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.
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 link at the top of the page. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Staff (Updated January 2025):
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, PR/Education Specialist
Hailey Olson, Education/Outreach Program Lead
Serene Gunnison, Education/Outreach Assistant
Coqui Field Crew:
Rebecca Creighton, Coqui Control Coordinator
Matt Cook, Coqui Barrier Liaison
Ashlee Wells, Coqui Crew Leader (Acting)
Little Fire Ant Field Crew:
Monte Tudor-Long, Invasive Ant EDRR Technician
Trisha Dillenburg, Invasive Species Detector Dog Handler
Kayani Singh, LFA Crew Leader
Chris Conley, Field Associate I
Tyler Bork, Field Associate I
Invasive Plant Field Crews
Mike Ade, Plant Control Coordinator
Hāmākuapoko Crew:
Brady Sparkman, Invasive Species Field Associate III
Hāna Miconia Crew:
Aja Akuna, Crew Leader
ʻImi Nelson, Crew Leader
Elroy Krause, Invasive Species Field Associate I
Jesiah Malaikini, Invasive Species Field Associate I
Aimoku Piʻimauna-Beck, Invasive Species Field Associate I
Syrus Smith, Invasive Species Field Associate I
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
