PEPP Staff
Dr. Clifford Morden
PCSU Deputy Director and
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Cliff Morden has loved working with and growing plants since a child. Cliff completed his BS in 1978 and MS in 1980 from BYU, and his PhD in plant systematics in 1985 from Texas A&M University. He relocated to the Botany Department at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa in 1992 where he teaches courses on the native Hawaiian flora, conservation biology, and evolution. Cliff’s personal research examines the evolution of the Hawaiian flora from the population to genus level their biogeography where he and his students have studied many of the genera and species within the islands. While at UH, Cliff has served as Director of the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum (2005 to 2007) and was appointed the Deputy Director of the Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (2007 to present) which started his association with the Plant Extinction Prevention Program among other PCSU projects. Through this work, Cliff has developed a tremendous respect for the resources of Hawai‘i and the people that work so hard to protect them, and he feels blessed to be able to have spent his career contributing to these efforts. |
Scott Heintzman
Kauai PEPP CoordinatorKauai Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Susan Deans
Kauai PEPP TechnicianKauai Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Adam Williams
Kauaʻi District BotanistKauai Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Division of Forestry and Wildlife - Kauaʻi HI Department of Land and Natural Resources [email protected] Josh VanDeMark
Hawaiʻi Island PEPP Coordinator and DOFAW Natural Resource Specialist
Hawaiʻi Island Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Division of Forestry and Wildlife - Hawaiʻi Island 19 East Kawili Street Hilo, HI, 96720 Chelsea Ranan
Hawai‘i Island PEPP TechnicianHawaiʻi Island Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 19 East Kawili Street Hilo, HI, 96720 |
Scotty Heintzman joined the PEPP team in 2019 as Kauaʻi PEPP Coordinator. Along with his keen eye and passion for studying the Hawaiian flora “backyard style”, Scotty brings over a decade of experience in Hawaiian plant conservation to the PEPP program. Born and raised Makawao, Maui, Scotty honed his skills in the field as a crew member Maui Invasive Species Committee. After moving to Oʻahu to work for the Oʻahu Army Natural Resources Program, Scotty completed his BS in Geography at University of Hawaii Mānoa. Scotty contributed to OANRP’s management of threatened and endangered species for 11 years, all while scouring Oʻahu’s natural areas on the weekends, pulling out rare plant discoveries regularly. Scotty prioritizes collaboration and building relationships between conservation organizations, enabling KPEPP to work broadly on Kaua’i. His specialized skills include rappelling to never-before-accessed plant populations, delving into historical botanical manuscripts, and managing geospatial data. Susan Deans joined KPEPP as a field technician in 2020. Originally from North Carolina, Susan discovered her passion for botany and plant conservation as a conservation intern at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. After completing her BAs in Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Susan spent several years working in seasonal botany jobs in Alaska, Florida, and eventually at the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kaua’i. There, she fell in love with the Hawaiian flora and decided to devote her career to learning about and conserving it. She is also pursuing an MS in Plant Conservation and Biology at Northwestern University and the Chicago Botanic Garden, studying population genetics and pollination biology of endemic Hawaiian Hibiscus species.
Adam Williams was born and raised on the coast side of Northern California. He first became interested in plants after high school, when he somehow got hired by a large retail tree nursery in the North Bay, despite barely knowing how to identify any common trees. While taking classes at a local community college, he stumbled upon a class in tropical ecology that inspired him to turn his fledgling interest into a career. Adam moved to Hawai‘i in 2007 to obtain a B.A. in Botany at UH Mānoa, graduating in 2010 with a minor in Plant Production and Management. After graduation he worked several jobs with local conservation agencies, including the Ko‘olau Mountains Watershed Partnership, UH Lyon Arboretum Hawaiian Rare Plant Program, and DLNR’s Division of Forestry and Wildlife’s (DOFAW) Administrative office. In 2013 he landed his dream job as the Kaua‘i District Botanist for DOFAW, where he gets to explore this botanical wonderland and support the PEPPers, conserving the rarest of the rare. When he’s not chained to his desk, you can find Adam rappelling off cliffs, climbing trees, and collecting seeds for DOFAW’s seed bank.
