Malia grew up in “upcountry” Maui where she developed a deep appreciation and love of her island home.  After working as an environmental educator and reflecting on her own experience growing up on Maui, Malia became convinced that more needed to be done to educate and involve Maui’s youth in the crucial issues that face our island.  She believed that the best way to do this was to create fun, hands-on programs that increase young peoples’ understanding of their environment, while demonstrating the power of community partnership and creative problem-solving.  Through these programs, Malia hopes to share her optimism and enthusiasm, and empower a new generation to mālama this island we all love!

Originally from Southern California, Lily has called Hawai’i home for the last 16 years. At a young age, she became interested and fascinated by the oceans. This led her to pursue a degree in Marine Biology from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. Over the years, she has had the opportunity to educate and inspire people of all ages about the importance of these ecosystems. She hopes to continue educating future generations empowering them to make a difference. Lily enjoys diving, hiking, backpacking, and experiencing all of the beauty Maui has to offer.

Raised in Waiehu Maui, Kapono developed a deep respect and appreciation for Hawaiʻi’s natural environment. Surrounded by educators and Hawaiian cultural practitioners from an early age, he learned the value of aloha ʻāina and the importance of educating the youth of Maui. A graduate of the Hawaiian Language Immersion Program and the University of Hawai’i Maui College, Kapono has spent over ten years in youth programming. By providing fun and engaging environmental programs, he hopes to encourage future generations to take an active role in protecting Hawaiʻi’s natural resources. He enjoys canoe paddling, surfing, hiking, and spending time with his family.

Hannah Shipman is the Community Outreach Director at Blue Planet Foundation. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Social Sciences with a focus in Environmental Law and Politics from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. Hannah is a certified LEED Green Associate and is a member of Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE) and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Young Professionals Program.

Hannah was a part of the first Huliau Youth Leaders program in 2012, creating the Eat Local Video project in 2013. After graduating from Huliau and high school in 2014, Hannah and fellow alumnus Hi’ilei started the Huliau Eco Adventures summer camp, which they ran for two years before handing it off to future youth leaders.

Hannah also respresents the Alumni Council as a member of the Huliau Board of Directors.

Hiʻilei K. Casco was born and raised on Maui. She was part of the first-ever Maui Huliau Filmmaking Program in 2010, and her engagement continued throughout her high school years where she led two summer eco-adventure camps for younger students. Hiʻilei holds a B.S. in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Cornell University and a Master’s of Environmental Management (MEM) degree from the University of Hawaiʻi Mānoa. Her master’s capstone project, entitled “Hawaiʻi Climate Change Advocacy Advisor,” focuses on supporting small community groups to effectively participate in climate change policy and decision-making processes at local and state levels.

Starting August 2020, she will be attending the William S. Richardson School of Law to pursue certificates in Native Hawaiian and Environmental Law. Maui Huliau Foundation has played a key role in cultivating Hiʻilei’s passion for environmental justice. Through the Huliau Alumni Council, she hopes to serve as a resource for people interested in aloha ʻāina and support Huliau’s efforts to provide unique environmental education programs for Maui’s youth.

Nicolette is originally from the East Coast, and has lived in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Switzerland and New York City. She is happy to call Waiehu home with her 6-year old son. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Nicolette holds a Master of Education degree from Chaminade University. She now works at UH Maui College as an Outreach Coordinator for programs in sustainability, food innovation and business, and is pursuing a doctorate in education from Johns Hopkins University. She loves to learn about the beautiful ecosystems and culture of Hawaiʻi with Maui Huliau students.

Now retired, Eleanor was a teacher on Maui for nearly 30 years. She has taught at Hui Malama Learning Center and Haleakala Waldorf School.  Eleanor strongly believes that educating Maui’s youth is a crucial part of protecting our fragile environment. Eleanor also loves traveling.  Here she is in the Galapagos!

As the proud parent of a Maui Huliau alumni, Stacey Casco can attest to the impact of early exposure to environmental education and community engagement. Her own environmental education began in rural Kaupo, Maui, where she spent her summers hunting, fishing, and tending to the fruit trees on her family’s homestead. In 2015, Stacey and her daughter, Hiʻilei, started Joseph & Josephines, LLC, with the vision of protecting her family legacy lands, to serve as a living example of a sustainable agroecosystem.

Stacey’s professional experience includes over 25 years in the non-profit sector. Her current focus lies on increasing access to justice and fairness, by providing civil legal information and assistance to the most vulnerable in our community. She is also active with Hawaiian agencies and farming organizations. Stacey believes that serving as a board member is part of her kuleana (responsibility) for having the privilege of living on this beautiful and precious island we call “Maui”.

Carol Wallack is a retired chef from Chicago. She was the owner and executive chef of Sola restaurant in Chicago, garnering awards for one of the best new restaurants, 2007 and one of five “Chicago’s culinary queens”, 2009, and one of Chicago’s Best Chefs, 2008. She has had a home on Maui for 18 years, always with the plan of retiring here. Her avid outdoor lifestyle has kept her in touch with the environment of the precious island she now calls home, since retiring from the restaurant business in 2014. Carol became involved with Maui Huliau after meeting Malia Cahill and seeing the amazing work she does with the students. Giving back to a community that has embraced her just feels natural and right. Currently, Carol volunteers, works out, skis, surfs, paddles, hikes, runs, golfs and raises her sweet Labradoodle, Edie. Life is good.