Oʻahu RC&D Staff
Dave Elliott
Executive Director
dave.elliott@oahurcd.org
Dave Elliott has more than fifteen years of experience working in agricultural development and natural resource management in Hawaii and Latin America as an entrepreneur, researcher, and non-profit program director. He is passionate about sustainable agriculture and working alongside farmers to identify stewardship practices that benefit farm productivity and Hawaiʻi’s water and soil resources.
India Clark
Farm and Community Engagement Coordinator
india.clark@oahurcd.org
Since graduating in 2007 from UH with her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning at UH, India has enjoyed working on resource management and resilience planning, policy, training, and outreach efforts with the University, the NOAA Pacific Services Center, local farms and community stewardship groups. She is excited about her role with Oahu RC&D in supporting the growth of the Women Farmers Network and farmer-to-farmer learning around soil health and farm business viability practices.
Augusto Decastro
Digital Communications Consultant
augusto.decastro@oahurcd.org
Augusto provides website, photography, and videography support for O’ahu RC&D.
He is also the Sustainability Coordinator for Manoa Elementary School. His primary task is to divert food waste from the landfill by composting them within school property. The composting program provides a learning tool for the classrooms teaching students the effects and value of recycling.
Megan Gonsalves
Conservation Planner
megan.gonsalves@oahurcd.org
Megan graduated from UH Manoa with her B.S. in Natural Resource and Environmental Management, where she took an interest in soil science and agriculture. She has since worked in a variety of roles in both agriculture and natural resource management, including participating in research focused on creating a soil health index for Hawaiʻi, working as a farm manager and agricultural consultant for a local farm, and completing an AmeriCorps term with DOFAW Native Ecosystems Protection and Management. She is passionate about supporting communities that are contributing to building a resilient Hawaiʻi through agricultural production and resource conservation and carrying this out by providing project support to her colleagues.
Louise Martin
Conservation Planner
louise.martin@oahurcd.org
Louise graduated from Humboldt State University with her BS in Rangeland Resource Science and minors in Botany and Geospatial Analysis. During her undergraduate studies, she completed an internship with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). Louise provides conservation planning assistance to Oahu producers through a partnership between Oʻahu RC&D and NRCS. She is motivated to support producers who are seeking to address natural resource concerns on their lands.
Sophie Moser
Conservation Technician
sophie.moser@oahurcd.org
While receiving her undergraduate degree at Cal Poly, SLO, Sophie was introduced to agroecology and became passionate about reforming food systems to provide stewardship to the environment. Once in graduate school, Sophie researched sustainable cultivation of cash crops with emphasis on intercropping, hoping that the findings influence the California legislature to transform agricultural policies to be more environmentally minded. Sophie desires to see agriculture that gives back to the earth and mimics the natural environment. She is passionate about advocacy for diversity in agriculture, engaging the community in sustainable, long-term change, and conducting research to inform new agriculture protocols and mitigate environmental damage.
Logan Motas
Outreach Specialist
logan.motas@oahurcd.org
Born and raised on Oʻahu, Logan has a deeply rooted connection to the land and its communities. Logan is a Natural Resource and Environmental Management major specializing in Plant Ecology, and plans to use her knowledge to serve her community and conserve the state’s natural resources. Logan has done a variety of work relating to the environment and community service. During her undergraduate studies, she was an intern field/lab technician studying root competition, a Student Ambassador for the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, and was one of the Lead Archivists for her scholarship’s cohort. Logan is excited to support and uplift her community through the work Oʻahu RC&D does, and looks forward to forging a more abundant Hawaiʻi.
Leah Rothbaum
Program Specialist
leah.rothbaum@oahurcd.org
Leah Rothbaum was born and raised on Oʻahu and lives in Kailua. Leah has a masters degree in urban and regional land use planning from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa (UH) where her studies focused on natural resources management at the interface of urban and agricultural lands. Leah has worked in a variety of natural resource stewardship and community engagement positions in Hawaiʻi, Colorado, and in New Zealand. She is thrilled to be back home and excited to work with ORC&D, technical specialists from UH and NRCS, and with farmers across the state to help build Hawaiʻi’s network of Soil Health Champions and Technical Advisors.
Harmony Shelton
Office Administrator
808-622-9026
harmony.shelton@oahurcd.org
Harmony is born and raised on the island Oʻahu. She has an extensive background in banking and customer service. As the Office Administrator, she provides administrative and clerical support to Oʻahu RC&D’s diverse programs. She looks forward to providing assistance to fellow staff members along with learning more about agriculture and conservation here on the islands.
Ivy Wappler
Soil Health Program Assistant
ivy.wappler@oahurcd.org
A lifelong advocate for local agriculture, Ivy has diverse experience working with Hawaii’s farmers and land managers. Most recently, she helped to manage 500 acres of agricultural land on Oahu’s north shore. She also works with a network of stakeholders from across Hawaii’s food system collaborating to increase local food production and food access. Currently a graduate student in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems, Ivy is thrilled to be supporting Oahu RC&D’s soil health programs, as she knows how vital sustainable management practices are to farmers’ long term success.
Board of Directors
The Oʻahu RC&D Council is governed by a diverse and dynamic Board of Directors who provide broad geographic representation from both the public and private sectors. Directors volunteer their time, working to oversee the policy, direction, and activities of Oʻahu RC&D.
President: Ethan West
Vice-President, Secretary: Nicole Galase
Treasurer: Trisha Yamato
Director: John McHugh
