Everyone who shops at KTA Super Stores in Hilo knows Derek Kurisu. That’s apparent just following the executive vice president through the flagship grocery store in Puainako. He smiles at every shopper, waves and shakes hands like he’s running for office. But there’s no hidden agenda here. Kurisu truly loves what he does — and it … Read more
Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawai‘i
P. O. Box 342066
Kailua, HI 96734
Keaʻahuli O Panaʻewa, Project Director Keaukaha-Panaʻewa Farmers Association | Hawai‘i Island
Justine is a Native Hawaiian Homesteader. She was born and raised on the southwest side of Oʻahu and currently resides with her ʻohana in the Panaʻewa Agricultural Homesteads on Hawai‘i Island. For five years she has served as the Site Manager at the Panaʻewa Resilience and Agricultural Innovation Hub (Panaʻewa Hub) and recently as the Project Director of Keaʻahuli O Panaʻewa, a agroforestry and climate dashboard project in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In her spare time Justine enjoys farming with her ʻohana, hand appliqué, and Hawaiian quilting.
ALFH Secretary
ALP Class XIV
North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership
Executive Director
Lisa was born and raised in the Mid-Atlantic region. Her early interest in marine life led her to a college internships at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL, and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. These internships helped her achieve a full time position at the National Aquarium in Baltimore which she held for 6 years. After graduating with an MSc in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University, she traded the aquarium in for the real deal when she moved to Hawai‘i in 2005. Growing up in Glen Burnie, Maryland, Lisa had loved visiting a friendʻs family farm and worked there for several summers as a teenager. Lisa began her career in Hawai‘i as a conservation planner working with farmers across Oahu. She then managed agronomy and conservation practices for a seed corn operation before managing 24 farmers at the Hawai‘i Agricultural Foundation Ag Park in Kunia. Gaining experience in Hawai‘i in distribution, farm management, and agronomy, Lisa has become passionate about locally grown food and on farm food safety as foundational to Hawai‘i farmers achieving greater market share and reducing imports.
Lisa is the Executive Director of North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership (North Shore EVP). North Shore EVP pioneered USDA GroupGAP in Hawaii and now assists farmers and food hubs statewide in achieving USDA Harmonized GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) food safety certification. The Hawaii GroupGAP food safety training program is available in English, Mandarin and Thai languages. Although it is a one of a kind training program locally, the North Shore EVP food safety team maintains close working relationships with GroupGAP practitioners across the country to bring resources and best practices to Hawaii producers.
Lisa is a graduate of the Hawai‘i Agricultural Leadership Program, Class XIV, and serves on the ALFH board. She resides on Kauaʻi with her husband and son, where they enjoy hunting, fishing, and family time.
Culinary Director, Farm Link, Hawaiʻi | O‘ahu
Faun has over twenty years of experience working in sustainable and equitable food systems. She served as the Specialty Grocery Buyer for Oakville Grocery in Napa Valley, the founder of Los Gatos Gourmet, and the Store Manager at San Francisco’s beloved Bi-Rite Market. During her tenure at Bi-Rite Market, she ran a whole animal butchery program and served as their Recruiter, developing their second chance hiring program.
Her background is rooted in farming and ranching and she holds degrees from Diablo Valley College and the California Culinary Academy. Faun’s connections to Hawaiʻi are deeply personal—her father’s native Hawaiian heritage traces back to He’eia, and her mother’s upbringing was on the Big Island. Four years ago, she started paddling outrigger canoes, which ignited a strong desire to return home to be closer to family and use her skillset to make a meaningful impact on the food system.
ALFH Director
ALP Class XIV
Ocean Era
Research Director
Jennica joined the ALFH Board in 2023 and is an alumnus of ALP Class XIV. She grew up in South Florida and has been smitten with marine biology and aquaculture since she was a teenager. She received her B.S. in Marine Biology from Florida Atlantic University, and her M.S. from the University of Florida with a focus on fish health and aquaculture. She assisted Florida’s Cooperative Extension Service after graduate school, then spent two years raising marine ornamental fish in Florida and Puerto Rico.
