Kim Johnson

Co-Founder, President & CEO

Raised in California, Kim spent her childhood playing on the beaches and exploring the mountains. She attended UC Santa Barbara where she double majored in Art and Mathematics, received her Masters in Education and teaching credential in secondary math education…and met her future husband, Jack Johnson. In 2003, Kim and Jack hosted the first Kōkua Festival and founded the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation. Kim served as the Executive Director for the first 12 years, helping to develop and oversee KHF’s main programs, and transitioned to President of the Board in 2015. Since KHF acquired the new property in 2019, Kim has stepped back in to create the vision and oversee the strategic planning as Kōkua embarks on this new journey. Kim enjoys being in the field as an environmental educator assisting with lessons, cleanups and workdays, which allows her to guide KHF’s programs and development from a multifaceted perspective.

Natalie McKinney

Chief Operating Officer

Natalie Mihana McKinney was born and raised in Haleʻiwa, Hawaii. She has an MFA from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and was a John Young Scholar. Natalie spent three years in Los Angeles as the Vice President and General Manager of LBC Advertising. While at LBC, the agency received seven Telly, five Communicator, and three International Summit Awards for excellence in commercial production. In 2009, Natalie returned to Hawaiʻ and joined the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. As the Hawai’i core partner for the National Farm to School Network and an advisory member of the Hawaii Farm to School Hui, Natalie has worked with governmental, non-profit, and business leaders to institutionalize food and sustainability education in Hawaii schools and communities. In 2016, Natalie was honored as a Kaiser Permanente Honor Roll Champion for her vision, creativity, and collaborative spirit. Natalie was raised on the North Shore of Oʻahu. She has worked in the non-profit sector for the majority of her professional career, with an emphasis on environmental education and curriculum development. Natalie loves home-grown mountain apples and enjoys ocean sports of all kinds.

Kelly Perry

Volunteer & Partnership Director

Kelly Perry is a lifelong resident of Waialua. After graduating from the University of Hawaiʻi with a Liberal Studies degree with an emphasis on environmental science. Kelly also has a Certificate of Volunteer Management from KCC.
Kelly began her career as an Environmental Educator at the Hawaiʻi Nature Center, which sparked Kelly’s love of nature and the importance of connecting children to the environment, and where her respect and appreciation for volunteerism was sparked, working alongside dedicated docents. A decade later, Kelly continued her non-profit environmental work closer to home, as the Volunteer Manager at the Waimea Valley Audubon Center, where she experienced the power of a concerned and involved community in caring for our natural and cultural resources. Kelly joined Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation as the ʻĀINA In Schools Volunteer Coordinator in 2008, then became the ʻĀINA In Schools Program Manager, and is currently the Volunteer and Partnership Director. Kelly most enjoys working alongside our volunteers and partners in support of our programs, events, and the Kōkua Learning Farm.

Monet Bisch

Outreach Director

Born and raised in Waialua, Oʻahu, Monet grew up loving the ocean and everything outdoors. She is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama where she developed an understanding and appreciation of ʻāina-based education. She studied at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa where she obtained three degrees in Business Management, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship and co-founded her own ʻāina-based organization, Ka Lau O Ka Lāhui. Her work with Ka Lau O Ka Lāhui has embraced perpetuating her Hawaiian Culture and the ʻŌlelo Noʻeau, “ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ʻia,” meaning no task is too big when done together by all. In her free time, Monet enjoys any activity in the water including paddling, surfing, swimming, and diving.

Caroline McGuire

Social Enterprise Director

Caroline McGuire was born and raised in New Jersey, growing up along the coast where food, community, and hospitality became an important part of her life early on. She earned her undergraduate degree in Food Marketing from Saint Joseph’s University, where her experience as a Division I athlete sparked a deeper passion for nutrition, wellness, and performance through food.Driven to continue her education, Caroline moved to Berkeley to study nutrition and culinary arts, combining her love for health with hands-on culinary training. After completing her studies, she returned to the East Coast and launched her own café and meal prep delivery service in Philadelphia, building a successful business centered around nourishing food and community connection.Following her entrepreneurial success, Caroline relocated to Oʻahu and began her career at Turtle Bay Resort as a Food & Beverage Manager. Working on the North Shore gave her a deeper appreciation for Hawaiʻi’s culture, local agriculture, and strong sense of community. Today, Caroline continues to blend her backgrounds in nutrition and hospitality to create meaningful experiences that bring people together through food, wellness, and community.

