Mentors by Island

Click on the name or photo of a mentor below to view their biography and find the right match for you.

Hawaiʻi Island

Gail Byrne Baber

District: Kohala

Farm Owner & Farm Wife/Engineer/Natural Resource Manager

808-938-8880

gail@hawaiiroyalhemp.com

Carissa Crum

District: Hilo

Human Resources Specialist at Pacific Quest

808-897-3225

carissacrum123@gmail.com

Maureen Datta

District: Kona

Farmer & Food Hub Operator

808-937-6224

mokdatta@gmail.com

Daniel Dunnom

District: Puna

Farmer/Beekeeper

808 796 0552 

danieldunnom@gmail.com

Andrea Drayer

District: Kaʻū

Farmer, Farm Owner

808-747-6418

a-drayer@outlook.com

Jerry Emeka

District: Kaʻū

Visionary Coach & Farm Worker

917-593-0299

jerry@jerryemeka.com

Aliza Gebin

District: Kohala

Social Service Provider, Horticulturist, Educator, Artist

617-543-8065

rootandrisehawaii@gmail.com

Keli’i Gannet

District: Kapa’au

Production Manager

973-727-6344

gannetk@gmail.com

Ginger Gohier

District: Kohala

Nonprofit Coordinator

ginger.gohier@gmail.com

Samantha Hooper

District: South Kona

Garden Teacher at Kona Pacific Public Charter School

samanthaann.hooper@gmail.com

Lyman Houghton

District: Hilo

Canoe Crops & Lāʻau lapaʻau Farmer, Beekeeper

808-707-0811

fearlesshearts@gmail.com

Christine Inserra

District: Kaʻū

Farmer, Business Owner, Volunteer, Steward

luscioushawaiian@gmail.com

Libby Leonard

District: North Kohala

Writer

lleonard12180@gmail.com

Colby Lund

District: Kaʻū

Farmer & Steward

cjlund1984@gmail.com

Leslie Nugent

District: Kohala

Non-Profit Leader

Lrae.nugent@gmail.com

Micki O’Brien

District: Hilo

Membership Director at HFUU

mickieveobrien@gmail.com

basic functional in American Sign Language, beginner ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i

Brilla Rose 

District: Kohala

Organic Grower, Kohala Food Hub Team Member, Breathwork Practitioner

808-315-0197

brillarose47@gmail.com

Madeline Ross

District: Kohala

Director of Hospitality for Eco Lodge

303-859-0131

madelined202@gmail.com

Jordan Tesar

District: Pahoa

Farmer

808-292-0296

j_tesar@hotmail.com

Sylvia Vera

District: Puna

Farm Owner

kirey834@gmail.com

Fluent in Spanish

Tony Vera

District: Puna

Farm Consultant & Farmer

Tony.vera3@gmail.com

Amanda Vicari

District:

Content Strategist

973-868-5443

amandakatevicari@gmail.com

Odysseus Yacalis

District: Hilo

Farmer & Author

808-640-5159

phoenixvision@gmail.com

Maui

Renée Rachel Baker

District: Hana

Circular Economy Advocate

rbaker418@gmail.com

Tyler Barnick

District: Kahului

Ag Consultant and Avocado Farmer

8085008492

Elevatedagsolutions@protonmail.com

Kyle John Paul Clarkin

District: Lahaina

Farmer Owner/Operator

kjpc12@gmail.com

Sara Gilligan

District: Lahaina

Program Director & Farm Worker

415-755-7517

saragilliganhi@gmail.com

Carly Rose Kolstad

District:

