Hawai‘ Native Plant Specialist

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FULL TIME Technical Kamuela, HI, US

Salary Range: $50,000.00 To $55,000.00 Annually

The Hawai‘i native plant specialist is responsible for the germination and propagation of plants for The Kohala Center (TKC)’s native forest restoration site at Keawewai, a 60-acre ‘ili ‘āina nāhelehele, or native forested land division on Kohala Mountain. Based in the uplands of the ahupua‘a of Kawaihae, the primary responsibility of this position is to (re) establish Keawewai as a native food forest through field research, native nursery propagation, native out planting, and invasive species control.

In this effort, this position helps provide inspiration, education, native plant resources, and stewardship experiences for community members to establish native food forests on their ‘āina. The ideal candidate has a minimum of five years of Hawai‘i native plant nursery experience and has strong relationship and responsibility to Kawaihae and/or native dryland and mesic forest plants learned from many kumu and years of practice.

• Connect with, listen to, and kilo kumu of all kinds (teachers and trees) to understand what ‘āina needs in ways that support total well-being of ‘āina and kānaka in balance.
• Strengthen existing and create new relationships, networks, and alliances with other Hawai‘i-based native nurseries, planters, conservation organizations, and kama‘āina and kupa‘āina of Kawaihae and Kohala.

• Support the creation of conditions (e.g., hosted site visits, huaka‘i, Hoa‘āina Stewardship Days) that include, welcome, and orient diverse TKC staff and community members to native dryland and mesic forest ecosystems including their many relations, elements, and cycles of transitions.
• Conduct research and the collection of qualitative and quantitative data that leads to native reforestation. This includes data tracking, collection, and analysis of place-based propagation practices, native dryland and mesic forest plant species, threats to reforestation (e.g. fires, disease, invasive species), etc.
• Support seed collection and storing, species identification, germination, out planting, watering, weeding, and monitoring efforts.
• Care for the water and nutrient cycles to include programming and maintenance of irrigation systems, supplies purchasing, equipment repairs and maintenance, cleaning and organizing of facilities, etc.
• Develop and plan for soil fertility management, seeds, seasons, water, and weather to determine optimal growing conditions and indicators of health for each native species.
• Help control and remove non-native plants and species in respectful ways to ensure the health and well-being of ‘āina and kānaka.
• Establish and maintain seed, seedling, and out planting inventory including species, dates, protocols, planters, kaulana mahina, and other key data points using multiple technologies.
• Prepare native forest “starter kits” to seed smaller areas of land for our community to scale native forest restoration efforts.
• Support the inventory and maintenance of all facilities, equipment, and tools at Keawewai.
• Support community food production and food-forest trials.
• Co-create conditions that ensure the safety and health of ‘āina and kānaka of Kohala.

• Assesses for learning the impact of our work, the development of regenerative practices, and conditions and indicators of a state of pono in context of kula and forested lands.
• Manages recordkeeping, outcomes and indicators…