About Us

About Us

An image of field workers on a mountain

About Us

Forestry and Wildlife is a collection of people who love nature and have the honor and responsibility of managing natural and cultural resources on behalf of the people of Hawaiʻi.

We are part of the communities with which we collaborate and serve. We are hikers, hunters, fishers, lei makers, woodworkers, surfers, and birders. We are also biologists, ecologists, foresters, botanists, entomologists, lawyers, researchers, and more. We include parents, aunties and uncles, cultural practitioners, and Native Hawaiians.

We aim to fulfill our mission reliably and transparently, working as a partner to mālama ʻāina.

Our Mission

The Division of Forestry and Wildlife protects, manages, and restores natural and cultural resources in collaboration with the people of Hawaiʻi.

 

Our Vision

We envision a future with thriving native ecosystems and opportunities for the people of Hawaiʻi to engage with nature.

 

 

Meet Our Team: What We do and Who We Are

Over 200 people work for Forestry and Wildlife and have dedicated their professional lives to caring for Hawaiʻi. Our team is organized into geographic branches including the Statewide Administrative Branch, Kauaʻi Branch, Oʻahu Branch, Maui Nui Branch, and Hawaiʻi Island Branch.

Within each branch, staff are organized into programs that describe what we do. You can click any program name to learn more: Forestry and Forest Health, Nā Ala Hele Trails & Access, Native Ecosystems Protection & Management, and Wildlife, which includes recreational hunting. 

You can find our contact information here, and if you would like to join us, you can find information about jobs and other opportunities here.

Staff from various programs work with Kupu members to outplant native speciesStaff from various programs work with Kupu members to outplant native species
Forestry Program: Restoring koa forest on Mauna KeaForestry Program: Restoring koa forest on Mauna Kea
Wildlife Program: Waterbird surveys on OʻahuWildlife Program: Waterbird surveys on Oʻahu
Wildlife Program: Seabird surveys on MauiWildlife Program: Seabird surveys on Maui
Staff from various programs meet on Hawaiʻi Island to develop an educational productStaff from various programs meet on Hawaiʻi Island to develop an educational product
Forestry Program: Staff partnering with The Nature Conservancy pause for an oli kahea, asking permission to enter the forest on Hawaiʻi IslandForestry Program: Staff partnering with The Nature Conservancy pause for an oli kahea, asking permission to enter the forest on Hawaiʻi Island
Nā Ala Hele Program: Trail building on OʻahuNā Ala Hele Program: Trail building on Oʻahu
Native Ecosystems Program: Controlling invasive plants on KauaʻiNative Ecosystems Program: Controlling invasive plants on Kauaʻi
Native Ecosystems Program: A Kamehameha butterfly poses with our entomologistNative Ecosystems Program: A Kamehameha butterfly poses with our entomologist
Forestry Program: Many of our staff are wildland firefightersForestry Program: Many of our staff are wildland firefighters
Hunting Program: Staff at the Kilohana check-in station, Hawaiʻi IslandHunting Program: Staff at the Kilohana check-in station, Hawaiʻi Island
Native Ecosystems Program: Conservation Fence Building on MolokaʻiNative Ecosystems Program: Conservation Fence Building on Molokaʻi
Wildlife Program: Forest bird surveys on Hawaiʻi IslandWildlife Program: Forest bird surveys on Hawaiʻi Island
Nā Ala Hele Program: Sharing trail access information on OʻahuNā Ala Hele Program: Sharing trail access information on Oʻahu
Native Ecosystems Program: Staff often work in remote areas only accessible by helicopterNative Ecosystems Program: Staff often work in remote areas only accessible by helicopter
Hunting Program: Our Oʻahu Game coordinator tests our new Outerspatial appHunting Program: Our Oʻahu Game coordinator tests our new Outerspatial app

Click to enlarge slideshow

Our Branch and Program Leadership

 

Our Forestry & Wildlife Administrator

David Smith was born and raised in Hawaiʻi and developed a strong affinity for the natural world, spending extensive time in the mountains and ocean. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology in 1982 and began working as a biologist in Hawaiʻi in 1983, with contract positions at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 1988 he started work with Forestry and Wildlife and worked as a Forester, Wildlife Biologist, Natural Area Reserves Manager, Wildlife Manager, and Forestry and Wildlife Manager.
An image of David Smith

Our Staff Videos: Kauaʻi Forestry & Wildlife

The Kauaʻi branch of Forestry & Wildlife is managed by Sheri Mann. You can learn more about the work of Kauaʻi Forestry & Wildlife at the Kauaʻi Forest Users hub. A few of the Kauaʻi staff are profiled below.

