Chipper Wichman is NTBG's Chief Executive Officer and serves as Director of the organization, effective January 2005. Prior to serving as the organization's Acting Director for nearly 1-1/2 years, Mr. Wichman served as Director of NTBG's Limahuli Garden on Kauai since 1994 and also as Director of NTBG's Kahanu Garden on Maui from 1997 through early 2002.
Mr. Wichman joined the organization in 1976, graduating from its Horticultural Internship program. He spent his early career developing Limahuli Garden. During this time, he obtained a Special Subzone designation in the Conservation District for the entire Limahuli Valley, restored ancient taro terraces, developed a collection of rare and endangered native Hawaiian plants, opened the garden to educational tours, and added the 989-acre Limahuli Preserve. Subsequently Limahuli was named the Best Natural Botanical Garden in the United States by the American Horticultural Society.
Through numerous grants, Mr. Wichman was able to fund extensive native habitat restoration work in the Limahuli Preserve, which continues today. In addition to his work in conservation and education, he has lead efforts to perpetuate and preserve native Hawaiian culture. Recently he spearheaded a four-year Indigenous Communities Mapping Initiative Project at Limahuli. This collaborative project focused on researching and documenting traditional cultural knowledge and land use relationships and perpetuating traditional practices within the native community.
Since assuming the directorship of the organization, Mr. Wichman has brought renewed focus to NTBG's conservation and horticulture efforts, a greater appreciation of the native Hawaiian culture, and has undertaken a major capital campaign.
Mr. Wichman joined the organization in 1976, graduating from its Horticultural Internship program. He spent his early career developing Limahuli Garden. During this time, he obtained a Special Subzone designation in the Conservation District for the entire Limahuli Valley, restored ancient taro terraces, developed a collection of rare and endangered native Hawaiian plants, opened the garden to educational tours, and added the 989-acre Limahuli Preserve. Subsequently Limahuli was named the Best Natural Botanical Garden in the United States by the American Horticultural Society.
Through numerous grants, Mr. Wichman was able to fund extensive native habitat restoration work in the Limahuli Preserve, which continues today. In addition to his work in conservation and education, he has lead efforts to perpetuate and preserve native Hawaiian culture. Recently he spearheaded a four-year Indigenous Communities Mapping Initiative Project at Limahuli. This collaborative project focused on researching and documenting traditional cultural knowledge and land use relationships and perpetuating traditional practices within the native community.
Since assuming the directorship of the organization, Mr. Wichman has brought renewed focus to NTBG's conservation and horticulture efforts, a greater appreciation of the native Hawaiian culture, and has undertaken a major capital campaign.
Janet Mayfield is Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the NTBG organization. She assumed dual responsibilities in 2004, having served as CFO since 2003. Mrs. Mayfield had previously worked as NTBG Controller from 1997 through 1999.
In addition to overseeing all the financial aspects of the institution, Mrs. Mayfield oversees human resources and volunteer services, information technology, the publications office, and office services for the headquarters facility, as well as visitors services for the southshore gardens.
Mrs. Mayfield has B.S. in Accounting and has been a CPA for over twenty years. She has extensive experience in management and finances of non-profit organizations and continues to serve on the boards and advisory committees of other non-profit organizations in the community. Mrs. Mayfield has also been an instructor and lecturer at the local campus of the University of Hawai‘i.
In addition to overseeing all the financial aspects of the institution, Mrs. Mayfield oversees human resources and volunteer services, information technology, the publications office, and office services for the headquarters facility, as well as visitors services for the southshore gardens.
Mrs. Mayfield has B.S. in Accounting and has been a CPA for over twenty years. She has extensive experience in management and finances of non-profit organizations and continues to serve on the boards and advisory committees of other non-profit organizations in the community. Mrs. Mayfield has also been an instructor and lecturer at the local campus of the University of Hawai‘i.
Dr. David Lorence occupies the B. Evans Chair of Botany and came to the National Tropical Botanical Garden in 1987. He is the Senior Research Botanist for the organization. Research specialties are systematic studies of tropical plants, floristics, and invasive plant species. His systematic research focuses on Pacific and neotropical members of the large and diverse Rubiaceae family, which includes coffee, quinine, and gardenias. He also studies the Monimiaceae family of the Malagasy region and tropical America.
Dr. Lorence's floristic research includes a multi-institutional collaboration on a "Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands," contributing partial treatment of the Rubiaceae for "Flora Mesoamericana," and participating in a project to develop an annotated checklist of the plants of Pohnpei and Kosrae. His research on invasive species includes restoration efforts targeting Hawaiian dryland forest and exotic species invasion in Mauritius wet forest communities. He has carried out extensive fieldwork in Hawaii, Samoa, the Marquesas, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Mexico, and the Malagasy region.
Dr. Lorence directs the research library and herbarium at headquarters, curates NTBG's collections of Rubiaceae and of Zingiberales, and serves on the board of the Heliconia Society International.
