Project Info
Project Description
July 2025 – At Hawaiʻi Nature Center, our mission is to inspire lifelong connections with nature through hands-on learning. We’re pleased to welcome two new members to our team whose professional experience and commitment to Hawaiʻi’s environment strengthen that mission. Georgina Casey has joined as Fund Development Coordinator and Kevin Sander as Environmental Educator.
These new team members bring a wealth of knowledge in conservation, sustainability and education
Georgina Casey has years of leadership in climate change resilience, environmental program management and nonprofit fundraising in Hawaiʻi. Most recently, she served as Project Manager with the City & County of Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency, where she led climate-focused programs, managed grants and worked with partners across sectors to drive impact. Before that, she was a Climate Resilience Specialist at University of Hawaiʻi’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, conducting research on sea level rise, sustainable community design, and policy communication.
Her environmental work spans coral reef restoration, marine mammal care and species recovery, including contributions at organizations such as the National Marine Mammal Foundation, Hawai‘i Marine Animal Response and Mote Marine Laboratory. Throughout her career, Georgina has focused on making scientific research more accessible and turning complex data into engaging outreach and funding strategies.
In addition to her hands-on conservation experience, Georgina holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental and Ocean Sciences and is completing a Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership and Management. She’s passionate about using her background to expand access to outdoor education and help keiki across Hawai‘i connect with the natural world.
Kevin Sander has worked in Hawai‘i and internationally to support environmental education, sustainable agriculture and youth empowerment. At Hawai‘i Nature Center, he leads place-based learning for students from Kindergarten to 6th grade. He innovates lessons around native ecosystems, traditional ecological knowledge and sustainability. His approach blends science with cultural understanding to make nature education both meaningful and fun – all in alignment with nature science academic standards.
Kevin received his Master’s in Entomology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, researching honeybee health and pest management in support of statewide efforts to protect honeybee populations and monitor for africanization. His work contributed to the UH Honeybee Project’s mission of providing education and extension resources to the public with locally relevant data and management recommendations.
Kevin also served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay, where he supported beekeepers, launched a regional apiculture commission, and led workshops in both Spanish and Guaraní for local producers and youth. He’s led pollinator habitat restoration in Washington state, developed curricula for diverse student groups, and organized community programs promoting conservation.
As Education Program Manager at the Hawai’i Nature Center, he hopes to continue empowering educators and students alike as they deepen their ecological knowledge and build capacity to support and protect our environment into the future.
Georgina and Kevin both share a commitment to environmental stewardship and community education. Their backgrounds in climate resilience, conservation, and youth programming will help us grow our impact and reach more families across Hawaiʻi.
Their work supports what we value most—empowering children to understand and care for the natural world around them.
