Lisa Grove, Chair
Lisa Grove has been the lead strategist and pollster for political candidates, nonprofit organizations, corporations and labor unions for over 20 years. Lisa has had the privilege of working with an array of government officials such as Senators, Members of Congress and Governors in Hawaii and on the mainland, and was on Barack Obama’s presidential re-election team.
Sustainability and conservation is a passion, not just a profession for Lisa. Lisa has helped move and shape public opinion on a wide range of conservation issues from coal mining, establishing marine protected areas and wilderness to invasive species. She is also a national thought leader on climate change and serves as an Advisory Board Member for iMatter, a national youth-led climate change group.
Lisa lives on Lāna’i and is an active member of the Lāna’i community, helping to secure grants for needed projects, acting as a hiking and history guide, and serving as Executive Director of the school foundation she helped to establish. She and her husband also have a thriving seven-acre tropical orchard and farm, Ola Kamoku, with hundreds of papaya, ulu and citrus trees.
Jennifer Luck, Vice Chair
Committed to driving lasting community impact, Jennifer brings more than 17 years of experience in program management, multi-stakeholder negotiations, fundraising, and land management to the HILT board. She currently serves as Chief Operating Officer at Common Ground, an asset-backed start-up based on the north shore of Kauai. In addition to the Hawai’i Land Trust Jennifer sits on the boards of Namahana Charter School, Kīpuka Kuleana, and CG Foundation and holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
Keith K. Ogata, Treasurer
President of 3-K Financial Corp. Former Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of National Education Corporation (Irvine, CA), a global leader in proprietary education, corporate training and publishing (part of the S&P 500 index). Acquired in 1998.
SCORE Association volunteer (a national volunteer organization that mentors and advises small businesses and resource partner of the SBA), member of Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Leadership Committee, Finance Committee and Secretary.
Board member of several not-for-profit entities and for-profit, post-secondary education entities in the U.S. and Asia.
Uʻilani Tanigawa Lum, Secretary
Uʻilani Tanigawa Lum is an attorney and cultural practitioner who serves as a Legal Fellow at Ka Huli Ao Center for Excellence in Native Hawaiian Law at the University of Hawai‘i William S. Richardson School of Law. She is also the President of the West Maui Preservation Association, and a founder and the Director of Operations at Kāhuli Leo Leʻa, a nonprofit dedicated to catalyzing aloha ʻāina through mele and other cultural practices. Uʻi is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Maui and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s Hawaiʻinuiākea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, where she earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in Hawaiian Studies. Uʻi graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law in 2019 with certificates in Native Hawaiian Law and Environmental Law. Most recently, Uʻi published a book “Malu ʻUlu o Lele – Maui Komohana in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa” and earned a Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for the liner notes for the album, “Huliāmahi, Vol.1.” As a hula practitioner, Uʻi recently underwent formal ʻūniki ceremonies, and ensures space for the practice of hula, ʻohana, and the kuleana that surrounds those kahua. She is originally from Makawao, Maui.
Mary Charles, Past Board Chair
Mary Charles is a 45-year resident of Hawai‘i with involvement in both the business community and the philanthropic community. Mary Charles pioneered the corporate incentive and group market in Hawai‘i's tourism arena and built one of the leading and most well respected destination management companies in the islands. After selling MC&A, she pursued business interests on Lānai, including the ownership of Hotel Lānai and Lānai City Grille, which she recently sold. Mary Charles continues to do projects using her event planning and logistics background and recently provided the logistics and production for the Pillars of Peace programs on behalf of Hawaii Community Foundation and The Omidyar Group. Yoga practitioner, avid golfer and loves to hike.
Rob Alston
Rob Mike’ele Alston was born and raised in Kailua, Oʻahu, Hawai’i. He attended and graduated from Punahou School where he played water polo, swam competitively, and paddled outrigger canoes. He remains a water sport enthusiast today. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.
Rob is a partner at Oros Management Company, a boutique friends and family investment fund that invests primarily in records and information management businesses run by the Oros Management Company partners. Oros Management Company led the founding and growth of The OASIS Group across Europe and ZircoDATA in Australia. Oros Management Company’s 3 investments span 4 continents and have completed over 250 add-on acquisitions and 5 successful recapitalizations.
