Our Team

James “Kimo” Duarte, Operations Manager

Kimo grew up on these slopes of Hualālai. We are so blessed to have a person who has this much love for this place, yet he will tell you he is the blessed one to be a steward here.

Kimo leads stewardship groups, hosts educational cultural experience to public (a paid program to support non-profit), caretaker of site, leads restoration efforts, oversees site operations of programs. Kimo is the backbone of our operations.

Dane uy, educational guide

Aloha, my name is Dane Kualono o la`akea Uy. I was born on Moku o Keawe, and was raised up in the rainforest of Kaloko mauka. As a kid I always had kokua not just for the place I was born, but for the nahele and the kai I was raised in as well. From this `āina, I learned how to surf, spearfish, hunt, and exercise imagination. At the bottom of my heart, I am definitely a keiki of the sea, but when the mauna (Hualālai) calls, there is no other place that humbles the mind and heart better than sitting under the tallest koa tree and the loudest manu on Hualālai itself.

 I love being told, and love to share mo`olelo. This was a gift that was passed down by both sides of grandparents. And when you get good people who share the same values the same type stories, it’s always a fun pā`ina. And that is what I strive for when meeting new people, or doing new things. To have an open minded heart is a gift, and so is life, therefore I always love to learn whatever, whenever, and however possible, as much as possible. That being said, I have lived overseas for a few years in Aotearoa learning the Maori way. From those experiences there, I knew I wanted to come home and give back to the wahi pana that shaped me. Mauli ola, me mahalo nui. 

Candee Ellsworth, educational guide

Candee is the current Executive Director (ED) of Keahole Center for Sustainability (KCS). She graduated with a degree in Biology, with a focus on wildlife ecology and nature interpretation from the University of Findlay, and later with a master’s degree in Zoology from Miami University.

She spent over 20 years working as a Conservation Biologist, as the Conservation Coordinator at the Toledo Zoo (in-situ and ex-situ endangered species recovery). Her focus was island biodiversity/island ecosystems and conservation science, but has had a life-long interest in conservation and sustainability; serving on the Lucas County Rain Garden Initiative’s steering committee and the Toledo Zoo’s Green Team, which worked to reduce the zoo’s overall carbon footprint. She is the recipient of the 2007 University of Findlay’s Old Main Award, given to UF alumni who have demonstrated distinctive achievements in a chosen career, civic involvement and/or service to The University of Findlay prior to the age of 36 and the 2013 Daisy Sticksel Award for her work in conservation of the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly and other native pollinators.

She was also an adjunct professor teaching undergraduate and graduate courses for several universities, as well as serving as a reviewer on the University of Toledo’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). In her spare time she also did private ecological consulting for a variety of conservation projects throughout the West Indies.

In the more recent past, she has served as a member of the Hawaii Island Festival of Birds Planning Committee, on the Board of West Hawaii Community Forums, the West Hawaii Fisheries Council, the Large Whale Disentanglement Group for West Hawaii, and is a current member of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce’s Sustainability Committee. Candee also does freelance grant writing for a variety of other local nonprofits.

Hawea Keawe, Program Leader

Hawea leads cultural and stewardship activities, contributes to restoration efforts including maintaining plant nursery, contributes to administrative tasks. Hawea has grown up in this Wahi Pana and shares what she has learned with others.

Dr. Kimberley Greeson, Curriculum Specialist

Dr. Greeson has graced us with not only her expertise and willingness to create curriculum but she is an active participant in our reforestation efforts.

Dr Greeson conducts educational research, develops and delivers curriculum, develops materials for program funding and outreach.

jordan Hitchcock, assistant executive director

Jordan grew up on the island of O’ahu and later attended Willamette University where she got her BA in sociology. With deep roots and familial ties to the whole Kona area, Hualalai is the perfect opportunity to apply sociological praxis in connection to community.

Jordan is responsible for various administrative duties, aids in the organization of educational groups, helps in the writing and follow-through of grant research, and oversees select projects.

Keolani Keawe, Executive Director

Keolani and her ‘ohana wanted to continue their kuleana to this place and open the opportunity to have a relationship with Hualålai to the community. She has continued what her larger ‘ohana began

Keolani handles administrative duties, organizes and hosts educational groups, participates in the restoration of place, actively engages in the efforts to further knowledge of place and the precious resources located at Kaʻūpūlehu mauka, oversees all operations.

Board of Directors

Beth Bartell

President 

Opihihale Farms

Kailua Kona, HI

Kalā Patao

Vice President

Kanawai Noa

Treasurer

Lehua Alapai

secretary

Kekaha Wai ʻOle lineal descendant and aloha ʻaina steward.