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:
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
Education & Outreach:
Vacant, PR/Education Specialist
Merrill Ranken, Education/Outreach Program Associate
Lissa Strohecker, Outreach and Education Specialist (Intermittent)
Field Operations:
Vacant, Operations Manager
Carl Schwarz, Operations Coordinator
Tyler Gagnon, Baseyard & Field Assistant
Darrell Aquino, Project Specialist
Early Detection Specialists:
Forest Starr
Kim Starr
Community Coqui Control Program:
Vacant, Community Engagement Coordinator
Nalu Ehman, Community Coqui Engagement Liaison
Vacant, Community Coqui Engagement Liaison
Coqui Field Crew: Susan Frett, Intermittent Coqui Advisor Megan Archibald, Interim Coqui Coordinator Vacant, Coqui Crew Leader Matt Cook, Invasive Species Field Associate III Danielle Higashi, Invasive Species Field Associate III Margaret Angel, Invasive Species Field Associate I Lily Ferguson, Invasive Species Field Associate I Sammy Metzl, Invasive Species Field Associate I Corey Schultz-Bever, Invasive Species Field Associate I Vacant, Invasive Species Field Associate I Vacant, Invasive Species Field Associate I Vacant, Invasive Species Field Associate I 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 Mikiʻala Puaʻa-Freitas, Intermittent Field Worker MacKenzie Waters, Invasive Species Field Associate I Trisha Wilson, Temporary Field Worker Tim Legere, Temporary Field Worker
Invasive Plant Field Crews:
Mike Ade, Plant Control Coordinator
Hāmākuapoko Crew:
Vacant, Plant Crew Leader
Vacant, Invasive Species Field Associate I
Vacant, Invasive Species Field Associate I
Hāna Miconia Crew:
Vacant, Miconia Control Coordinator
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
Bob Hobdy, Community Member, Retired DLNR
Dan Eisenberg, East Maui Watershed Partnership