Rob is currently a director for Thompson Safety, a private equity backed first aid and fire safety provider, a director for ZircoDATA, a private equity backed Australian records and information management provider, on the advisory board and mentors the CEO at ReThinc, a venture capital backed diversity, equity and inclusion consulting and software company; and advises Palolo, a venture capital backed employer-led community banking platform.
In addition to serving as a board director for HILT, Rob also currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Seabury Hall, a private independent school on Maui, and Lake Tahoe School, a private independent school in Nevada.
Rob relocated to Maui in 2021 with his wife of 19 years, Amy, and their two boys, Turner (15) and Kieran (12). They live on a small upcountry farm.
Joey Aquino
Joey Aquino has more than 12 years of experience working with and supporting technology entrepreneurs in Hawai‘i and globally. He currently leads strategic startup partnerships at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where he has supported more than 10,000 entrepreneurs worldwide over the past 8 years. Joey previously led business development at Teachstreet.com, a startup that connected students and teachers, and he oversaw program initiatives in more than 30 countries for the entrepreneurship nonprofit UP Global. Joey earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai‘i Shidler College of Business. He serves on the board of Hawai‘i Kids Can and is an active venture investor.
Matt Beall
Matthew Beall started his real estate sales career in Hawai‘i in 1998. He has several years of non-profit experience, largely through Realtor organizations. He has served as the President of the Kaua‘i Board of Realtors and as a Director-at-Large and Executive Director of the Hawai‘i Association of Realtors. Matt manages all aspects of Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers, a large residential real estate brokerage with 14 commercial locations, 200+ sales people, 30+ full-time employees and part-time staff.
David Carswell
David Carswell is an outdoor recreation entrepreneur who has founded and overseen several businesses spanning horseback riding, cattle ranching, and an athletic club. He co-founded Princeville Ranch Adventures with his wife, Denise, and expanded the recreational activities at the ranch to include hiking, kayaking and ziplining. He also co-founded Kauai Backcountry Adventures. David’s passion for horsemanship and ranching dovetail with his interest in land stewardship.
Jocelyn Garovoy Herbert
Jocelyn is a Program Officer and Attorney with Resources Legacy Fund, where she has worked for 12 years with a focus on oceans, coasts, and fisheries programs. Jocelyn previously practiced as a land use and litigation attorney with the Kailua-Kona office of Cades Schutte, LLP, served as President of the Board of Directors of the Hawai‘i Island Land Trust, and as a member of the Hawaii County Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission. Early in her career, Jocelyn worked as a research assistant in the Environmental Law Program at the University of Hawai‘i W.S. Richardson School of Law, and as a legal intern with the Maui Coastal Land Trust, where her work culminated in publication of a law review article regarding native Hawaiian land rights and conservation land trusts. Jocelyn is a graduate of Berkeley Law, University of California, and earned her MA in Conservation Biology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Leahi Hall
Leahi Hall was born and raised in Hamakualoa, Maui. Growing up, malama ‘āina was more than just a concept. From a young age she attended countless meetings to protect water rights, open beach access, and preserve cultural sites.
Leahi is a member of the first graduating class of Pūnana Leo o Maui, and one of two students who continued Hawaiian language immersion education through high school in the lead class of Kula Kaiapuni O Maui.
Being raised in a rich cultural environment contributed to her earning a degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology from Stanford University. Leahi was also a member of the Stanford women’s volleyball team, during which time Stanford won two NCAA championships.
Leahi has worked in admissions as an outreach coordinator, is on the Board of Hui Alanui ‘O Makena, is a First Nations’ Futures Fellow, and has coached youth volleyball teams to numerous top 10 National finishes, including a State Championship and a #1 National Ranking.
Neil J. Hannahs
In 2016, Neil Hannahs concluded over 41 years of service to the Kamehameha Schools and launched Hoʻokele Strategies LLC, a consulting enterprise serving as an intermediary in developing and connecting inspiring social entrepreneurs with exceptional mentors and aligned impact investment capital.
From 2000 to 2015, he directed the Land Assets Division of Kamehameha Schools and was responsible for a portfolio of 358,000 acres of agriculture and conservation lands in Hawai‘i and also founded the First Nations Futures Program and Hawaiʻi Investment Ready Program. The work of this division earned the Innovation Award of the Hawaiʻi Conservation Alliance, as well as the Kamaʻāina of the Year Award from the Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation. Mr. Hannahs is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and received BA and MA degrees from Stanford University. He is active in community affairs and effective July 1, 2016, he will begin a four-year term on the State of Hawaiʻi Commission on Water Resources Management.
Marissa Harman
Marissa Harman is the Director of Asset Management for Kamehameha Schools’ 293,000 acres of agricultural and conservation lands on Hawaiʻi Island. Ms. Harman and a team of asset managers and land operations staff oversee the planning, management and leasing of Kamehameha Schools’ agricultural and conservation lands on the island. Originally from Kīlauea, Kauaʻi, she is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools Kapālama Campus. Ms. Harman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies, with a focus on Hawaiian Preservation and a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning, both from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa. She is a proud member of the Agricultural Leadership Foundation of Hawaii`s Class XII and currently serves on the Hawaiʻi Island Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaiʻi Island Economic Development Board and the Hawaiʻi Leeward Planning Conference. She previously served on the Hawaiʻi County Mayor’s Agricultural Advisory Commission, the Hāmākua Soil and Water Conservation District and the County of Hawaiʻi Real Property Tax Review Committee.
Suzanne Mankoff
Originally from New York, Suzanne lived in the San Francisco area for almost 30 years before moving to the Big Island in 2020, with her husband, Steve. For the past 25 years, Suzanne has been involved in various volunteer and charitable organizations - primarily focused on childrens' education in her community (including boards of Coyote Point Museum, Hillsborough Schools Foundation, Lick-Wilmerding Parents Association) and her local town (Citizen's Oversight Committee). Most recently, she volunteered twice a week at UCSF/Benioff Children’s hospital working with patients and children in the hospital playroom, as well as being a cuddler for babies in long term hospital care. Prior to her volunteer life, Suzanne worked in technology for the financial services industry.
Suzanne has always loved the outdoors and exploring her surroundings. Her favorite outdoor activities are snorkeling, scuba and hiking - which makes the Big Island the perfect home. She is a passionate home cook and foodie, and particularly enjoys baking everything from bread to pastry.
Suzanne is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Roy A. “Randy” Vitousek
Randy was born in Honolulu and spent his early years living in the forest reserve on Round Top Drive and on a family farm in Kona. He attended Hanahau‘oli School, Hawaii Preparatory Academy, and Williams College, and was in the first graduating class from the University of Hawai‘i School of Law. Randy is the Resident Partner in the Hawai‘i Island Office of Cades Schutte, LLP. His practice concentrates on representation of landowners in land use, permitting, environmental, and long-range planning issues. A life-long fisherman, surfer, and hunter, Randy is outside, on the land or in the ocean essentially every day. He feels incredibly luck to live, work, and raise his family in Hawai‘i, and specifically on Hawai‘i Island. From Kamuela, it’s easy to get into those remote, relatively untouched areas where you can see, hear, and learn so much.
Teresa Young
Kauaʻi has been home for Teresa since 2012 after moving to its north shore full time, after retiring from her long time career with Deloitte. At Deloitte she was a Tax Partner specializing in serving foundations and other tax-exempt organizations, and led the tax-exempt organization practice for the Pacific Southwest region for the firm. Teresa has served on the board of a number of 501c3 organizations including the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Foundation, where she chaired the audit committee, the UCSD Alumni Association and Athena.
Teresa currently also serves on the board of the Kaua`i North Shore Community Foundation and is one of their founding board members. She is a Trustee Emeritus of the UCSD Foundation and currently serves on their audit and finance committee. Teresa earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California San Diego (BA in Chemistry) and her master’s degree at San Diego State University (MS in Accounting with Taxation emphasis). She is a C.P.A., and a member of the AICPA and the California Society of C.P.A.s.