The Maui Nui Botanical Garden Staff

Alexa was raised in Lahaina and is a graduate of Lahainaluna High School. She holds a B.A. in Graphic Design from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California. Alexa has been managing MNBG's programs and events since September 2020 and has been instrumental in growing the Saturday cultural workshops program. She is currently studying traditional lei making through the Kahōkūala Program at UH Maui College.

Cathy has lived on Maui since 1987 and joined the MNBG team in February 2020. Cathy has a M.S. Botany from UH Mānoa; 12 years teaching UH-MC courses such as Ethnobotany and Hawaiian Field Biology, and she’s a retired Hawai`i State Agricultural Inspector. She is now the lead on a project with the USDA Forest Service to collect and store ‘ōhiʻa seeds that represent all varieties and a broad range of genetic variability on Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi. Samples of the seeds are being sent for disease resistance testing to Hawaiʻi island, with the goal of ultimately finding naturally resistant populations.

Namea was raised in Lahaina and is a graduate of Lahainaluna high school. He has training in Hawaiian Studies with an emphasis on Hawaiian Language Immersion from the University of Hawai‘i Maui College. From 2011 until the present, MNBG has been working with a grant from the Ceres Trust to create “huli bank” of verified Hawaiian kalo cultivars. More than 60 varieties of Hawaiian kalo are being grown for distribution to Maui farmers and other growers as part of a statewide effort to mālama Hāloa. Namea has led several cultural workshops at MNBG about kalo, including classes about different groups of related varieties, techniques for making kulolo, and other topics.

Emmely was raised in upcountry Maui and graduated from King Kekaulike high school. She joined the MNBG team as a staff member in February 2020. She has an AAS in Agriculture and Natural Resources from UH Maui College. She has experience with conventional and organic agriculture through her work on campus as an Agriculture Assistant and an extensive knowledge of native Hawaiian plants. Emmely helped with MNBG’s seed storage and plant collection in the Summer of 2019 with Nā Hua Ho‘ohuli i ka Pono as a Kupu member, and among her many duties is assisting with a USDA project to collect and store genetic representation of Maui County ʻōhiʻa for natural disease resistance testing.

Karen grew up in Los Angeles and moved to Maui in 1984. She previously served as a student intern and a volunteer at MNBG. She has a master’s degree in Ecosystem Restoration and many years of experience working in native plant restoration.

Michael was raised in South Maui and is a graduate of Baldwin High School. He is studying biology at the University of Hawai'i Maui College and recently completed the Landscape Industry Technician Certification prep course. He has a strong interest in Hawaiian botany and taxonomy.

Caitlin was raised in upcountry Maui and is a graduate of King Kekaulike high school. Caitlin is a former Kupu member at Maui Nui Botanical Gardens and E Ola Koa at Haleakalā National Park, and an Interpretive Park Ranger and Team Lead at Haleakalā National Park. She holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from U.H. Mānoa with a focus on Communications, Human Relations, and Data. Since 2020 Caitlin has also been an active community herbalist, producing topical and internal herbal products, leading classes, and demonstrating Lāʻau Lapaʻau at events.

Chris was raised in upcountry Maui. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies – Environmental Studies: Agroecology from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and brings his experience in farm and nursery production of food crops and ornamentals, strong data management skills, and an interest in taking an ecological approach to agriculture. Chris served as Horticulturist at Haleakalā National Park and recently completed two courses at UHMC, one in irrigation design and the other in agricultural business management.