Joshua VanDeMark has been working in conservation in Hawaiʻi for over 20 years. He started with PEPP in 2013 and is proud to work alongside all of the talented and dedicated PEPP staff in their efforts to protect the natural heritage of Hawaiʻi Nei.
Chelsea Ranan joined as a field technician with HIPEPP in 2023. Was born and raised in Hilo. Earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Hawaii at Hilo in 2017. She found her passion for native flora while working with various conservation agencies in 2019 and is excited to explore and expand her knowledge with the Hawaii Island PEP program.
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David Russell
Hawai‘i Island PEPP TechnicianHawaiʻi Island Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 19 East Kawili Street Hilo, HI, 96720 |
David Russell was raised in South Kona and earned his B.A. in Geography from UH Hilo in 2019. He later earned his M.S. through UH Hilo’s Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science Program in 2023. Some of David's hobbies include woodworking, growing kalo, surfing, and paddling. David’s love for rare native plants began during an internship at the Ka'ūpūlehu Dryland Forest in 2018. This passion later developed during his employment at the neighboring Pu‘uwa‘awa‘a Forest Reserve where he worked as a Botanical Technician from 2019-2021. David was stoked to join the PEPP team in 2024 to help perpetuate these now extremely rare plants.
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Zach Pezzillo
Maui PEPP CoordinatorMaui Nui Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa 683 Haleakala Highway Kahului, HI, 96732 Remy Henderson
Maui PEPP TechnicianMaui Nui Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Division of Forestry and Wildlife - Maui 683 Haleakala Highway Kahului, HI, 96732 |
Zach Pezzillo considers himself incredibly fortunate to have grown up on the island of Maui. His interest and enthusiasm for native plants and invertebrates began at a young age and he could often be found exploring the remote corners of the island in search of new subjects to identify. Zach left Maui in 2011 to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology in upstate NY. During college breaks he returned home and began volunteering with various conservation groups on Maui, continuing to learn and appreciate the issues facing many of our native species. After graduating Zach began pursuing a career in endangered species conservation here on Maui and became a KUPU intern with the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project. In 2017 Zach left to spend two winter seasons working and living on extremely remote Kure Atoll, in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, conducting habitat and wildlife recovery work. It was a truly extraordinary experience, cementing his commitment towards conservation work. After returning from Kure in 2019, he was hired on full time with the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project and worked on recovery efforts for the Maui Parrotbill until joining the PEPP crew in 2021. Zach is also a well regarded, award winning photographer and often uses his skills to promote awareness and appreciation of some of Maui’s most endangered native species.
Remy Henderson joined the Maui Nui PEP program in 2023. She was born and raised on Maui, Hawai’i, and left for a short stint to attend the University of California, Santa Cruz where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Economics. During her senior year in 2020, she returned home and landed an internship with The Nature Conservancy where she quickly found her passion for Hawaii’s native flora (and fauna). After college, she went on to join East Maui Watershed Partnership as a Field and Data assistant where she honed in her land management skills and re-designed data collection protocols for the field team. She is beyond excited to join the PEPP team and hopes to utilize her interest in GIS, rock climbing and land management to enhance the Maui program.
