Waihona Native Collections Manager

The waihona native collections manager oversees The Kohala Center (TKC)’s integrated strategies to strengthen relationships with ‘āina towards a state of pono. Specifically, a critical component of this role is expanding our waihona (seed repositories and ‘ike Hawai‘i knowledge transmission) including native nurseries, canoe crop collections, and stored knowledge bases. Based at Keawewai (Kohala Mountain, Hawai‘i Island), this position directs hands-on management of living collections including native seed banks at Kilohana Nursery at Keawewai and canoe crop collections based at Nāmoku (Honoka‘a, Hawai‘i Island). From these nurseries, the goal is to resource the expansion of native food forests for ‘ili ‘āina restoration efforts. Position will manage a small team that includes staff, apprentices, and volunteers; write grants and execute work plans and budgets; and launch community on-‘āina trials. This position oversees rigorous data tracking and fiscal reporting to capture insights that populate a digital waihona for expanding ‘ili ‘āina restoration. Pilina with Kohala/Waimea strongly desired.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Ho‘olauna (outreach and invitation)

• Support pilina-building initiatives across TKC leading to integrated ‘āina research, education, and stewardship.
• Strengthen alliances with other Hawai‘i-based native nurseries, conservation and regenerative agriculture groups, mahi‘ai (farmers), and kama‘āina.
• Support community experiences highlighting native biodiversity, planting practices, kumu ‘āina, soil/water health, and ‘ili ‘āina restoration.
• Actively seek diverse avenues of financial support for waihona and homeforestry initiatives that include designing projects and writing grant proposals.

Kilo (research and development)

• Oversee TKC’s development and implementation of workdays as workshops on ‘āina to share knowledge and expertise that shape native food forestry practices. 
• Implement place-based practices drawing on indigenous, ancestral, and current knowledge systems.
• Connect with, listen to, and kilo (observe) kumu of all kinds to understand what ‘āina, ‘ohana, kānaka, and kaiāulu need.
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data and draw on research from ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i sources to design biodiversity strategies and cultural protocols.

Hana (daily practitionership)

Waihona Development and Management

• Manage a native seed collection at Kilohana Nursery, overseeing storage and germination for the purpose of increasing native biodiversity throughout the forest understory to overstory.
• Monitor native plant phenology (life-cycle events) to determine optimal seed maturation times. Hand-collect seeds using appropriate harvesting protocols, ensuring genetic diversity is preserved.
• Maintain detailed seed inventories, cross-referencing kaulana mahina (Hawaiian lunar calendar), kilo and huli‘ia data, and specific collection and propagation protocols.
• Document planting success rates, phenology, crop yields, and soil amendments to build a digital library of best practices.
• Manage staff at Nāmoku (TKC’s learning farm in Honoka‘a) who care for TKC’s diverse canoe crop collection leading to a “bank” of canoe crops across TKC’s ‘ili ‘āina at Keawewai, Nāmoku, Niuli‘i (North Kohala), and Pu‘ukapu (Waimea).
• Oversee annual project work plans, budgets, and deliverables in accordance with approved timelines and budgets.

Homeforest Trials and Starter Kits

• Develop soil fertility through regenerative techniques like mulching, nitrogen-fixing cover crops, and other site-preparation hana for community homeforest trials.
• Prepare homeforest “starter kits” to seed smaller parcels of ‘āina, empowering communities to scale food and water sovereignty.
• Coordinate teams to design, plan, implement, and evaluate a series of homeforestry workshops for mahi‘ai and other cultural practitioners in North Hawai‘i.

Mo‘olelo (sustained learning)

• Manage data tracking and qualitative “story catching” to evaluate practices against TKC’s ‘āina accountability standards.
• Integrate indigenous knowledge and place-based regenerative agricultural methodologies into the shared resource platform.
• Package data and ancestral insights into reports, presentations, and educational resources shared through the TKC waihona portal.
• Collaborate with finance and accounting to support staff, grant, donor management, and tracking activities.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE

• Minimum five years of hands-on experience in ecological restoration, agroforestry, or living collections management.
• Minimum five years of documented experience in grant-funded program or project management.
• Deep understanding of Hawaiian ecosystems, native succession management, and the cultivation of mea kanu (canoe crop plants).
• Proficiency in setting up and maintaining digital knowledge bases, wikis, or resource repositories.
• Ability to research, create, and edit documents in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.
• Ability to successfully write, manage, budget, and report on grants to funders.
• Strong organizational, project management, time management, and computer skills (MS Office and Google Workspace).
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with diplomacy and good judgment.
• Ability to interact positively with a wide variety of people in diverse, collaborative, and fast-paced environments.
• Ability to maintain composure, breath, sensitivity, and flexibility during peak periods and challenging situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and security of sensitive information.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Kohala- or Waimea-based knowledge and relationships.
• Supporting coursework or a degree in Hawaiian Studies and/or proficiency in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i strongly desired.
• Experience in Hawai‘i-based environmental conservation or restoration professions is a plus.
• Wilderness First Aid certified.

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, ethnobotany, horticulture, agroecology, agroforestry, soil/environmental science, or a related field. Supporting coursework or degree in Hawaiian studies a plus.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Position is based primarily at Keawewai with frequent visits to Nāmoku and occasional work at Pu‘ukapu and Niuli‘i and other ‘āina in North Hawai‘i. At times, work can also be conducted at Waimea offices or remotely (e.g., from home office).
• Incumbent must reside on Hawai‘i Island and have reliable personal transportation for traveling between work sites across North Hawai‘i.
• Valid Hawai‘i Driver License (or ability to obtain one) required with a clean driving record.
• Able to work outdoors in dynamic weather conditions and community settings, perform moderate physical work, and lift/carry up to 50 pounds.
• Able to work occasional evening and weekend hours as necessary (with advanced notice and flex time provided).
• Inter- and intra-island travel on occasion.

EQUIPMENT USE

• Conservation and agriculture tools (hand tools), machinery (e.g., ATV, tractor), laptop, and field tablets.
• Computer and standard office equipment.