Our Story is a Journey of Hope

About Us

Our Mission on O‘ahu & Maui

Hawai‘i Nature Center seeks to foster awareness, appreciation, understanding and stewardship of Hawai‘i’s environment by educating children with an interactive and immersive approach.

Branching Out: We teach children about nature

More than 1 million students have experienced the wonders of nature  through our children’s programs since we took root in 1981. 20,000 students come to us annually as our programs are one of the best things to do on Oahu and Maui, offer more green time and less screen time and cultivate character, compassion and stewardship through science-based learning. More than 100 O‘ahu schools and more than 20 on Maui choose to partner with us as our programs meet State of Hawaii’s Department of Education Standards and our curriculum makes learning fun.

Our Roots

Our mission started deep in a tropical rainforest in 1972 when the Outdoor Circle’s Parks Committee proposed an education center in O‘ahu’s Makiki Valley. Margaret Smith Young of Tantalus was a driving force in its early years. By 1981, the Makiki Environmental Education Center opened and five years later it grew in to an independent 501(c)3 non-profit called Hawai‘i Nature Center. In 1991, the organization branched out to Maui and established a center in sacred ‘Īao Valley where we offer a vibrant collection of programs. We are an environmental education nonprofit that is not a chapter of a larger organization. We are homegrown and rely on support from friends like you.

Create A Better Hawai‘i

We believe that children hold the future in their hands. It is our kuleana to leave our keiki a better Hawai‘i.

Collaborate for Nature

We believe that partnerships can create exponential change. We are a collaboration of people for nature.

Aim for Zero Waste

We believe in mindful consumption. Together, we can strive for zero waste and leave a smaller carbon footprint.

Our Leadership Team

Todd Cullison
Executive Director
Robin Chapin
Executive Assistant
Pauline Kawamata
Operations & Volunteer Program Director
Sarah McIntosh
Education Program Manager
Rachael Taylor
Maui Program Manager

EDUCATORS

Angela Amantite
Educator
Ocean Asato
EDUCATOR
Chai Blair-Stahn
EDUCATOR
Molly Hoggard
EDUCATOR
Madi Howe
EDUCATOR
Sasha Iizuka-Sheeley
Educator
Educator Briana Law
Brianna Law
Educator
Kelli Morgan
Educator
Kevin Sander
Educator
Emma Shelly
Educator
Hana Yoshimura
Educator
Melissa Zendeja Bio Pic
Melissa Zendejas
Educator

Board of Directors

PRESIDENT
Nicholas Paslay
Hawaiian Electric
VICE PRESIDENT
Ina Wong
AHL
SECRETARY
Tran Chinery
Alexander & Baldwin
TREASURER
Eric Wright
Par Hawai`i

 

GUY CHURCHILL
Bank of Hawai`i

JAMES GEIGER, ESQ.
Mancini Welch & Geiger LLP

JOSH HARGROVE
The Westin Maui Resort & Spa

G. ROBERT JOHNSTON
Hawaii Pacific Solar

MCKIBBIN MIST
D.R. Horton

CAITLIN MOON
Cades Schutte

LACEY NAKAGAMA
Bank of Hawai`i

TANNIS THORLAKSON SULLIVAN, PHD
Cascade Climate

1,000,0000
KEIKI EDUCATED
108
O'AHU SCHOOL PARTNERS
22
MAUI SCHOOL PARTNERS
927
VOLUNTEERS

Nature calls us to branch out

Help us educate, celebrate and advocate for a stronger bond between people and nature.

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