Jennica moved to Kona, Hawai‘i in 2006 to work with the Nation’s only open ocean fish farm. In any small business employees wear multiple hats, so for over nine years Jennica served as fish health manager, hatchery technician, research manager and environmental monitoring and permitting coordinator. From 2016 to 2021 she served as a contractor with NOAA’s National Ocean Service, Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability team in Beaufort, NC. In 2021 Jennica and her family came back to Kona. She currently works as Research Director for Ocean Era, a small business focusing on developing and commercializing ways that aquaculture (farming fish and seaweed) can provide healthy food for people, while also helping the planet. In March of 2024 she’ll be completing a 600-hr course of study to become an Ayurvedic Health counselor.
Jennica’s greatest achievement is becoming a mom to an incredible boy, who teaches her new things every day. Spending time with her husband and son and being in the ocean are her favorite pastimes.
ALFH Director
ALP Class XIII
Kamehameha Schools
Senior Land Asset Manager
Perry is a graduate of Honoka‘a High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Hawai‘i Hilo Campus. He has 22 years of experience in managing agricultural and pastoral leases. Perry is also an alumni of ALP Class XIII. His current interests include creating sustainable living communities that integrate housing, agriculture, education, traditional practices and recreation.
Diversified Agriculture and Small Livestock Manager,
Kualoa Ranch | O‘ahu
Austin was born and raised in Kailua, O’ahu and earned his bachelor’s degree in Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems from the University of California, Santa Cruz. During his time at university, Austin worked in a diverse set of agricultural operations, ranging from aquaponics and hydroponics, to market gardens and livestock ranches. Post Undergrad, he moved back home to begin his own farm on O‘ahu, Punalu’u Pastures, where he specialized in raising pastured poultry and egg production. After owning and operating a successful egg business for 3 years, he decided it was time to pursue a new venture. Austin currently works for Kualoa Ranch and manages the small livestock and diversified agriculture operations in Ka’a’awa Valley.
Farming Operations Manager, Mahi Pono, LLC | Maui
Justin Teixeira works at Mahi Pono as the farming operations manager. He spent six years in the United States Air Force where he received a lot of leadership and organizational training. Justin has been working in ag since he was 14 years old harvesting pineapple during the summer and after school. His career goals are to create a modernized and sustainable agriculture business by introducing new scalable crops and techniques to agriculture in Hawai‘i. As a hobby, Justin enjoys coaching and supporting youth boxing.
Business Development Manager, Meadow Gold Dairies Hawai‘i | O‘ahu
Born in Waimea, Kimia’s passion for agriculture grew watching her father overcome challenges in dairy farming. She graduated in Business from Babson College, and when her father bought Meadow Gold from bankruptcy in 2020, she returned to Hawai‘i to help revive it. Since joining Meadow Gold, she launched initiatives upholding values of supporting locals, serving the community, and sharing Aloha. Her goal: stewarding Meadow Gold’s legacy and revitalizing Hawai’i’s agricultural industry. Beyond work, she’s passionate about reimagining education and enjoys surfing, reading, and learning new skills.
Senior Agronomist, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. | O‘ahu
Christian was born and raised on O‘ahu. He graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with a Bachelor of Science in Tropical Plants and Soil Sciences from the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. While attending UH he worked as a student assistant helping with projects that studied Integrated Pest Management strategies for crop production and native plants in Hawai’i. After graduating he worked as a summer student at CABI’s Swiss Centre on biological controls for invasive species. Since returning to Hawai‘i, Christian has worked in the seed corn industry at Pioneer Hi-Bred in Waialua. In his current role he oversees field operations. When not at work he enjoys spending time with family and friends, being outdoors, and working out.
Community Innovation Connector, Oʻahu Economic Development Board | O‘ahu
Molly Noelaniokekai Gismervik Mamaril serves as the Community Innovation Connector for the non-profit Oʻahu Economic Development Board. She was born in Honolulu, raised in Minneapolis and returned to Hawai‘i in 2012 after feeling drawn to explore her family’s heritage. Molly holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Journalism from the University of St. Thomas and Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Management from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She has enjoyed working in conservation management, ʻāina-based education and evaluation, and community public health. She believes that the foundation for a thriving Hawai‘i is healthy land and people, grounded in aloha. She loves podcasting, learning the stories of places and people, and traveling to Scandinavia with her family.
