of opportunities for internships. 

If you are interested and feel as if you can contribute to our mission, 
​contact us or check our Internships page for more information! 

Click here to read about past interns.