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Melody (Mel) Boehl is the executive director for Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association (HPPA). She has over thirty years of leadership experience and a Bachelor of Science degree, Magna Cum Laude, in business administration. Mel started her professional career with Big Four public accounting firm KPMG, then moved into leadership roles with the large nonprofits Blue Diamond Growers and Sutter Health. Mel and her husband, Andy, moved to Hawai‘i in 2015, where she joined the HPPA ʻohana as the business director before assuming the executive director position in 2022. We are celebrating her 10th anniversary with HPPA this month.

What first sparked your passion for national parks and led you to work with HPPA?

I didn’t grow up with much, but my dad had this passion for the outdoors. We had a farm, and his goal was to visit every national park in the U.S. Every summer, he’d close our used furniture business and we’d hit the road. Yosemite became our home base, and we’d visit about four or five different national parks each year. My whole childhood was filled with these adventures.

At one of our favorite campgrounds, Summerdale, near Fish Camp outside Yosemite, they held what we called “Ranger Night.” There was this big bonfire, we’d roast marshmallows, and the ranger would give different talks every week. That kind of freedom—catching pollywogs, tubing down rivers, and hiking—just fueled my love for the parks.

I grew up amazed at how unique each park was: the geysers and wildlife of Yellowstone, the beauty of Montana’s parks. When I turned 14, I got my first job with the U.S. Forest Service, which was so exciting—I even got to ride in helicopters during forest fires!

A pivotal moment came when I was 15. In geometry class, I got a note asking if I’d like to get paid to work in Yosemite for the summer. That was through a program called Upward Bound, designed for underserved youth. We did college classes during the school year and worked in the parks during the summer. Those summers really shaped me—backpacking, taking water samples, leading night hikes. The rangers I worked with were passionate about stewardship, and that idea of caring for the land took deep root in me.

Even after college, my family kept up the tradition of visiting national parks each summer. When I moved to Hawaiʻi, I felt a similar love for the natural beauty of Hawaiʻi. My husband and I would explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and when I saw a job opening with Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association (HPPA), I knew I had to go for it. It felt like coming full circle—my first job was with the U.S. Forest Service, and now my last job would involve supporting national parks. It’s meaningful work, and that’s important to me.

What was your first day like with HPPA?

I remember it distinctly. the HPPA administrative office was based inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at the time, in a beautiful historic building that used to be a residence. My new boss, Margot Griffith, gave me a tour, and I immediately felt at home. I grew up in a historic home, so I appreciated the quirks—like pocket doors that didn’t quite work anymore.

Margot’s warmth made me feel valued, and though there was a lot to do, I didn’t mind learning the ropes on my own. I have a background in facilitation and project management, so I started volunteering to help. The team was small but mighty, and I quickly felt like I was where I belonged—combining my love for the parks with my retail experience. I even got to meet our retail team and see how engaged and invested they were.

I left work that day feeling great—though I did get a speeding ticket on the way home!

What was yesterday like in contrast?

As the Executive Director, my focus now is on overseeing HPPA operations, strategic goals, staff development and support, board and park partner communications. It’s a challenging job, but rewarding.

Much of my time is invested in working with our park partners as they navigate the changes to the NPS organization. The National Park Service/Department Of Interior is undergoing department consolidations and eliminations. This means that our park partners are looking to HPPA to fill in new gaps through our donations and staff support.

I am also working on our next strategic plan with our leadership team. We achieved all of our strategic goals that were established when I assumed the executive director role in 2022, including record sales and park donations over the past three years. The COVID crisis caused many of our park store and other operations to be shut down in 2020 and 2021. We were excited to restart operations and seized opportunities to improve park relations, initiate new product development, and invest more in community support and sales/profit results.

We are a small organization with very low overhead. We do a lot with a little. That is my biggest challenge. I work hard to balance our ability to deliver excellent products and educate and give excellent service to national parks visitors, while also working to make sure we maximize park support and donations.

What is one of the most exciting projects HPPA has been involved in recently?

The current and projected remodels at the national park visitor centers are exciting. Most of the buildings are historic, and they haven’t been updated in years. It’s been great to collaborate with our park partners to rethink the space and create more meaningful, interactive experiences for visitors.

I’m also excited about our new mobile visitor center trailer for Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. It’s outfitted and wrapped in signage. We plan to place it in a busy parking lot to connect with visitors and drive sales. We also hope to use it for outreach events. It’s a great opportunity to engage more people in the park.

I am also pleased with our support of the parks as they navigate recent changes to operations and staffing. With our help, the parks have been able to keep important programs running at successful levels, such as those that support endangered species work and other resource management priorities, as well as interpretation and education programs.