He is editor of Allertonia, NTBG's series of occasional papers.
Dr. Lorence's floristic research includes a multi-institutional collaboration on a "Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands," contributing partial treatment of the Rubiaceae for "Flora Mesoamericana," and participating in a project to develop an annotated checklist of the plants of Pohnpei and Kosrae. His research on invasive species includes restoration efforts targeting Hawaiian dryland forest and exotic species invasion in Mauritius wet forest communities. He has carried out extensive fieldwork in Hawaii, Samoa, the Marquesas, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Mexico, and the Malagasy region.
Dr. Lorence directs the research library and herbarium at headquarters, curates NTBG's collections of Rubiaceae and of Zingiberales, and serves on the board of the Heliconia Society International.
He is editor of Allertonia, NTBG's series of occasional papers.
Dr. Namulau`ulu Tavana directs and develops educational programs at NTBG headquarters and its gardens in Hawai`i and Florida. Courses target national and international audiences -- introductory biology college professors, K-12 science teachers, graduate tropical ethnobotany students, college and university horticulture majors, environmental journalists, physicians and other healthcare professionals. Dr. Tavana also oversees NTBG's local Kaua`i programs, public lecture series, K-12 school programs, and university work-study programs.
In 1995, the American Education Research Association (AERA) honored Dr. Tavana with the most outstanding doctoral studies award. His research, entitled "Cultural Values and Education," analyzed the conflict in the attitude and perspective of indigenous people generated by early European colonialism and technological proliferation. His award-winning article based on that study was published in the International Journal of Education Reform.
In 1995, the American Education Research Association (AERA) honored Dr. Tavana with the most outstanding doctoral studies award. His research, entitled "Cultural Values and Education," analyzed the conflict in the attitude and perspective of indigenous people generated by early European colonialism and technological proliferation. His award-winning article based on that study was published in the International Journal of Education Reform.
Dr. Ragone is an authority on the conservation and use of breadfruit and has conducted horticultural and ethnobotanical studies on this important Pacific staple crop for 20 years in close to 50 islands in Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia. Her extensive fieldwork enabled the NTBG to establish the world's largest collection of breadfruit at its Kahanu Garden in Hana, Maui. This collection consists of 264 trees and 201 accessions from 18 Pacific Island groups, Indonesia, Philippines, and the Seychelles. In 2002, the NTBG created the Breadfruit Institute to promote the study and use of breadfruit for food and reforestation.
Current research projects include describing and documenting the NTBG's breadfruit collection; nutritional and fruit quality studies of elite cultivars; molecular studies to understand taxonomic relationships, origin and distribution of breadfruit in the Pacific; developing in vitro methods to mass propagate breadfruit; ethnobotanical studies on traditional uses of breadfruit; and determining the conservation status of breadfruit cultivars in Polynesia and Micronesia.
Dr. Ragone holds a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Horticulture.
Current research projects include describing and documenting the NTBG's breadfruit collection; nutritional and fruit quality studies of elite cultivars; molecular studies to understand taxonomic relationships, origin and distribution of breadfruit in the Pacific; developing in vitro methods to mass propagate breadfruit; ethnobotanical studies on traditional uses of breadfruit; and determining the conservation status of breadfruit cultivars in Polynesia and Micronesia.
Dr. Ragone holds a Ph.D. and a M.S. in Horticulture.
Dr. David A. Burney joined the NTBG as Director of Conservation in 2004, and assumed leadership of its Living Collections and Horticulture Department in 2006.
Dr. Burney's past research has focused on endangered species, paleoenvironmental studies, and causes of extinction. He has over 30 years of practical experience in conservation, including serving as a technical consultant for Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, BBC Natural History Unit, National Museums of Kenya, United Nations Development Program, USDA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and other organizations.
Dr. Burney is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Hawai`i-Mānoa and the Université d'Antananarivo (Madagascar). Prior to moving to Kaua`i he was a Professor at Fordham University in New York. He received an M.Sc. in conservation biology from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a Ph.D. in Zoology with a minor in Botany from Duke University. He is author of over 100 scientific articles and monographs, many concerning the processes of extinction and environmental change. In 2006 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to write a book on his work at Makauwahi Cave on Kaua`i. His research has been featured on National Geographic Television, Discovery Channel, Hawai`i Public Television, NOVA, and National Public Radio.
Dr. Burney's past research has focused on endangered species, paleoenvironmental studies, and causes of extinction. He has over 30 years of practical experience in conservation, including serving as a technical consultant for Wildlife Conservation Society, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, BBC Natural History Unit, National Museums of Kenya, United Nations Development Program, USDA, US Fish & Wildlife Service, and other organizations.
