Our Staff

Meet Our Team

Our staff works alongside the National Park Service to protect and preserve Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, helping everyone enjoy and connect with this special place, today and for generations to come.

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Elizabeth Fien

  • Elizabeth Fien holds the position of President and CEO of Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where she brings over 30 years of exemplary leadership, non-profit management, and fundraising skills. During her 15-year tenure, Elizabeth has successfully transformed the organization from a grassroots, all-volunteer initiative into a robust and essential philanthropic partner for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Through her strategic vision, the Friends now support vital initiatives, including youth and cultural programs, the development of new trails, infrastructure improvements, and large-scale forest restoration efforts. Her lasting commitment to conservation and community engagement continues to protect Hawaiʻi's natural and cultural heritage for generations to come.

    Elizabeth began her career in Denver, Colorado, focusing on legal healthcare management at Rocky Mountain Health Care Corporation. After moving to Hawaiʻi in 1995, she managed the legal department for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Hawaiʻi (HMSA), and soon established herself as a leading non-profit consultant, dedicating years to strategic planning and successful fundraising initiatives for key community organizations, such as the Friends of the Library, the Waimānalo Health Center, and Bridge House.

    Residing at the southernmost tip of the United States, South Point on Hawaiʻi Island, Elizabeth enjoys quality time with her son and Brooklyn, her bulldog. She is passionate about Hawaiian culture and serves on the board of the Nā ʻAʻaliʻi Kū Makani Foundation, which supports Hawaiian language education and cultural programs in Waiʻōhinu, Kaʻū, on the island of Hawaiʻi. In her leisure time, she loves hiking on active volcanoes and designing and creating jewelry.

red fern unfurling

TBA

  • To Be Announced

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Ellen Quier

  • After her first trip to Hawaii in 2006 she knew this is where she wanted to call home. Ellen moved from Pennsylvania to the Big Island in 2010. Ellen and her husband, Sterling, reside in the home they built in Hawaiian Ocean View Ranchos. Prior to moving to Hawaii, Ellen spent 25 years working in a financial analyst role in multiple industries including publishing, medical devices, medical care, food distribution, and transportation. She also served as a real estate tax collector and treasurer for a cemetery. Ellen previously worked part-time with the Friends in 2011-2012. Most recently, she was a data analyst at West Hawaii Community Health Center for the past 3-1/2 years. In her free time, Ellen enjoys golf and exploring the island with their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Dexter.

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Lynette Smith

  • Lynette Smith joined the Friends as their Executive Administrative Assistant in April of 2016. Lynette brings a wealth of experience in front office management, accounting, sales and administration. Lynette is a long time resident of Hawai’i (over 30 years), and lives in Mountain View with her husband and daughter. Lynette loves hiking, and if you are out and about in the park, don’t be surprised if you find her on one of the many park trails.

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Ab Kawainohoikala‘i Valencia

  • Kumu hula Hālau Hula Kalehuaki‘eki‘eika‘iu ma Honolulu a me Kīlauea Ab passed away in 2017, but he will always be a part of the Friends! If you wish to do an honorarium for Kumu, those donations will go to rebuilding the Hale at the pa hula.

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David (Hunter) Binkley

  • Born and raised in the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee, Hunter grew up with a deep reverence for the outdoors, nurtured by his father—a skilled hunter and outdoorsman who taught him the art of careful observation and a respect for nature. That early connection to the land sparked a lifelong curiosity about the world and the stories it holds.

    Since moving to Hawai‘i, he has devoted himself to helping others connect with the island’s remarkable landscapes. His career began in tourism, where he led stargazing adventures to the summit of Mauna Kea and later guided visitors through the dynamic terrain of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. It was in the presence of the volcano that he discovered a calling to connect people with the natural world through hands-on learning.

    As Institute Director, Hunter oversees our flagship Institute on Demand program, develops partnerships with local businesses and communities, and leads outreach through our social media platforms. Drawing on his experience as a guide, educator, and nonprofit professional, he is helping to grow a unique program that brings the transformative power of the park to learners from around the world. His work also supports the broader mission of our philanthropic organization, which advances conservation and a wide variety of projects around the park.

