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 March 2023):
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:
Teya Penniman, Acting Manager & Special Projects & Development Director
Elizabeth Anderson, Program Specialist
Brooke Mahnken, Data Analyst & GIS Specialist and Invasive Ant Supervisor
Teri Field, Program Assistant
Stephanie Miller, Data and Program Associate
Anne Elliott, Program Assistant Vacant, Grant Manager & Admin Associate
Carl Schwarz, Operations Coordinator
Tyler Gagnon, Baseyard & Field Assistant
Darrell Aquino, Project Specialist (Intermittent)
Education & Outreach:
Lissa Strohecker, PR/Education Specialist
Merrill Ranken, Education/Outreach Program Associate
Community Coqui Control Program:
Nalu Ehman, Community Coqui Engagement Liaison
Coqui Field Crew:
Megan Archibald, Coqui field Crew Coordinator
Danielle Higashi, Field Crew Leader
Matt Cook, Coqui Barrier Liaison
Margaret Angel, Invasive Species Field Associate II
Corey Schultz-Bever, Invasive Species Field Associate II
Hailey Olson, Invasive Species Field Associate I
Cory McKinstry, Temporary Invasive Species Field Associate
Ethan Risse, Temporary Invasive Species Field Associate
Conor Somerville, Temporary Invasive Species Field Associate
Susan Frett, Intermittent Coqui Advisor
Sammy Metzl, Intermittent Invasive Species Field Associate
Little Fire Ant Field Crew:
Monte Tudor-Long, Crew Leader
Joe Brower, Invasive Species Field Associate III
Kayani Singh, Invasive Species Field Associate II
Savanna Valdez, Invasive Species Field Associate II
MacKenzie Waters, Invasive Species Field Associate II
Mikiʻala Puaʻa-Freitas, Intermittent Field Worker
Trisha Wilson, Detector Dog Handler
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
Sage Hightower, Invasive Species Field Associate I
Keawe 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
