Who We Are
The Maui Invasive Species Committee works to control the high-threat invasive species that are feasible to eradicate or contain based on their distribution and resources available. Our Committee helps prioritize target species for control operations and provides expertise on effective survey and control techniques and reporting. The Committee includes scientists and resource managers from state, county, federal, and private organizations.
The Maui Invasive Species Committee exists to “fill-the-gap” in addressing invasive plants and animals throughout Maui County. We are a species-led management organization removing the high-threat invasive species that can be addressed with the resources available.
We are a project of the University of Hawaii-Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit. Our work is supported through County, State, and Federal grants and the backing of private grants and donations.
You can support our work by learning more and spreading the word. Check out our blog for more information about the species we work to control, our ongoing projects, and partner efforts to address invasive species throughout the state.
MISC Staff
MISC has four field crews focused on specific target species, an outreach and education team, and management and administrative staff to provide project oversight, secure funding, and track and analyze progress. Some staff are part-time.
Management and Field Support:
- Lissa Strohecker, Interim MISC Manager
- Teya Penniman, Special Projects & Development Director
- Elizabeth Anderson, Program Specialist
- Brooke Mahnken, Data Analyst & GIS Specialist and Invasive Ant Supervisor
- Tyler Gagnon, Baseyard & Field Assistant
- Darrell Aquino, Project Specialist (Intermittent)
- Anne Elliott, Program Assistant (Intermittent)
Education & Outreach:
- Lissa Strohecker, Interim MISC Manager
- Teya Penniman, Special Projects & Development Director
- Elizabeth Anderson, Program Specialist
Hāna Miconia Crew:
- Aja Akuna, Crew Leader
- ʻImi Nelson, Crew Leader
- Elroy Krause, Invasive Species Field Associate
- Jesiah Malaikini, Invasive Species Field Associate
- Aimoku Piʻimauna-Beck, Invasive Species Field Associate
- Syrus Smith, Invasive Species Field Associate
Invasive Plant Field Crew:
- Mike Ade, Plant Control Coordinator
Hāmākuapoko Crew:
- Brady Sparkman, Invasive Species Field Associate III
Little Fire Ant Field Crew:
- Tyler Bork, Field Associate
- Monte Tudor-Long, Invasive Ant EDRR Technician
- Trisha Dillenburg, Invasive Species Detector Dog Handler
- Kayani Singh, LFA Crew Leader
- Chris Conley, Field Associate
Coqui Field Crew:
- Rebecca Creighton, Coqui Control Coordinator
- Matt Cook, Coqui Barrier Liaison
- Ashlee Wells, Coqui Crew Leader (Acting)
MISC Committee Members
- Chair: Marshall Loope, Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture
- Hanna Mounce, Ph.D., Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project
- Kerri Fay, The Nature Conservancy
- Chelsea Arnott, DLNR/Hawai‘i Invasive Species Council
- John Vetter, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Jeremy Gooding, National Park Service-Pacific Islands Exotic Plant Management Team
- Jeffrey Mallinson, Haleakalā National Park
- Dan Eisenberg, East Maui Watershed Partnership
Funding
The Maui Invasive Species Committee receives funding from a variety of sources, including: County, State, Federal, local businesses, private foundations, and private individuals. Funding received also supports work by the Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee (MoMISC), which has a staff of five.
If you would like to support MISC, click the Donate button below. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
MISC Partners
The work that the Maui Invasive Species Committee does would not be possible without our partners. Mahalo to the many public agencies and unnamed private individuals and organizations that provide advice, cooperation, volunteers, support, and funding to further the mission of MISC.
- Molokai/Maui Invasive Species Committee Partners
- The County of Maui-Office of Economic Development
- The County of Maui-Department of Water Supply
- National Park Service
- Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture
- Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources
- Hawaiʻi Department of Transportation
- Hawaiʻi Invasive Species Council
- The Nature Conservancy
- University of Hawaiʻi-Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit
- Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- US Forest Service