Rawley Riccio

Farm Director

Katie Watanabe

Program Director

Katie Watanabe was born and raised on the east side of O‘ahu in the ahupua‘a of Maunalua. Currently, her home is in Hō‘ae‘ae (Kunia) where she lives with her husband and fur babies. She received her BA in Elementary Education from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and her MEd in Curriculum and Teaching with an emphasis on Trauma and Resilience from Concordia University Portland. She believes in the healing power that ‘Āina can have, especially with those who have experienced trauma and hopes to share that with others.

Mitch Steffey

Program Director

Mitch was born in Appalachia, raised by forests, and educated at UH-Hilo, where he came to see himself as a long-term guest on this ʻāina. Driven by a innate appreciation for what natural spaces can teach, Mitch believes that the re-indigenization of education is essential for our collective well-being. With experience in managing resource recovery programs and cultivating student engagement in sustainable living, Mitch is passionate about helping others reconnect with ʻāina through hands-on learning, and meaningful kaiāulu collaboration. Holding a Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education, Mitch has a deep passion for working with high school and college-age students. For more than a decade he has managed programs designed to help young people find their own purpose within land and water. Outside of his work, Mitch enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, writing, and spending quality time with his wife and dog.

Jaden Pang

ʻĀINA Farm Stand Manager

Bree Morse

Kōkua General Store Manager

Bree grew up in Mililani, Hawaiʻi where a deep love of the environment has shaped who she is from a young age. Guided by the values her grandparents instilled in her, Bree grew up learning the importance of mālama ʻāina, Her background blends creativity, organization, and community centered work. Before joining Kōkua General Store, Bree spent eight years working in administrative roles supporting nonprofit and educational organizations. Throughout the years, she has also been involved in volunteer work and community outreach focused on sustainability, supporting local families, and creating meaningful spaces for connection. As the Store Manager of Kōkua General Store, Bree is passionate about making sustainable living approachable and community focused. Outside of work Bree enjoys creating art, reading, thrifting, film photography, spending time outdoors, and making memories with her loved ones. She has also been happily married since 2020 and feels deeply grateful to continue serving the community she calls home.

Lei Tamayo

Grants Manager

Lei was born and raised in ʻEwa, Oʻahu. She has a heart for people and community, and has been engaged in the non-profit sector for over a decade. Having come from Institutional Advancement at the Bishop Museum, which oversees the membership and donation programs at the Museum, Lei joined the Kōkua Hawaiʻi Foundation ʻohana as Grants Manager in 2019. What she enjoys most about her role as Grants Manager is seeing the joy it brings to students that attend a field trip or participate in a project supported by a KHF grant. Beyond her role in the nonprofit world, Lei is committed to positively impacting our community as a Realtor and Financial Coach, and also manages a family handyman business. Her dedication to helping others doesnʻt stop in the professional world, as she is passionate about pouring into her family, and serving as the Outreach Director at her church. When she does have free time she enjoys fishing and diving with her husband, dancing zumba & hula, as well as learning ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi with her daughters.

Ruby Aliason

Communications & Outreach Manager

Janice Staab

Development Specialist

Janice was born and raised in Mānoa Oʻahu. She is a committed community organizer with a background in developing educational programming for nonprofits.  Her passion working for nonprofits that focus on the environment, culture, and creativity has led her to work for the Nature Conservancy of Hawaiʻi, Mālama Learning Center, Brown Girl Surf,  Art Explorium, and the Oahu Agriculture and Conservation Association. She is a founding member of the Hawaiʻi Environmental Education Alliance and an Audubon Society Together Green fellow. Janice has her masters degree in education from the University of Hawaiʻi and has taught students and educators of all ages.

