About ALFH

Board of Directors

Staff

Secure Board Site

 

2007 Board of Directors

The Board of Directors continues to be deeply committed to the programs and activities of the Agriculture Leadership Foundation of Hawaii. Board terms are for four years and we have a rotation/succession plan in place to ensure effective and prepared leadership. Most board members serve on standing or ad-hoc committees. Many of the current board members are experienced in volunteer leadership roles and understand the division and lines of duty and responsibility between board and staff. Policy requires financial contribution from 100% of the board.

  Click on a board member's name or photo to view his or her resumé

Honorary :

Honorable Daniel Inouye, Honorary ALFH Chair. United States Senate

“The prosperity of Hawaii’s tourism industry is inextricably tied to the success of agriculture.  No question.  Agriculture is also a part of our lifestyle, of our quality of life.

I commend the resilience of Hawaii’s agricultural community.  You have adjusted to the times, persevered, thrived and survived.  You are an integral part of the fabric of our beautiful island State.  It is my honor to stand with you, support you and represent you in the halls of Congress.”

 

Board Officers:



 

Michael "Corky" Bryan,  President, Parker Ranch, Hawaii

 


 

John J. McHugh, Jr. - Vice President, Crop Care Hawaii, LLC

Without a program to develop leadership in Hawaii we will not be able  to "seize the moment" and transform agriculture to a sustainable state. 

My interest in ALFH is to assist all entities involved in agriculture in Hawaii to become successful modern business people who can carry forth the momentum that we have achieved in diversified agriculture that has occurred over the last 15 to 20 years.
 



 

Kapu Smith, Secretary, Esq., Kamehameha Schools.

While sugar was in full force, agriculture was strongly represented by a variety of people. The demise of sugar not only left a vacuum in ag use, but also few advocates.

 Participation in ALFH provides me with the opportunity to assist in the creation of new ag leadership. Ag will not flourish without new advocates.




Matt Smith, CPA, Treasurer. The Gas Company, Inc.

I believe that the Hawaii agricultural economy must and will continue but will be different from the past.




Stephanie Whalen, Assistant Treasurer, Hawaii Agricultural Research Center.

Agriculture in Hawaii is the recognized and valued land use which buffers the islands biodiversity while providing economically viable alternative life styles and providing for scenic landscapes.  It is the leader in innovative plant products and novel business models. 

It is a significant contributor to the sustainability of the islands' energy and food needs. In support of Hawaii's agriculture, Agricultural Leadership Foundation develops agricultural leaders through training in network building, strategic planning, collaborative decision making and community building.

 


Jo-Anna Nakata, Past President, J. Nakata Associates, consultants.

Agriculture and our rural communities are the heart of Hawaii’s heritage and culture.  Leadership development is key to sustaining our way of life in the islands.  

ALFH is dedicated to helping to ensure Hawaii’s future by providing leadership-development opportunities for all those who share the vision of a vital and growing agricultural industry that preserves our island culture.



Board Members:



 

Eleanore Chong, Community Volunteer.

 

Alan Gottlieb, Ponoholo Ranch Ltd.

Over the past 20 years, agriculture has transformed from monocrop plantations to an exciting diversified industry. The Founders of the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii foresaw that leadership for our industry would be a critical issue to assist in this transformation, and they were exactly correct.

Today, 20 years later, leadership development for our industry is still a critical need, and Ag Leadership is there leading the way with leadership training and new and exciting programs for the future.


Andrew Hashimoto. University of Hawaii, college of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.

In keeping  with the land grant mission of the university and to ensure that agriculture remains an important economic force in Hawaii, the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources is committed to supporting all facets of agriculture in the state.

The college is particularly excited about the role the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii plays in building capacity for agriculture in Hawaii by developing its next generation of leaders.




David Kaapu, Esq. Private Practice

Wayne Katayama, Kauai Coffee Company

Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Chairperson - Board of Agriculture

Diane Ley. Hawaii County Dept. of R & D, Hawaii

The ALFH program provided me with an exceptional set of tools with which to approach my work including the ability to see our agricultural industry with a wide-angle lens; to address our challenges in a collaborative manner; and a tremendous network of individuals who are fully committed to making a difference in our agricultural industry.



 

Melvin Matsuda, Matsuda Fukuyama Farms.

 




 

Loren Mochida.  Tropical Hawaiian Products, Hawaii

Loren is the General Manager of Tropical Hawaiian Products on the Big Island. He is also an ALFH Class II participant and is a graduate of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California.



 

Tim O’Connell, USDA ,Rural Development, Hawaii

My role in Hawaii agriculture is to provide technical assistance and training to Hawaii’s cooperatives and to manage a Value-Added Producer Grant and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficient Grant program.

 



 

Dean Okimoto, Nalo Farms

 

Dr. Bob Osgood,  Agriculture Consultant

Vision for Hawaii Agriculture
 
Hawaii emerges in the 21st century as a world leader in the production of a wide variety of value added agricultural products based on technology and the dedication of its farmers, resulting in the expansion of the economy and improved viability of rural communities. Biomass energy produced from agricultural byproducts will help fuel the agricultural expansion and offset the dependence on imported energy.  
 
 

Monty Herbert Richards, Kahua Ranch Ltd., Hawaii

ALFH was formed to propel known leaders of Hawaii agriculture into collaboration for the advancement of the entire State.


Carleton Williams, CPA. Chair, ALFH Finance Committee. Principal of Detor & Williams.

Agriculture, one of our most valuable assets, is certainly one of our least recognized. The beauty of our islands and much of our culture and history are inextricably linked to our agricultural past. I hope to do my part to preserve the best of what we have through ALFH.

 


Ex Officio:


 

 Kim Coffee-Isaak, Executive Director

In the past my outlook and many of my actions were filtered through the eyes of artists and the arts community. I now find myself seeing from the point of view of a farmer, rancher, nurserymen, scientist, educator or landowner. Of course the challenges and realities for each group are very different. Yet the passion, the entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to envision a future for Hawaii that is sustainable are common between these two groups. I've seen first hand how collaborative leadership can make a big impact on realizing solutions to some of Hawaii's greatest problems. I am honored to be contributing my time and skills to bring us closer to our collective vision for a thriving agricultural industry.
 

Ex Officio:

Donna Ching , Program Coordinator UH, CTAHR

As the coordinator of the Ag Leadership Program, I have had the privilege of traveling throughout Hawaii and parts of the mainland to learn firsthand about agriculture and the rural communities that sustain this industry.

This exposure has strengthened my commitment to facilitate the development of collaborative leaders who are the foundation of a sustainable industry.

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