What is one unique item or product you’re especially proud of that we sell?

That’s a tough one! I love so many of our products.

Each of our products is thoughtfully curated, and we take pride in their quality and the stories they tell. Even the NPS Director and the Director of Interpretation from Washington, D.C. have complimented us on the quality of our products, which makes us feel incredibly proud of our talented team.

I am especially pleased with our custom plushies. We worked with national parks staff to develop realistic plush animals that are also captivating to our park store visitors. The plushies are also special because their sales results in a direct donation to the parks endangered species programs; HPPA donates $1 to the parks for each plushie sold. We recently introduced a plushie pueo (Hawaiian owl). It has been a huge hit.

How does HPPA work with local businesses and artists to bring Hawaiʻi to the visitor?

Supporting local businesses and artists is a top priority. Whenever we’re considering a new product, we always look for a Hawaiʻi-based source first. We also focus on bringing in handmade products as much as possible. If we can’t source locally, we look for vendors in the U.S., and only as a last resort do we go overseas.

We also attend cultural festivals and craft fairs like Made in Hawaiʻi and Made in Maui, looking for new vendors to work with. Our area managers and creative services director always go to these events with a mission in mind. Everything we sell has to be approved by the parks for the visitor center stores, so we often bring our NPS partners along to these events to help build relationships with vendors.

We’re also involved in cultural demonstrations at the parks. For example, at the National Park of American Samoa we support a program where practitioners are paid to weave traditional items, and we may be able to sell their products in the future. It’s a great way to help these artisans generate some income while offering visitors something culturally genuine.

What’s the secret to keeping HPPA financially strong while staying true to the mission?

There are four main factors. First, having a sound financial strategy and managing those goals actively. Second, maintaining strong partnerships with the national parks to ensure we’re providing meaningful products that support both our mission and theirs. Third, our people—our team is dedicated and passionate about engaging visitors and sharing the stories of the parks. Finally, constantly seeking innovative, unique products that help us increase margins and contribute more to the parks.

Our Board of Directors is also incredibly supportive, and we’re blessed to have members who are deeply immersed in Hawaiian culture. They help us stay grounded in our mission and vision.

What’s the big dream for HPPA in the next five to ten years?

Our immediate focus is to continue our support of our park partners as they navigate significant changes, and to successfully launch the remodeled visitors and park stores.

I also want to ensure we have a solid succession plan. My goal is to set up the next generation at HPPA for success. We have an amazing team, and I want to make sure they have the tools, training, and environment to thrive. When I eventually retire, I want to leave knowing HPPA it is in an even better place than when I started.

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Learn about our history here.

Shop to support the national parks of Hawaiʻi and American Samoa here.

Donate here.

Mary Cockett manages and curates our three Haleakalā National Park visitor center stores, so if you have stopped in to any of them in the Summit or Kīpahulu districts, you have "met" her, in a way. Purchases in our park stores support national park programs and projects. We are fortunate to have had Mary using her talent and skills for HPPA for twenty years this month, July, so we thought we would ask her some questions about her time with us!

Mahalo nui loa, Mary, and thank you for all of the hard work and dedication of the last two decades!

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What originally drew you to (then-named Hawaiʻi Natural History Association, or HNHA) 20 years ago?

My first trip into the Haleakalā National Park wilderness! My husband Hiapo and I had just moved to Maui, and we quickly made a trip up to the park. We were ecstatic to score a reservation for Hōlua Cabin for the following night. Our property container had not yet arrived at our rental, so we scurried into town to get hiking supplies. That amazing hike into the wilderness was my very first hike ever, anywhere, though Hiapo was an experienced backpacker. Experiencing the vibrant views, the serene silence and solitude, and the crater lit under a full moon were enough to make me determined to find a way to make my work one of helping the park. Given my retail background, I monitored job listings until I saw a position open up two years later.

Do you remember your first day?

Definitely. My trainer was a very classic Type A personality! I greatly enjoyed meeting all of the National Park Service employees, and they made me feel very welcome.

What has kept you motivated to stay with us, HPPA, for two decades?

I think when you are called to serve, the rest comes naturally; I’m still looking for ways to be of service.

How has your role changed over the years?

Initially it was just the day-to-day running of the three visitor center park stores, taking it all in and looking for ways I could most make an impact. From there, I have focused on improving operations, streamlining procedures, and developing new products. Eventually it was decided that my buying experience should be put to use in writing purchase orders. Managing our frontline and helping them on their interpretive path was a special joy. Today, in my role, there is more focus on helping the staff run excellent national park stores.