An image of DOFAW staffMapuana OʻSullivan, Kauaʻi Forest Management Supervisor
An image of DOFAW staffChris Mottley, Kauaʻi Native Ecosystems Protection & Management Supervisor
An image of DOFAW staffKawika Smith, Kauaʻi Nā Ala Hele Trails & Access Specialist
An image of DOFAW staffKanoe Woodward, Field Technician, Kauaʻi Native Ecosystems Protection & Management

Our Staff Videos: Oʻahu Forestry & Wildlife, and the Statewide Admin Office

The Oʻahu of Forestry & Wildlife is managed by Marigold Zoll. You can learn more about the work of Oʻahu Forestry & Wildlife at the Oʻahu Forest Users hub. A few of the Oʻahu staff are profiled below, along with a few of the staff at our Statewide Admin Office, which is also located on Oʻahu.

Emma Yuen, Statewide Program Manager, Native Ecosystems Protection & Management
Tiana Bolosan, Wildlife Biologist, O‘ahu Offshore Islands
Nick Vargas, O‘ahu Game Biologist
Jared Char, Former O‘ahu Natural Area Reserves Specialist
Pua Heimuli, O‘ahu Outreach Associate (DOFAW partner employed through UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit)
A thumbnail for the video In Memory of Betsy Harrison GagneBetsy Gagne, Former Executive Secretary, Natural Area Reserves Commission

Our Staff Videos: Maui Nui Forestry & Wildlife

The Maui Nui branch of Forestry & Wildlife is managed by Scott Fretz. You can learn more about the work of Maui Nui Forestry & Wildlife at the Maui Nui Forest Users hub. A few of the Maui Nui staff are profiled below.

An image of Scott FretzScott Fretz, Ph.D., Manager
An image of DOFAW staffTorrie Nohara, Former Nā Ala Hele Maui Program Manager
An image of Fern Duvall with an ʻalalāFern Duvall, Former Maui NEPM Program Manager, Wildlife Biologist, and State Aviculturist

Our Staff Videos: Hawaiʻi Island Forestry & Wildlife

The Hawaiʻi Island branch of Forestry & Wildlife is managed by Steven Bergfeld. You can learn more about the work of Hawaiʻi Island Forestry & Wildlife at the Hawaiʻi Island Forest Users hub. A few of the Hawaiʻi Island staff are profiled below.

A thumbnail of the video Riley De Mattos Hawaiʻi Island Assistant Protection ForesterRiley De Mattos, Hawaiʻi Island Assistant Protection Forester
A thumbnail for the video Alex Wang Hawaiʻi Island Natural Area Reserve SpecialistAlex Wang, Hawaiʻi Island Natural Area Reserve Specialist
A thumbnail for the video Ande Buskirk Hawaiʻi Island Outreach Specialist
Ande Buskirk, Hawaiʻi Island Outreach Specialist
A thumbnail for the video Bret Nainoa Mossman Hawaiʻi Island Avian TechnicianBret Nainoa Mossman, Hawaiʻi Island Avian Technician (DOFAW partner employed through UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit)
A Thumbnail for the video Dr. Elliott Parsons Hawaiʻi Island Puʻu Waʻawaʻa CoordinatorDr. Elliott Parsons, Former Hawaiʻi Island Puʻu Waʻawaʻa Coordinator
A thumbnail for the video Jason Flemming Hawaiʻi Island Forestry TechnicianJason Flemming, Hawaiʻi Island Forestry Technician
A thumbnail linking to a video on Tyler Iaea Hawaiʻi Island NARS Field SupervisorTyler Iaea, Natural Area Reserves Field Supervisor (DOFAW partner employed through UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit)
A thumbnail for the video Kassandra Connor Hawaiʻi Island Student AssistantKassandra Connor, Hawaiʻi Island Student Assistant (DOFAW partner employed through UH Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit)