Meet Oʻahu RC&D | Oahu Resource Conservation and Development Council

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.

Hannah Hubanks

Conservation Specialist
808-622-9026
hannah.hubanks@oahurcd.org

Hannah works with farmers, land managers, and local stakeholders to improve soil and water resources through conservation planning. She also coordinates the Waimānalo Watershed Restoration Project, Co-managing Food Safety and Land Stewardship Project, and Carbon Farming Project. Originally from Wisconsin, she earned her B.S. degree from UW-Madison in Zoology. After time abroad and working in a variety of science disciplines and ecosystems, she arrived in Hawaiʻi and took interest in global and local challenges within food systems. She focused on soil health assessment in Hawaiʻi for her M.S. thesis work at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in Natural Resource and Environmental Management. Hannah looks forward to carrying out the mission of Oʻahu RC&D and promoting a more sustainable Hawaiʻi.

India Clark

Farm and Community Engagement Coordinator
808-622-9026
india.clark@oahurcd.org

Since graduating in 2007 from UH with her Masters in Urban and Regional Planning, India has enjoyed learning and actively serving agriculture stewards throughout the islands. Working closely with communities and service providers, she has contributed to resource management and resilience planning, policy, training, and outreach efforts with the University, the NOAA Pacific Services Center, and the Olohana Foundation. She is excited about her role with Oahu RC&D in supporting the growth of the Women Farmers Network and helping to build capacities for farms, ranches, and watershed partnerships to collaborate. She is also passionate about creatively engaging young farmers, stewards, and entrepreneurs within the greater community of those actively ensuring Hawaii’s watersheds, communities, and agriculture are flourishing.

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 in the islands.

Mandy Chen

Conservation Planner
808-600-2931
mandy.chen@oahurcd.org

Mandy is born and raised on Oahu and graduated with her BS in Animal Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM). During her undergraduate studies, she completed a fellowship and internship with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) while working at the UHM College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (CTAHR) as a student activities planner. Since graduating, Mandy continued working at CTAHR to promote agricultural and natural resource programs and careers to students of all ages. She is currently earning her MS in Higher Education Administration from UHM. As a Conservation Planner, she will provide conservation planning assistance to Oahu producers in partnership with USDA NRCS.

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.

Frankie Koethe

Advisor, Women Farmers Network and Ag-tourism
frankie.koethe@oahurcd.org

Born and raised on Oʻahu, Frankie has a strong commitment to community development. Her Masters of Science in Natural Resource & Environmental Management at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa focused on working to create cohesion between residents and visitors in Wanini, Kauai. As a Project Coordinator at Oʻahu RC&D, Frankie led efforts to create the Hawai’i Women Farmers Network by providing scholarships, mini-grants, and agribusiness network trainings to cultivate networks and partnerships with women producers and ranchers. Currently working with Koʻolau Mountains Watershed Partnership as their Community Outreach Liaison, Frankie continues to be a strong voice and advocate for local women in Hawaiʻi agriculture.

Jean Brokish

Special Projects Advisor
Jean.Brokish@oahurcd.org

Jean served as Oʻahu RC&D’s executive director for eight years and continues to lend her expertise in several strategic areas, including fundraising and the Women Farmers Network. After growing up on a dairy farm in Wisconsin, Jean pursued bachelor’s and master’s degrees in agriculture and has since worked with farmers in five states and one foreign country. She enjoys connecting with farmers and identifying ways to improve stewardship of our soil and water resources.