Hawaiian Native Seed & Canoe Collections Lead

The Kohala Center; Waimea/Kamuela (HI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The Kohala Center in Kamuela, Hawaii seeks a Waihona Native Collections Manager to lead living collections, seed banks, and canoe crop programs. Based at Keawewai, the role directs staff, apprentices, and volunteers while writing grants and managing work plans and budgets to advance ‘ili ‘āina restoration and biodiversity initiatives.

The role requires extensive experience in ecological restoration and grant-funded programs, with strong knowledge of Hawaiian ecosystems and community outreach.

Qualifications

• 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 knowledgebases, wikis, or resource repositories.
• Ability to research, create, and edit documents in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i.

Responsibilities

• 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 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.
• Oversee annual project work plans, budgets, and deliverables in accordance with approved timelines and budgets.

Skills

Ecological restoration

Living collections

Grant management

Community engagement

Hawaiian knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, ethnobotany, horticulture, agroecology or related field

Job description

The Kohala Center in Kamuela, Hawaii seeks a Waihona Native Collections Manager to lead living collections, seed banks, and canoe crop programs. Based at Keawewai, the role directs staff, apprentices, and volunteers while writing grants and managing work plans and budgets to advance ‘ili ‘āina restoration and biodiversity initiatives.

The role requires extensive experience in ecological restoration and grant-funded programs, with strong knowledge of Hawaiian ecosystems and community outreach.