Can you share a proud moment or achievement that stands out?

: ) How many would you like? A major win for the organization was when I was able to get the very first apparel approved for sale. Apparel was anticipated to bring in at least another 20% in revenue to our park stores. This helped fuel massive change in all other HPPA park store areas, because once Haleakalā National Park approved these apparel sales, our other park sites and stores were able to do so as well.  This additional park store revenue helped to fund the future growth of the organization by providing the financial resources to: develop a Creative Services department, rebrand from HNHA to HPPA, and build brands for all of our national park partners. Rebranding in itself was a huge boost to revenue. Higher revenue means we can donate more to our national park partners.

How have you seen the organization grow or evolve during your time?

A conversation with former Executive Director Margot Griffith over 15 years ago first highlighted the significance of brand identity—and revealed just how much room we had for improvement. This became the focus of our next Strategic Planning session, which resulted in hiring our Creative Director, and a complete rebranding of the organization to Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association.

What changes in the park visitor community have you observed in the last 20 years?

Visitors are much more self-sufficient and self-directed. They are greatly appreciative of our expanded park store product lines.

Where do you think you have made the most impact?

Helping the organization to grow, expanding our impact and operations.

What’s one challenge the organization has overcome that you’ll never forget?

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park closed during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano. This resulted in the immediate closure of our two park stores located at the volcano summit, and the eventual total loss, due to structural damage, of what was then our primary visitor center store inside the Jaggar Museum. The building has since been demolished. It was beautiful to see how the team pulled together to get through it, and I rejoiced in their success upon the park reopening. The Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park HPPA team is truly inspirational!

Who are some people who influenced you or helped shape your journey?

Without question, National Park Service Chief of Interpretation Dominic Cardea (retired) and Interpretation Supervisor Jeff Bagshaw (now with the State of Hawaiʻi). Over the years there have been stressful moments here and there, but the knowledge that these two wonderful NPS employees ingrained in me kept me grounded and focused to move forward.

What do you value most about the HPPA team or organizational culture?

We have a beautiful wheel of support that turns in both directions. I’m deeply grateful for a frontline team that is not only competent but also dependable—people I can trust to handle a wide range of tasks, which gives me the space to focus on other parts of the operation. At the same time, I’m always looking for ways to make their daily work smoother and more rewarding. The same spirit of mutual support is alive on the administration side, too. I know I can count on their help when needed, and I appreciate how open they are to the solutions I bring to the table. It's a true partnership, grounded in trust and shared purpose.

If you could go back and tell yourself one thing 20 years ago, what would it be?

“Conflict happens. Your patience will be a gift.”

What have you learned about service, leadership, or perseverance?

Well, I’ve always said that I love a challenge! I have had ample opportunity to explore that concept, proving that where there is a will, there is a way.

What do you hope to see HPPA accomplish in the next 5 or 10 years?

I would like to see more internal procedural streamlining, while acknowledging the great strides and growth that we have made in this area over the past couple of years.

Are there any personal or professional goals you still hope to achieve?

I’m very excited for the changes that are planned for the two Haleakalā National Park Summit District stores next year, and I have a very personal and specific goal related to that. Stay tuned for more details!

Is there a funny or surprising story you can share?

I think the funniest moment was when I was driving back from our visitor center park store in the Kīpahulu District of the park, and the vehicle was chased by two calves. I was bursting out in laughter while my companion contentedly slept.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone just starting out in your kind of job?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

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You can shop to support Haleakalā National Park here and here.

You can read up on HNHA/HPPA history here.

You can learn all sorts of wonderful things about Haleakalā National Park here.

When you visit a national park, as you walk, cycle, or drive through the entrance, do you wonder how that park is funded? Especially if it is not charging an entrance fee? Every year, the U.S. Congress allocates funds to the parks in the federal budget, but that allocation falls short of fully covering the costs of running a national park site. How do parks make up the difference?

Some parks charge visitor fees, camping fees, and tour fees, and that helps. Nonprofit cooperating associations, like HPPA, support parks through visitor center park store sales, donation fundraising, and helping to manage grants from state agencies, foundations, or conservation organizations. Philanthropy and corporate sponsorships are also becoming more common ways to get funding to parks. You may also see concession and commercial services like hotels and lodges, restaurants and tours in the parks. They have contracts with the park and pay franchise fees or a percentage of their revenue to operate within the park boundaries.

