Featured Speakers and Chefs

In her career and as Kumu Hula, Ulalia Woodside Lee is dedicated to thriving lands, seas, people and culture in Hawaiʻi.  Ulalia is the Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Hawaiʻi and Palmyra program where across the Hawaiian archipelago and to Palmyra Atoll, TNC protects and restores native forests, collaborates with communities for healthy coral reefs and fisheries, and develops cutting-edge research and interventions.

Prior to joining the Conservancy, Ulalia oversaw Kamehameha Schools’ portfolio of agricultural and conservation lands, place-based education, and natural and cultural resources management programs. She is also an author and invited speaker on ecosystem services and indigenous peoples’ approaches and relationship with nature.

Volunteer leadership is an important part of her community service, and Ulalia serves in leadership and advisory positions for Hawai‘i Green Growth, Mālama Honua Public Charter School, Kauahea Inc., Lālākea Foundation, Daughters of Hawaiʻi and Hawaiʻi Investment Ready ʻĀina Aloha Economy Fund. These organizations contribute locally and globally to sustainability, the advancement of traditional cultural practices, and the preservation of the Hawaiian relationship to nature.

Chelsea Arnott is the Invasive Species Coordinator with the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife and provides program support for the Hawaii Invasive Species Council. She received her graduate degree from the University of Hawai‘i College of Natural Resource and Environmental Management. She has worked on invasive species issues since 2007, working with field-based projects like the Watershed Partnerships and Invasive Species Committees and at the State Legislature as a committee clerk before her current role at DLNR which combines all her experience and interests to improve biosecurity for Hawai‘i.  

Sharon Hurd was appointed as Chairperson on January 1, 2023, having worked for 15 years at the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture in the Market Development Branch where she established regular communication with the commodity groups and agriculture associations that has been key to her understanding of Hawaiʻi agriculture.  For the current biennium, to acknowledge the industry’s top concern, the department is focused on Biosecurity and the Interagency Collaboration to prevent, control and mitigate invasive species and pathogens from entering Hawaiʻi.

Prior to her appointment to Chairperson, Board of Agriculture, she worked in marketing with Delta and All Nippon Airlines.  Sharon is a graduate of the University of Hawaiʻi with a B.A. in Zoology, has been married to George for almost 50 years.  The Hurds have two adult children, several nieces and nephews and 4 grandnieces, 3 grandnephews.

Mark Paikuli-Stride or “Uncle Mark”, is the father of 9 children and has been cultivating and restoring land for over 25 years.  He has mentored “at-risk” youth since 1999 with families, schools, and non-profit organizations across Oʻahu.  He uses his knowledge and experience in farming and archeology to restore the land in Maunawili and Luluku, areas adorned with agricultural terraces, and flourishing lo‘i ecosystems.  He is actively participating in a collective effort involving Native Hawaiian community organizations and various agencies in the restoration and preservation of the ‘āina for future generations, aspiring to reintroduce agriculture and impart his knowledge and experience to schools, community groups, and families.

Ku‘uhaku T. Park is the senior vice president, government and community relations of Matson Navigation and senior vice president of Matson. His extensive background working with state, county, and federal government officials on transportation matters.

He began his maritime career in 1991 with Sea-Land Service and started with Matson in 2012 as vice president, government and community relations.

Park currently sits on the board of directors of the American Maritime Partnership (the largest domestic maritime coalition in Washington, DC), the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, the Blood Bank of Hawaii, PBS Hawaii, the Tax Foundation of Hawaii, Ka Leo Hawaii Media, the Rehab Hospital of the Pacific, the YMCA of Honolulu, and the United States Navy League, Honolulu Council.  He is also on the Governor’s Committee on Marine Affairs.

By gubernatorial appointment, Park previously served on the State Commission on Transportation and completed two terms as its chair.

He is a graduate of Kamehameha Schools and earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in communications from Lewis & Clark College.