Heather Williams

Education & Outreach Specialist

Heather Williams was born and raised in Hawaii and was fortunate to spend her childhood in Kapaa and Hilo. Heather has always worked for non-profit organizations focusing on community outreach and education. She helped launch the Center for Equal Justice as an attorney at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. She also played a pivotal role in the creation of Punahou School’s innovative Luke Center for Public Service. Most recently, she served as the Founding Executive Director of Art Explorium, an earth-friendly art studio for keiki in Kaimuki. She is thrilled to be a new member of the Kōkua Hawaii Foundation team, as she is passionate about the environment and working with children. Heather also loves to play beach volleyball, swim in the ocean, go for long walks, read books, and spend time with her family.

Samantha Carroll

Program Coordinator

Samantha was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to O’ahu to pursue her love for connecting people to the outdoors. Samantha obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa with a minor in Business Administration and Management. Her time studying in Hawai’i deepened her appreciation for Hawaiian culture and strengthened her connection to the ocean, transforming that appreciation into a lifelong passion for environmental stewardship. Since relocating, Samantha has worked with numerous non-profit organizations, organized beach cleanups, and educated more than 10,000 people through events, presentations, and social media outreach focused on ocean advocacy, environmental issues, and community engagement. Samantha is committed to helping restore the biophilic connection between people and the natural world, inspiring others to care for and protect the environment for future generations.

Keiu Moody

Office Coordinator

Born in Estonia and raised in Sweden, Keiu spent her childhood summers on her grandparents’ property in Estonia. There, she developed a lifelong love for the land by growing vegetables, tending fruit trees, harvesting honey, and making traditional sauerkraut and pickles. These formative years were spent exploring the surrounding woods and beaches, instilling a deep respect for nature. At 24, Keiu moved to the North Shore of Oahu, where she discovered a deep connection to the local lifestyle and environment. The community and natural beauty reminded her of her Estonian and Swedish roots. She went on to earn an AA in Liberal Arts from Leeward Community College and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, focusing on Health Care Administration, from the University of Hawaiʻi at West Oahu. Today, Keiu and her husband are proud parents raising two young children just down the road. She feels deeply honored to work within her community, supporting the Kokua Hawaiʻi Foundation and its mission to empower future generations through environmental education.

Sarah Gelb

ʻĀINA In Schools, Nutrition Coordinator

Sarah is a Family Nurse Practitioner with a Masters in Nursing from UH Mānoa. She also has a B.S. in Psychology from Tufts University and a Masters in Education from Carthage College. Sarah brings with her a wealth of experience in non-profit management and curriculum development, previously serving as the Executive Director of Growing Great, a Los Angeles-based school garden and nutrition education non-profit. She also works as a Nurse Practitioner at Kalihi Palama Health Center. Sarah is passionate about promoting health and wellness through nutrition and primary care. She loves spending time with her two sons and husband and going for runs in the mountains or on the beach.

Malia Johnson

Program Coordinator

Sissy Tejada

Kōkua Learning Farm KUPU Intern

Lyra Barreto Reyes

Kōkua General Store Sales Associate

Lyra was born in Cayey, Puerto Rico, and grew up at her family’s multi-generational farm. Learning from her grandparents, she developed a deep love for plants and a connection with the earth. She moved to Hawaiʻi in 1999, collaborating with a variety of local farms and nurturing her passion for the ocean. She is dedicated to community-building and sharing about eco-friendly living with visitors in Kōkua General Store. Outside of Kōkua, Lyra works with our Kōkua Learning Farm honey partner, Hānai Hives, and is also a talented seamstress (Check out her upcycled creations in-store!).

Claudia Mena Rieke

Kōkua General Store Sales Associate

Claudia was born in Central America and raised in Washington State, where she grew up surrounded by the hard work and dedication it takes to cultivate fresh fruits and vegetables. This early exposure fostered a deep appreciation for food and the effort behind growing, harvesting, and transporting it. Her experiences also instilled in her the value of using resources wisely, which has led to her passion for reusing materials and helping others embrace sustainability in their own lives. In her free time, Claudia enjoys reading by the beach, hiking in nature, and spending quality time with her husband and their dog, Luna.

Kim Johnson

Jack Johnson

Laura Moritz

Julie Rene

Blake McElheny

Bryce Sprecher

Carol Feinga

Ed Kenney

Kawika Kahiapo

Ruth Holmberg