KRISTEN CLYNE-HAMITOUCHE

CHERYL GANSECKI

Cheryl Gansecki is a volcanologist with a Ph.D. in Geology from Stanford University and a B.A. in Earth Science and Archaeology from Wesleyan University. Her research includes volcanoes in Hawai'i, Greece, and Yellowstone National Park. She has worked as a geologist at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory mapping lava flows on Mauna Loa; a lecturer at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo; and an independent tour guide and lecturer for groups visiting Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Cheryl is co-owner and president of Volcano Video Productions, where she films and produces the ongoing "Eruption Update," seen daily in the Kilauea Visitor Center. Cheryl and her husband, Ken Hon, live in Hilo with their two daughters

DIANA KELLEY

Diana Kelley is a resident of 'Ola'a (Kurtistown), where she lives with her extended family. Diana has a Master's degree in Applied Anthropology/Museum Studies and Conservation from Northern Arizona University. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she comes to Hawai'i via Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, arriving in Hawai'i in 2007. Diana is currently a Client Educator for HypnoBirthing® and teaches both Fertility and Birth with Hypnosis. She is a haumana hula (hula student) with Halau Kalehuaki'eki'eika'iu ma Kilauea and volunteers with Engine 5-B in the Hawaiian Acres Fire Department.

POHAI MONTAGUE-MULLINS

Pohai Montague-Mullins hails from the "long-gone" sugar cane plantations of Pa'auhau and Hakalau. A Hilo High School graduate, she earned her B.A. in Speech Communications (with a minor in Hawaiian Language) from the University of Hawai'i at Hilo while raising five children and working full-time. She went on to earn an M.A. in Education and a Teaching Certification from Central Michigan University. Fluent in Hawaiian, Pohai has taught at Ke Kula 'O N?awahiokalani'opu'u since 1995. For a decade, she was a KISS, KAPA, and KHBC radio personality and has been a regular on "Living in Paradise," a nightly cable TV show. Pohai lives in Volcano and loves when her seven grandchildren visit. "I strive to be an example for them by being of service to others," she says.

PATRICK W. NAUGHTON

Pat Naughton has lived in Hawai'i most of his life, primarily on O'ahu. He graduated from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and holds two master's degrees and an earned doctorate from Canada and the West Indies. Pat is a Vietnam veteran. Most of his career has been in educational administration in the University of Hawai'i system. He has also worked in development and nonprofit administration in Montana and Hilo. Pat serves on several volunteer boards on the Big Island and currently resides in Mountain View.

MARILYN NICHOLSON

NATALIE PFEIFER

Natalie Pfeifer is an island girl who was born and raised in Honolulu. She attended Punahou School, Mauna Olu College, and Washington State University majoring in liberal arts. In 1990, she moved to Volcano from the island of Maui. Natalie went to work for the Volcano Art Center in 1992 and was their Gallery Director until 1999 when she and her husband, Dave, relocated to the U.S. continent because of his work. They lived for four years in Fairfield, Iowa, where Natalie had an Ayurvedic food and baking business called Pies and Dahls, and later to Phoenix, Arizona. During their eight years away, they explored most of the middle and southwestern states in which they'd never spent any time before. When they could not stand to be away from the ocean and the mountains any longer, Natalie and her husband came home to Hawai'i, where they reside full time in Volcano. She is currently on the board of Art Maui and is a Volcano Community Volunteer.

THANE K. PRATT

Thane Pratt retired in 2009 from a 20-year career as a wildlife biologist with the Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, based in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The culmination of years of the Center's bird research was the book Conservation Biology of Hawaiian Forest Birds (Yale University Press, 2009), with Thane as chief editor. Born in Honolulu, he attended Hawai'i Preparatory Academy, then earned his B.A. in Biology and Ecology from Colby College and his Ph.D. in Ecology from Rutgers University. Thane is currently a Research Associate at Bishop Museum, an Alternate Trustee on the Cooke Foundation, a docent at the Volcano Art Center, and writing a second edition of Birds of New Guinea (Princeton University Press, 2012).

NICK SHEMA

Nick Shema has lived in Hawai'i and worked in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) since 1991. He has worked on research projects involving native birds, plants, and insects and is passionate about preserving Hawai'i's native flora and fauna. Nick currently works as Facilities and Safety Manager for the U.S.G.S. - Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (PIERC). In addition to his other duties, he serves as liaison between PIERC and HVNP and various state and federal agencies. He has been involved as a volunteer in the Volcano community on numerous projects, such as leading forest tours for the Volcano Art Center at their Niaulani campus. In addition, he has participated in many bird counts and has led birding tours in various Hawai'i Island locations. Nick is interested in Hawaiian culture and studies hula in Volcano. He enjoys bicycling and hiking and other fitness activities, as well as working on his house and land in Volcano.

IRENIO 'AB' VALENCIA

Ab Valencia, born and raised in Honolulu, attended the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and the University of Kansas-Lawrence to study Architecture. He and his wife, Pua O'Mahoney, now reside in the home they built in Mauna Loa Estates. Trained as a kumu hula (hula teacher/master), Ab established Halau Hula Kalehuaki'eki'eika'iu in Honolulu in 1991. He currently maintains his halau (school) in Honolulu as well as Volcano. His 'ohana (family) was originally from Hilo and he says that moving back to Hawai'i Island was returning home.