Rachael Taylor

I was born and raised on Maui where my love for the outdoors began in the tidal pools and rainforests at a young age. I remember attending Hawaiʻi Nature Center programs in ‘Iao Valley as an elementary and high school student, where my curiosity for the natural world grew further. I graduated high school from Seabury Hall and began college at UH Mānoa. After transferring to Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, I graduated with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. During college I had the opportunity to spend a summer in Alaska working as an Environmental Educator with the Prince William Sound Science Center. My love for kids and the outdoors was brought together as we explored glaciers, salmon runs, and remote tundra ecosystems.

Since college, I have worked in the non-profit world. For seven years I was the Staff Women’s Director with a college ministry, where I discovered my passion for building community relationships, teaching and mentoring students, and utilizing nature to facilitate lasting learning. Following this role, I spent three years working as an Education Specialist and Community Education Manager with the San Juan Mountains Association in Colorado. This role seemed to combine all of my previous experiences, education and passions into one. I thrived in helping manage a team of outdoor educators as we taught students about the natural environment around them. It has been my dream to take this work back to Maui, and I am honored to have the opportunity to connect our next generation of keiki to the beauty and life lessons of the islands through hands-on science learning.

I enjoy working as a Fitness Instructor and love to travel and spend time with family and friends. In my free time, you can find me exploring and seeking some water-related adventure, preferably surfing!