Brad Stubbs

Treasurer

Brad Stubbs brings over 15 years of experience working with federal, state, and community partners across the Pacific in marine conservation, program management, and partnership-driven stewardship. He served as Executive Director of the Malama Kai Foundation from 2020 to 2025 and is excited to continue advancing MKF’s mission as a Board member.

Brad has held leadership roles at Lynker supporting NOAA programs across the Pacific Islands, and his previous work includes positions with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources, the NOAA Pacific Islands Regional Office, and The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi Chapter. His experience spans coastal restoration, coral reef conservation, fisheries management, scientific diving, grant management, and strategic planning.

Brad holds a Master of Business Administration and a B.S. in Oceanography from Hawaiʻi Pacific University and brings a strong commitment to collaborative conservation and effective organizational leadership in support of healthy coastal ecosystems for future generations

Doug Harper

Secretary

In Doug’s 20+ years of professional life, he has worked for organizations as diverse as federal and territorial governments, to small non-profits. His experience covers a host of topics related to community and resource resilience, from incorporating fishermen and hunters in conservation, to preparing communities for coastal hazards, and natural resource restoration. Throughout his career, his focus has been on achieving desired outcomes through strong collaboration and mutual respect and understanding. He is currently the Executive Director for Mālama Maunalua. Doug has a BA in Environmental Studies, a Master’s in Environmental Planning, and a J.D., all from the University of Kansas.

Riley Coon

board member

Captain Riley E. Coon is a third-generation co-owner of Trilogy Excursions, founded by the Coon family in 1973. Born and raised on Maui, Riley grew up immersed in the ocean and the marine tourism industry, developing a deep respect for Hawaiʻi’s coastal and ocean resources from a young age.

In his current role as Director of Sustainable Tourism, Riley focuses on integrating environmental stewardship, education, and operational excellence across Trilogy’s activities. He is especially passionate about engaging captains and crew in Maui-focused conservation efforts, including hands-on involvement with Maui’s Day Use Mooring Buoy Program and 'aina-based conservation events.

Riley serves as a Board Member of Malama Kai Foundation, supporting its mission to protect Hawaiʻi’s nearshore waters through responsible ocean use and community partnership. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Lahaina Restoration Foundation since 2014.

Riley is married to his wife, Jenny, and together they are raising their three young children on Maui, continuing a family legacy rooted in ocean stewardship, community, and mālama ʻāina.

Teri Leicher

Board Member

Ms. Leicher is an owner of Jack’s Diving Locker, an ocean recreation company in Kailua-Kona. She has been active in coastal and reef protection issues in West Hawaiʻi and throughout Hawaiʻi for over 20 years, and played a key role in the development of the Hawaiʻi Day-Use Mooring Program and in the installation and maintenance of day-use moorings along the coast of West Hawaiʻi.

Matthew Bogdanovich

board member

Matt grew up loving winter sports in the north country of New York State. He got his scuba certification when he was thirteen through school and that stuck with him for years. He moved to Hawaii after graduating from the University of Puget Sound in 2008 with a BA in Studio Art with his girlfriend at the time (now his wife). They have worked at Jack’s Diving Locker since 2009 and Matt has pursued all aspects of the business. He is a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer, PADI Freediver Instructor, USCG Captain, and Charter Operations Manager.

He has served as Treasurer of the Hawaiian Islands Scuba Association (HIRSA) since 2014. He has been involved with the Day Use Mooring program on the Big Island by installing and maintaining moorings for most of his professional scuba career.

Christopher Hawkins

Executive Director

Christopher Hawkins has spent more than two decades in the coastal management field. He has broad experience in the principles of coastal marine ecology and artisanal fisheries and expertise in conservation planning and monitoring, human dimensions research, and program evaluation. His approach to resource conservation is rooted in a social values model, and he has worked for local and federal government agencies, universities, and non-profit organizations.

Chris has a bachelor’s degree in Marine Environmental Management and Safety from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. He earned his Master’s degree in Tropical Coastal Management from Newcastle University in the United Kingdom and a Ph.D. in Environmental Conservation at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. 

Alyssa Garvin

Administration and education Director

Alyssa Garvin leads organizational operations and advances marine education initiatives that connect communities to Hawaiʻi’s coastal resources. With five years of experience collaborating with federal, state, and community partners across the Pacific, Alyssa brings a strong background in grants management, program development, and outreach.

She plays a key role in strengthening MKF’s education programs, cultivating partnerships, and supporting collaborative marine management efforts that align with the organization’s mission. Alyssa holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of Rochester and is passionate about building systems and programs that empower communities to mālama Hawaiʻi’s marine and coastal environments for future generations.

Victoria Martocci

marine Programs director

Victoria Martocci came to conservation work through the water. Over three decades in Maui Nui she has synthesized her skills as an interpretive naturalist, a professional mariner, and a program designer to shepherd conservation education into field practice.

Victoria first volunteered for the Day-Use Mooring Buoy (DMB) Program in 2000 and joined the Malama Kai Foundation Board of Directors in 2015 before moving into her current staff role. That history gives her firsthand knowledge of the program's evolution, its community roots, and the realities of working in the marine environment.

As Marine Programs Director, Victoria oversees MKF's statewide marine conservation portfolio, including stewardship of 223 day-use mooring buoys managed in partnership with DLNR across multiple islands. Her work spans grant and contract implementation, environmental compliance, dive team coordination, systems development, and long-range infrastructure planning. On any given day, she may be drafting proposals, coordinating field operations, or at the helm of a maintenance vessel inspecting moorings.

Kater hiney

Ridge to reef COORDINATOR

Kater Hiney holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Science from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. Previously Kater worked as the Hawaii Day-Use Mooring Buoy Coordinator for Malama Kai Foundation. Kater has been sharing her biological knowledge with students and the public for over 20 years. She is very familiar with a wide array of scientific subjects with her expertise being marine science, seabird biology, and ocean conservation. Currently, Kater is working as an education specialist assisting Malama Kai Foundation facilitating monthly Reef Talks, and working to educate future generations and the public through community grants.

ilene Grossman

Ridge to Reef COORDINATOR

Ilene Grossman is the Ridge to Reef Watershed/Ahupua'a Education Program Coordinator. She has been working in the field of Environmental Education for over 30 years with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Education. She has worked with people of all ages exploring the natural world together in various parts of the world.