Do you wonder how you can best support the parks you love? There are lots of ways, and here are just five of them:

1. If you live close to a national park site, probably the most fun way to support it is to volunteer your time for a few hours a week or month! Also, some larger national parks have full-time volunteer programs during which you live in the park, either in housing provided or at camping hookups in your own vehicle. Volunteers at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have been a huge part of the hawksbill sea turtle nest monitoring project for months every year, for example. Check with the parks you love to see what their needs are. Not all park volunteering is giving walks and talks, either. Many parks need office help, backcountry help, trail maintenance (that tall grass doesn’t cut itself), help with park archives, help managing native species, and lots more. If you have time to give, consider becoming a volunteer.

2. Searching for that perfect spot to basecamp yourself and your besties or fam for your time in a national park? Dig a little deeper in your trip planning and choose local businesses and sustainable options for lodging, food, and shopping. Many gateway communities (those found right outside park gates, or very nearby) depend on park tourism. According to the NPS, in 2024, 325 million park visitors spent an estimated $26.4 billion in local gateway regions while visiting National Park Service lands across the country. These expenditures supported a total of 415 thousand jobs, $19.4 billion in labor income, $32.0 billion in value added, and $55.6 billion in economic output in the national economy. Supporting gateway communities like Volcano Hawaiʻi (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park), Captain Cook (Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park) or Kula (Haleakalā National Park) strengthens local economies and encourages stewardship of nearby public lands!
   
   
3. Yes, it is time-consuming and you sometimes wonder if you are being heard, but contacting elected officials to advocate for strong funding of the National Park Service and environmental protections does make a difference. Speak up about the importance of national parks to help keep them a legislative priority. Each U.S. state maintains its own legislative website, where you can access directories of your current legislators, their contact information, and legislative activities. The Library of Congress also provides a centralized list of these official state legislature websites. To love your parks is to speak up for your parks.
   
   
4. This one is a no-brainer but always worth saying: Following Leave No Trace principles, staying on designated trails, camping in designated spots, and respecting wildlife by keeping your distance helps protect park resources. And, if park staffing is low, you are helping more than you know when you step lightly and model best practices for first-time visitors who may be watching you. We are all responsible for these places we love.
   
   
5. Most national parks have official nonprofit partners like us (Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association), or a Friends of... group, or a Conservancy partner. We all fundraise for, and donate to, general and specific park needs. Becoming a member, making a donation, or purchasing from visitor center park stores helps fund education, conservation, and preservation projects.

Learn about national parks volunteer programs here.

You can find your congressional representatives here.

You can donate to Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association here. You can also donate at the counter at most national parks visitor center stores. 

My time as an NPS Ranger is filled with memories of meaningful moments, impactful programs, and inspiring people. It's remarkable how each positive interaction extends outward, benefiting families, friends, and communities, ultimately contributing to a better world. While many successful projects have made a difference, the Hawai’i Island Youth Ranger Internship Program stands out as the most challenging and rewarding of my career.

The idea for this program grew from my connection to the communities near the park. Having grown up in a similar environment in Washington, I saw the potential within these communities often limited by job opportunities, transportation issues, and economic hardship. Reflecting on my own experiences, I realized specific things could have greatly improved my circumstances earlier in life.

For instance, I had a significant fear of public speaking, yet I knew I needed a voice to make an impact. Because my parents' jobs lacked personal fulfillment and extra benefits, I didn’t realize that work could be enjoyable and meaningful, offering more than just a paycheck. Navigating my financial future involved a decade of trial, mostly error, and eventually luck.

These thoughts drove me to a clear mission: to show every young person starting out that they can overcome challenges and achieve their goals. This belief became the foundation of the Youth Ranger Program, aiming to reach as many high school students as possible with a message of hope and empowerment.

Read more: Guest Blog by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Ranger Kūpono McDaniel: Celebrating the Hawai’i...

Guest Blog By Niles Deneen • March 14, 2025

How It All Started

Our partnership with Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association (HPPA) began when Kim Olsen discovered Deneen Pottery at a public lands conference. She was drawn to our commitment to handcrafted quality, sustainability, and supporting public lands. Kim saw an opportunity to pair our work with Haleakalā National Park’s rich natural and cultural heritage, leading to the creation of a custom mug featuring the park’s most iconic symbols—the silversword plant and the nēnē goose.

The Creative Process

Designing the Haleakalā mug was more than just about aesthetics—it was about telling a story. The silversword plant, found only on the slopes of Haleakalā Volcano, symbolizes the park’s fragile and rare ecosystem. The nēnē goose, the Hawaiʻi State Bird, reflects the park’s successful conservation efforts. 

