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.
I've lived most of my life on Hawaiʻi Island. I graduated from UH Hilo with my Bachelor's in Marine Science with a minor in Communication, then went on to graduate with a Master's in Biology from Miami University. For nearly a decade I've been working for ʻImi Pono no ka ʻĀina under the Three Mountain Alliance watershed partnership, coordinating environmental education programs and community events. Our big mission is to protect our freshwater resources and connect people to place through forest restoration work. Most recently, my husband and I had our first baby boy at the very end of April this year!
In 2021, a previous HPPA board member, Marilyn Nicholson, asked if I was interested in joining the board. I had never been a board member before and felt honored to even be considered to serve my community in such a meaningful way. As new Board Chair, I hope to instill the the leadership principles of open communication, trustworthiness, and being a continuous learner. My key priorities are to continue to support the national parks and their needs, promote conservation and stewardship, foster partnerships with our local communities, and last but definitely not least: invest in HPPA staff development and training. By focusing on these key priorities, I am confident that we can further elevate HPPA's role in preserving and protecting our precious national parks in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa for generations to come.
My favorite fact about HPPA is that the original name for the organization was Hawaiʻi Natural History Association, and that it was established in 1933.
Of our seven national park partners, I've spent the most time in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and it's one of my favorite places on Hawaiʻi Island. I love being surrounded by ʻōhiʻa forests and serenaded by a chorus of ʻapapane. I feel so fortunate that I get to work very closely in this super special wahi pana, home to the volcanic deity Pelehonuamea. I hope to visit American Samoa one day, though!
HPPA plays a crucial role in supporting our national parks. Our support ranges from direct park donations and financial support, to hosting community events, funding interpretive programs and environmental education, volunteer programs, research, and conservation projects. I admire how HPPA highlights the unique native species of Hawaiʻi through the development of different products. I love that visitors can learn about them and bring that knowledge and awareness back home.
The HPPA staff does such an incredible job! Our people are familiar with the parks that the organization is partnered with, and have a connection to them. We know the place names and the plants and animals who call it home. Through these connections and knowledge, appreciation can be instilled in the parks visitors we come in contact with. Also I think it's important for staff to regularly take time to just holoholo and explore the places they work in, so in turn they can share their excitement and knowledge of these places with others.
There are many folks who inspire me at HPPA, but Executive Assistant Carolynn is so amazing! I love how organized she is, and of course her endless kindness and compassion. Last year, the 90th anniversary donation goal of “90K for 90 Years” was set and surpassed by our dedicated frontline team, and we continue to offer popular items in our park stores inventory, and keep up with what's trending and sells well. If I had an unlimited budget, I'd buy all the books and water bottles, even though I already have quite the collection. I feel that it's also important that we continue our partnerships with local vendors and artists.
The biggest upcoming challenge HPPA will be facing is the closure of the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park visitor center, and our park store for renovations that may last a couple of years. However, preparations for the transition are already in progress and a temporary store will be fantastic once it opens!
Learn all about HPPA here: https://www.hawaiipacificparks.org/
Get familiar with Amelie's favorite national park here: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
Shop to support the national parks of Hawaiʻi and Samoa here: https://shop.hawaiipacificparks.org/