    He is also a passionate storyteller, a dedicated father, and a lifelong learner. When he’s not working, he enjoys chess, football, and exploring the island with his two young sons, Forest and Malcolm, who keep him curious, grounded, and always ready for the next adventure.

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TBD

  • Coming soon.

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Kelly Kaupu

  • Coming soon.

Connor Dube Program Coordinator

Connor Dube

  • Conner is passionate about caring for Hawaiʻi’s native landscapes and wildlife. After moving to the Big Island, he joined Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to help protect and restore the park’s unique ecosystems. With experience in horticulture and sustainable agriculture, Conner enjoys being hands on in the field and learning more about the native plants and animals that make this place so special.

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Novi Czyscon

  • Novi Czyscon was born and raised in St. Paul, MN, and moved to Hawaii in 2019. Ever since, she has been cultivating an appreciation for the island and the forests that grow there. As an aspiring conservationist, the Guardians of the Trails program propels her to learn about the native forest of Hawai’i, and the multitude of unique endemic plants. Novi appreciates getting outdoors and giving back to the ʻāina through her work.

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Mardani P Sugai

  • Mardani P Sugai was born on Oahu, then shortly moved to the Big Island and grew up in the distric of Ka’ū. She is an artist, gamer, guitarist, and conservationist. She attended schools that incorporated conservation throughout her education. She graduated from Volcano School of Arts and Sciences and went straight into working as a Youth Ranger at Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park in Natural Resource Management. She is a proud member of the Guardians of the Trails and enjoys protecting the ‘āina, and aspires to create a business for her illustrations in the future.

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Kelson Gallano

  • Kelson was born and raised on Hawaiʻi island in the district of Ka’ū. He graduated from Ka’ū High School and Hawai’i Community College. His favorite sports are football, swimming, soccer and volleyball. He is an aspiring digital artist, tattoo artist and engraver. Kelson loves working for Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; he enjoys the work that keeps him fit and brings a better understanding the importance of the work.

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Everett-Jace Ayap

  • Everett was born in Hilo and raised in Keaau. Growing up in a Filipino family, he loves the foods adobo and sinigang. He has 9 years of robotics experience through his high school. After high school, he opted to work with the Youth Ranger program in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. After his summer internship in the park, he began his role with the Guardians of the Trail program. As an aspiring wood worker and lover of volcanoes, he feels at home working on Kīlauea and with FHVNP.

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Waylon Velez

  • Waylon was born and raised on the Big Island of Hawai’i in the district of Ka’ū. He graduated from Ka’ū High and Pahala Elementary School. His favorite hobbies are mechanics, drawing, playing musical instruments and going to the beach. The Guardians of the trail program has taught him the importance of conservation and the ʻāina.

Kaylyn Floyd

  • Kaylyn was born in southeast Texas, moving to Keaau, Hawai’i in 2022 and graduated from Keaau High School. She attends school for ecology, hoping to become a ecologist or environmental scientist. She’s passionate about wildlife conservation and animal welfare. She enjoys crochet, cooking, skating, sewing, and language.

Interested in joining our team?

Make a difference and support our mission to support the National Park Service in the protection, preservation, and interpretation of the natural and cultural resources at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park for the enjoyment of current and future generations.

career opportunities

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Nobody left. 🌋 Rain jackets, umbrellas, phones out — and not one person looking anywhere but straight at that fountain. Episode 48, June 1, 2026. Kīlauea's north vent, 650 feet of lava in the air, rivers of molten rock across the caldera floo
Happy National Best Friends Day! 🌋❤️✨ They say a good friend helps you grow, but a best friend protects your native forests, preserves your volcanic landscapes, and supports your community. As the Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, we li
The moon rising over Mauna Loa. 🌕 That rust-red slope is the upper flank of the largest active volcano on Earth — shot from Kīlauea's summit, where two of the world's most remarkable volcanoes share the same skyline. The moon up there is 2,15
Ānuenue. 🌈 In Hawaiian culture, the rainbow is sacred — a sign of divine presence, historically associated with aliʻi, and seen as a bridge between the human and spiritual worlds. At Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where volcanic weather and
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