Kim’s input throughout the process ensured that the final product was true to the park’s identity. Her expertise and creative eye helped us strike a balance between artistry and authenticity. The result was a mug that not only looks stunning but also carries the essence of Haleakalā National Park.

The Impact on Visitors

One of the most rewarding aspects of this partnership has been seeing how visitors respond to the Haleakalā National Park mug. Kim has shared stories of park guests expressing excitement when they discover the mug in the gift shop. For many visitors, the mug becomes a tangible reminder of their experience at Haleakalā National Park—a connection to the park’s beauty that they can take home with them.

The mug has also become a symbol of the park’s conservation mission. Every sale supports the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association and their efforts to protect Haleakalā National Park's unique ecosystem. It’s gratifying to know that our work contributes to preserving the park for future generations.

Read more: Guest Blog by Deneen Pottery: Celebrating Our Partnership with Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association

Established in November 14, 2000, the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail winds along the coastline of Hawaiʻi Island, connecting four of the six Hawaiian land divisions called moku, or districts. It braids together fisherman’s trails along the coastline and historic paths through vast lava fields that are remnants of the original Hawaiian ala loa (long way). In some places it intersects the original mountain to ocean trails. The trail runs through sand, rough and tumbled lava fields, through meadows and along natural edges and cliffs. Much of it is unshaded and there is no water for drinking. In some places it has been overlaid with motorized vehicle trails, or been rerouted or even wiped out by natural events like tsunamis or more recent lava flows. Hawaiian archeological sites are found all along its length: please do not disturb them.

Anchialine pools are found in places near the trail, exquisitely delicate brackish pools in the porous lava fields that are fed by ground water and the nearby ocean. They contain small shrimp and other organisms that may be found nowhere else on Earth, and can easily be damaged by sunscreen and other skin and hair products introduced by those who would enter the pools. Tidepools exposed at low tide can harbor hermit and other crabs, anemones and limpets. Birdwatchers will find shorebirds, seabirds, and other native and non-native birds along the trail, and wintertime between November and May can offer spectacular whale watching as the humpbacks arrive in Hawaiian waters to mate and calve.

There is no central visitor center or check-in for the trail, but where the trail traverses the boundaries of fee-charging national parks (Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park) there can be entry fees.

Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association park stores located in the visitor centers of the four Hawaiʻi Island national park sites offer water bottles, apparel, and more.
You can also shop the trail here: https://shop.hawaiipacificparks.org/collections/alka

Read more: Have You Travelled the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail?

In October 2024, HPPA began accepting park donations at the registers in our nine national park visitor center stores. By inviting visitors to round up their purchase totals or contribute any amount they wished—and emphasizing that these donations stayed in the parks where they were made—we were grateful and amazed to see national park supporters show their love through their generosity. In just four months, counter donations totaled over $124,000.

Kai, who works the frontline at our Haleakalā National Park Summit District stores, shared some of her thoughts about this new avenue of fundraising for our partners.

Read more: Every Little Bit Counts: Why Donations At National Park Stores Mean So Much

Here Are Some Travel Tips For Exploring Our Partner National Parks of Hawaiʻi!

Hawaiʻi Island and Maui national park sites offer a variety of ecosystems, landscapes, and cultural experiences. Let’s explore, and we will give you a couple of tips about where to stay, too!

Read more: Where Are You Going To Spend Your 2025 National Park Fee-Free Days?

Aloha! O Amelie Sterling koʻu inoa.
My name is Amelie Sterling.

O Waikahekahe Nui koʻu ahupuaʻa ma ka moku o Puna. O Kīlauea koʻu mauna. O ka ua Moanianilehua koʻu wai. O Kāpae koʻu makani. O wao kula kai kuʻu ʻāina e noho nei.
Waikahekahe Nui is my ahupua'a in the district of Puna. Kīlauea is my mountain. Moanianilehua rain is my water. Kāpae is my wind. I live in the dry coastal zone.

Read more: A Moment With Amelie Sterling: New Chair of the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association Board

How Do Your Purchases From HPPA Support National Parks in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa?

Every purchase you make with us, whether at one of our national parks visitor center park stores or through our online shop, plays a direct role in preserving the natural and cultural heritage of national park sites in the Pacific. This is true of most national parks visitor center stores.

HPPA is a nonprofit partner of seven national parks and sites in the Pacific Region, and we operate in some of the most breathtaking parks in the Pacific, including Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Haleakalā National Park, and Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park. Our mission is to inspire connection to these incredible protected places while providing visitors with meaningful experiences and memories.

So, Where Does Your Money Go?

Read more: How Your Holiday Purchases Support National Parks