Farm Coach, Go Farm Hawai‘i | Kaua‘i
Jin-Wah Lau was born in California and moved to Oʻahu after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. While studying flora, she fell in love with weeds and is still impressed by their ingenuity, recovery, and persistence. She has worked with the Maui and then Kauaʻi Invasive Species Committees, the Hawai‘i Department of Forestry and Wildlife and the National Tropical Botanical Garden. Jin-Wah earned an Associates of Science in Tropical Agriculture and Plant Biosciences from Kauaʻi Community College (Kauaʻi CC), studied plants at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and completed a Masters of Science in Tropical Plant Pathology. Jin-Wah has taught Agriculture for the Kauaʻi CC Office of Continuing Education and Training and managed The Farm at Kauaʻi CC. Jin-Wah serves as Farm Coach for GoFarm Hawai‘i where she manages and teaches at the Kauaʻi site. Jin-Wah loves to conduct kitchen experiments to sneak farm food into favorite foods to win over her son’s palate. Jin-Wah seeks to educate aspiring farmers so that small farms are so ubiquitous that the current generation will redefine their comfort foods with Kauaʻi grown.
Asset Manager, Kamehameha Schools | Hawai‘i Island
Billy was born and raised in Kona and a proud graduate of Kealakehe High School. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Hawaiian Studies from UH Mānoa. Billy is currently an Asset Manager for Kamehameha Schools (KS) in Kona where he oversees a blended portfolio including various agricultural, commercial, conservation, and cultural/educational leases. Prior to joining KS in 2015, he worked as a research consultant on various projects with KS, Townscape Inc, The Kohala Center, and the University of Hawai‘i (UH) Mānoa. While not at work, you can find him surfing, fishing, farming, and spending time with friends and family.
Research Assistant, Hawai‘i Agriculture Research Center | O‘ahu
Juli Burden earned a Bachelor of Science in Tropical Agriculture and Environment with a concentration in Environmental Soil Science from the University of Hawai’i, and a Masters of Science in Agroecology from UH Mānoa, specializing in agriphotovoltaic systems. Since 2012, Juli has worked as a research technician at the Hawai’i Agriculture Research Center (HARC) where she has gained experience with a wide range of crops, with a particular specialization in coffee agronomy. More recently, Juli became a Research Assistant, where her primary focus has shifted to researching the nexus of water conservation, increasing local food production, and helping O‘ahu meet our renewable energy needs in agriphotovoltaic systems. She tests and maintains different types of crops in megawatt-scale photovoltaic farms in Mililani. One of Juli’s hobbies includes managing a 1.5-acre diversified agroforestry coffee orchard in Maunawili where she focuses on improving quality through sustainable nutrient management and advanced post-harvest processing techniques. She has also been an avid film photographer since her teens, specializing in color, black & white, street, and abstract photography.
Orchard Manager , Kaua‘i Coffee Company, LLC | Kaua‘i
Bronson Yadao was born and raised on the North Shore of Kaua‘i. He graduated from Kapa‘a High School in 2005 and the University of Hawai‘i College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources in 2010 where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Tropical Plants and Soil Sciences. After working at The Marimed Foundation as an Ag Teacher and Lyon Arboretum as a Research Assistant on O‘ahu, Bronson returned to Kaua’i in 2013 to head the Irrigation and Crop nutrition team at Kaua‘i Coffee Company, LLC. Bronson currently manages the orchard operations spanning over 2,800 acres on the Westside of Kaua‘i. He wants to continue to establish Kaua‘i Coffee as a premiere brand in Hawai‘i’s market and beyond. He feels a strong sense of pride and responsibility of being a steward of the land that so many have farmed before him. He is a second generation farmer as well as a second generation ALFH member. Bronson is an alumni member of Leadership Kauai, Class of 2020 and an active member of the Kaua‘i Farm Bureau and Hawai‘i Coffee Association. In his spare time he enjoys free-diving, golfing and riding motorcycles. He shares his life with his wife and their 4 cats, two tortoises, a rooster and a puppy.