Elementary School Garden Coordinator/ Farm Worker

carlykolstad@yahoo.com

Lauren Nelson

District: Makawao

Food Access Coordinator

808-500-2641

Lauren.Nelson@co.maui.hi.us

Jessica Odell

District: Kula

Farm Owner

jesslumodell@gmail.com

Lehua Park

District: Hana

Kupuna coordinator

808-298-2060

lehua@hanabuild.org 

Georgia Pinsky

District: Kaupo

Farmer development coach

808-866-8194

mauitimeisright@gmail.com

Phyllis Robinson

District: Wailuku

Co-director of the Maui Farmer Network

pfierrorob@aol.com 

Johnny Ryan

District: Haiku

honopouranch@gmail.com

Speaks basic Spanish

Sulis Sonja Sweeney

District: Makawao

Grower/ Bodyworker

sulisshines@gmail.com

Lani Thur-Fine

District: Haleakalā

Farmer business owner-manager and books/taxes consultant, massage therapist

808-557-5882

companionplantshawaii@gmail.com

Molokaʻi

Ari Cashin

District: Kaunakakai

Agroforestry

cashinryan@gmail.com

Ipolani Mae

District: Ho’olehu

Mental Health Advocate / Garden Manager

ipo.hctayc@gmail.com

Fluent in ‘Ōlelo Hawai’i

Oʻahu

Ryan Beckley

District: Honolulu

Project manager

843-532-0637

rnbeckley16@gmail.com

Quynn Cytryn

District: Honolulu

ADSC Seed Lab Manager/Research Support

401-442-6002

cytrynq@hawaii.edu

Maigee Chang

District: Kailua

Farmer

maigee_chang@yahoo.com

Fluent in German. Speaks some French and Mandarin

Manuel Diaz

District: Pearl City

Student (CTAHR), Agricultural Consultant

diazmanu@hawaii.edu

Connor Hancock

District: North Shore

Farmer/Artist

hancockc@hawaii.edu

CallieAnn Johnston

District: Honolulu

Farm owner/ production manager

(806) 473-9607

callieann.johnston@gmail.com

Vincent Kimura

District: Honolulu

Program Manager – Good Jobs Oahu, University of Hawaii, Farmers Union, Entrepreneur

808-628-0128

vincent.kimura@gmail.com

Puanani Lalakea

District: O’ahu & Hilo

Manager and Certified Spiritual Care Provider

808-391-3933

puananilalakea@icloud.com

Joe McGinn

District: Ko’olauloa

High Performance COACH. Farmer. Musician. Actor

808 429-1895

HawaiiNaturalFarming@gmail.com

Amy RNielsen 

District: Honolulu

Nutritionist/Herbalist

757-788-1882

healthyselfnutritionllc@gmail.com

Jasmine Paredes

District: Honolulu

UH Graduate Student

(559) 837-9328

jp80@hawaii.edu

Fluent in Spanish

Francesca Scola

District: Honolulu

Food Safety Specialist at North Shore Economic Vitality Partnership

808-868-6805

fscola@nsevp.org

Hi’ilani Shibata

District: Honolulu

Educator, AG teacher

hiilanishibata@gmail.com

Priscilla Smith

District: Kailua

Therapist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker

808-554-4786

priscillasmith433@gmail.com

Joe Wat

District: Ko’olaupoko

ʻĀina Focused Community Development Coordinator at KEY Project in Kahaluʻu

joew@keyproject.org

Kauaʻi

Soulei Hannah Sunrise Dicker 

District: Kapa’a

Student; Health Practitioner Professional; Ag consultant

808-563-9876

hannasun@hawaii.edu

Joell Edwards

District: Halele’a

Wainiha Valley Small Business Owner

916-778-8313

joellmedwards@gmail.com

Valerie Innes

District: Kilauea

Sales

valerie.innes@gmail.com

Sandra Jennings 

District: Kapa’a

Chef and grower

808-639-8988

freshfromthegarden@gmail.com

Lorilani Keohokalole

District: Kapa’a

Health & Community Advocate

Lorilani675@gmail.com

Marina Miller

District: Kapa’a

Photographer

8084283970 themarinamiller@gmail.com

Jennifer Sapp

District: Kapa’a

Child and Family Service Case Manager

jsapp@cfs-hawaii.org

Christy Souza

District: Kapa’a

Executive Director

808-822-0881

kauaianimaleducationcenter@gmail.com

This work is supported by FRSAN, grant no. 2021-70035-35371, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, and with the Hawaii Department of Agriculture.

The University of Hawai'i is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.

If you require information in an alternative format, please contact us at ADA-contact@ctahr.hawaii.edu