Meet Our Team

Leslie Mullens is Wild Hawai'i's Executive Director in charge of Operations, Development & Marketing. One of Wild Hawai'i's co-founders, Leslie has had more than ten years' operations and staff management experience. She's been a Maui resident since 2001 and was the catalyst that helped take Wild Hawai'i from a loose concept to the structured program it is today. Leslie has focused her continuing education on marine biology; environmental education; social entrepreneurship; natural Hawaiian history, and culture & language. She brings educational insight, front-line operational experience, and effective day-to-day management to the organization. Leslie works with the rest of the team to make sure curriculum development, lesson plans, grant proposals, marketing, guide & teacher resources, and student programs are effective and successful.

Jennifer Dadmun is Hawai'i Wildlife Fund's Programs Coordinator and one of Wild Hawai'i's founding members. She collaborates with educators and the Wild Hawai'i team to adapt curricula and create our programs. She holds Bachelors degrees in Biology and Environmental Studies & Human Ecology from Colorado's Regis University. Jennifer has worked in Marine Science Education, conservation and research for the last six years, over four of those years on Maui. Jennifer led interactive summer camps while in the Education Department at Maui Ocean Center and visited Maui's schools to educate students about the marine environment while working for a local non-profit. You can find Jen on the trail with students, teaching Hawaiian culture (she chants with the best of them!) and environmental stewardship (get out your gardening gloves!).

Ken Schmitt came to Maui in 1979, leaving behind a successful life to live off the land in the jungles of our island. Three years later he walked back out the rainforest, an expert on plants, animals, their interconnectedness, and their habitats. Ever since, Ken's been committed to sharing what he'd learned with as many other people as possible so we'd all become good stewards of Planet Earth. The owner of Hike Maui, Ken has been committed to Wild Hawai'i's success from the start. One of our co-founders, he's generously supplied our program with transportation, field experts, hiking equipment, insurance, training, and sage advice on how to launch & sustain an interactive environmental endeavor.

Hannah Bernard is the Vice President and co-founder of Hawai'i Wildlife Fund. She is an award-winning marine biologist with 20 years' experience in conducting research, education and community outreach programs on protected marine life. She teaches Naturalist Training at the Maui Community College and developed the Junior Naturalist Program for The Maui Ocean Center as Director of Education during her employment there. Hannah is currently a board member of the Sierra Club's National Wildlands and Marine Habitat Committee, and the federally-appointed Pacific Scientific Review Group and Pacific Cetacean Take Reduction team. One of our founding members, Hannah continues to provide our team with incomparable guidance and years of experience & relationships in the environmental community.

Michelle O'Byrne has a passion for learning and teaching about the natural world. She completed a dual bachelor degree in environmental science and fine arts at The Evergreen State College. While working as a naturalist at Maui Ocean Center, she designed and directed a youth summer camp, gave tours to visiting school groups, and taught visiting adults and children about the marine environment in Hawai'i. She fell in love with Hawai'i as a child and continues to be inspired to cherish and protect the islands' unique environment.

Ray Nielsen has always loved adventure. In his "small kid days", growing up on O'ahu, he led his buddies into the ridges and valleys of Ko'olau Mountain, bushwhacking, climbing, exploring and camping. This wild man stuff continued when he grew up and joined the Army's 82nd Airborne as a reconnaissance paratrooper. Then he really grew up: got sensible, got married, had two kids and began working in hotel management. He found the balance he was looking for by guiding visitors for Hike Maui --adventure and service in one job. "I like educating people about our culture and about nature. I like to say I'm saving the world one van-load at a time." Ray is one of Wild Hawai'i's incredibly talented guides - with the added advantage of really just being one of the kids!

Danielle Little has traveled around the world and moved to Maui in 1999. Her studies in ethnobotany, ecology, and marine science have been self-motivated by working in the natural world. Danielle is a National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)-certified Outdoor Educator, a lifeguard, and a Wilderness First Responder. In addition to guiding trips for Hike Maui and Wild Hawai'i, Danielle works as an underwater videographer capturing the wonders of Hawaiian marine life. During the summer months, Danielle feeds her passion for travel by leading teenagers on three and four-week long wilderness adventure trips in some of the most inspiring landscapes on earth. Over the years, Danielle has had the privilege of working as an educator in natural areas with students ranging from ages five to seventy-seven. In regards to Wild Hawai'i, Danielle is most excited about sharing her love of this particular island with others who call Maui home.

Contact Wild Hawai'i:
Wild Hawai'i Learning Adventures, Inc.
PO Box 1378
Kihei, Hawai'i 96753
Office: 808-874-1256
Fax: 808-875-7536
info@wildhawaii.net