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Ane Bakutis
Moloka‘i PEPP CoordinatorMoloka‘i Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa P.O. Box 698 Kaunakakai, HI, 96748 Phone: (808) 216-9229 e-mail: [email protected] Kawaila PurdyMoloka‘i PEPP Technician
Moloka‘i Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit (PCSU) University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa P.O. Box 698 Kaunakakai, HI, 96748 Kristen Coelho
Division of Forestry and Wildlife - Moloka‘iMoloka‘i Plant Extinction Prevention Program
Division of Forestry and Wildlife - Molokaʻi |
Ane Bakutis is an accomplished botanist and restoration ecologist who joined PEPP in February 2005. She earned B.A. degrees in Botany and Hawaiian Studies, and an M.S. degree in Botany from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Upon completing her academic career, she decided to focus her professional career on endangered species conservation and restoration. Ane’s career started with The Nature Conservancy on O‘ahu where she helped manage the Honouliuli Preserve. She later became an endangered species recovery specialist at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park where she coordinated a large-scale Ka‘u Silversword restoration project (see article: Honolulu Advertiser. Silverswords being coaxed back from near oblivion, June 5, 2006). In 2005, she moved back to O‘ahu to serve as the O‘ahu PEPP Coordinator until 2008 when she became the founding Moloka‘i PEPP Coordinator. Kawaila Purdy joined the MoPEPP team in 2019 as a part-time Molokai PEPP technician. Originally from Kailua, Oahu, she resides on Molokai where her ʻohana is from. She has an AA in Natural Resource Management and is passionate about Hawaiiʻs native flora. She is also a homestead farmer. Kristen Coelho joined the MoPEPP team in 2011. A local to Moloka`i and accomplished hunter, her knowledge of Moloka`iʻs rough terrain is top notch. She has an Associate degree in technical science from Moloka`i College and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource management. |
Susan Ching
Oʻahu PEPP Coordinator
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Susan Ching was born and raised on the island of O’ahu and earned a B.S. and M.S. in Botanical Sciences with an emphasis on Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. She was originally part of the PEPP team in 2003-2004 and then came back to join PEPP in 2009. As a lifelong student of the natural history of the Hawaiian Islands she is thrilled to work with such an amazing team of PEPP-ers.
Kobey Togikawa joined the PEPP team in 2014 as the O`ahu PEPP Technician. Born and raised in the islands, he was always fascinated by Hawai`i's unique natural history and is constantly learning and looks forward to protecting O`ahu's rare plants. He worked at the Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden on Hawai`i Island where he learned valuable skills utilized in the field today. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in botany from the University of Hawai‘i and Mānoa, he worked briefly with the Kōkeʻe Resource Conservation Program on Kauai to control invasive species in the park. Miles Thomas was raised on O’ahu and recieved a B.S. and M.S. in Botany with an emphasis in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. He is obsessed with plants of all kind but especially Hawaiian and Pacific Pteridophytes and Bryophytes. “Ferns are pterific!”
Kenna Ruis was born and raised on O’ahu and recieved a B.A. in Biology with an emphasis in Environmental Science from Occidental College. She joined the PEPP team in 2022 and loves helping to care for the plants that make our home special. Her recent interests have been in seed ecology and storage for conservation.
Hank Oppenheimer was the Maui Nui PEPP Coordinator from January 2006 to May 2024. For many years prior, he worked in the Puʻu Kukui Preserve, building fence, controlling ungulates, weeds, and rats as well as monitoring native tree snails, insects, birds, and vegetation, including rare plants. Over the course of a decade Hank and his co-workers built a 2- mile long boardwalk through the montane bogs of Mauna Kahalawai (aka West Maui), which gave him plenty of time to become familiar with this rare ecosystem. Hank also enjoys working everywhere from the coastal and strand zone, dry and mesic forests, up to the alpine region, and has done field work on islands. This background has prepared him well for his work with PEPP species. When the opportunity arose to focus his efforts on critically rare plants, he didn’t hesitate to jump on board. Steve Perlman is often regarded as one of the world’s finest field botanists. He has been at the forefront of protecting Hawai‘i’s endangered species for over 40 years. Prior to joining PEPP in early 2014, Steve spent 36 years as a field botanist for the National Tropical Botanical Garden on Kauaʻi where he pioneered techniques for botanizing and collecting plant material on sheer cliffs, especially those of the Hawaiian Islands. He still works with NTBG as a Research Associate on special projects. From the inception of PEPP, Steve has been a mentor and partner for our staff and helped guide and focus PEPP’s recovery and survey strategies. His work throughout the Hawaiian archipelago and the South Pacific led to the discovery of many unknown plant species and the rediscovery on many plants once thought to be extinct. Steve has been the subject of several films and print articles focusing on his work protecting endangered species, including a recent feature by The National Geographic. Steve retired from PEPP in 2023.
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