Dr. Burney is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Hawai`i-Mānoa and the Université d'Antananarivo (Madagascar). Prior to moving to Kaua`i he was a Professor at Fordham University in New York. He received an M.Sc. in conservation biology from the University of Nairobi (Kenya) and a Ph.D. in Zoology with a minor in Botany from Duke University. He is author of over 100 scientific articles and monographs, many concerning the processes of extinction and environmental change. In 2006 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to write a book on his work at Makauwahi Cave on Kaua`i. His research has been featured on National Geographic Television, Discovery Channel, Hawai`i Public Television, NOVA, and National Public Radio.
Scott Sloan is the Assistant Director of NTBG’s McBryde Garden and Allerton Garden. He oversees the care and maintenance of the gardens’ living collections and infrastructure, as well as properties outside the gardens proper, such as the Southshore Visitors Center Garden and NTBG’s administration and research complex.
Mr. Sloan has worked in horticulture his entire life, from his family roots in farming to running his own landscaping business. While pursuing his horticultural degree in the University of California system in the late 1980s, he graduated from NTBG’s Horticultural Internship Program. This experience led to the institution forming a special internship at its Kahanu Garden in 1989 and requesting that Mr. Sloan stay on in that capacity. Subsequently, he held various horticultural positions in the McBryde Garden, with increased levels of responsibility. Mr. Sloan was promoted to Assistant Director in 1994.
In addition to caring for the plants and the existing physical facilities (including buildings, irrigation, roads, stream crossings, and paths), current projects include seeking an alternative water supply by restoring a tunnel system that once existed in the plantation era. He is also working on the expansion of housing facilities for students and visiting scientists. Mr. Sloan has a fundamental role in the implementation of educational courses and tours in the gardens.
His professional affiliations include the Landscape Industry Council of Hawai‘i and the Steering Committee of the Kaua‘i Landscape Industry Council.
Mr. Sloan has worked in horticulture his entire life, from his family roots in farming to running his own landscaping business. While pursuing his horticultural degree in the University of California system in the late 1980s, he graduated from NTBG’s Horticultural Internship Program. This experience led to the institution forming a special internship at its Kahanu Garden in 1989 and requesting that Mr. Sloan stay on in that capacity. Subsequently, he held various horticultural positions in the McBryde Garden, with increased levels of responsibility. Mr. Sloan was promoted to Assistant Director in 1994.
In addition to caring for the plants and the existing physical facilities (including buildings, irrigation, roads, stream crossings, and paths), current projects include seeking an alternative water supply by restoring a tunnel system that once existed in the plantation era. He is also working on the expansion of housing facilities for students and visiting scientists. Mr. Sloan has a fundamental role in the implementation of educational courses and tours in the gardens.
His professional affiliations include the Landscape Industry Council of Hawai‘i and the Steering Committee of the Kaua‘i Landscape Industry Council.
Kamaui Aiona joined the NTBG as Director of Kahanu Garden in January 2002.
A trained ethnobotanist and a native Hawaiian, Mr. Aiona is fluent in the Hawaiian language. He graduated with honors from the University of Hawai`i, receiving two Bachelor's degrees, one in Natural Sciences and one in Hawaiian Studies, a minor in Biology, and a Master's in Hawaiian ethnobotany. His studies include the Hawaiian cultural uses of limu (marine algae) and land plants.
A trained ethnobotanist and a native Hawaiian, Mr. Aiona is fluent in the Hawaiian language. He graduated with honors from the University of Hawai`i, receiving two Bachelor's degrees, one in Natural Sciences and one in Hawaiian Studies, a minor in Biology, and a Master's in Hawaiian ethnobotany. His studies include the Hawaiian cultural uses of limu (marine algae) and land plants.
Kāwika Winter joined the NTBG in 2005 as the Director of Limahuli Garden and Preserve. Born and raised in the ahupua‘a of Wai‘alae, Kona, O‘ahu, Kāwika grew up in the islands with the mountains and the ocean as his playground. He went to the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) where he received a B.A. and an M.S. in botany. He is currently working on the completion of his Ph.D. from UHM which focuses on the reciprocal influences that cultures and plants have on each other’s evolutionary paths.
David Lee assumed directorship of The Kampong in August 2007. Lee obtained M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Botany at Rutgers University, specializing in biochemical systematics. After a post-doctoral fellowship, he worked at the University of Malaya for a number of years. While in Malaysia he discovered the research questions in the functional ecology of tropical forest plants that occupied him for the next 35 years.
Most recently Lee has served as chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University, where he has worked for 26 years. He helped establish a strong program in tropical botany at the university, serving as the founding chairperson of the Department of Environmental Studies. He currently continues as a professor at FIU.
Lee has conducted fieldwork throughout the tropics and in the Everglades, and has authored some 75 peer-reviewed articles and 7 books.
Most recently Lee has served as chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University, where he has worked for 26 years. He helped establish a strong program in tropical botany at the university, serving as the founding chairperson of the Department of Environmental Studies. He currently continues as a professor at FIU.
Lee has conducted fieldwork throughout the tropics and in the Everglades, and has authored some 75 peer-reviewed articles and 7 books.
