2023 Annual Report

2023 ANNUAL REPORT

HAWAI‘I NATURE CENTER

Connecting children & families to the wonders of nature

Our Mission

Why: By connecting children and families to nature, Hawai‘i Nature Center builds community, creates meaningful change and shapes a more sustainable future.

How: Hawai‘i Nature Center enhances critical thinking skills. It develops personal growth and lifebuilding skills including confidence, autonomy and leadership. It also increases civic engagement and positive environmental behaviors as well as improves academic performance.

What: Nature Adventure Camps, school/homeschool programs, community/weekend programs, volunteer/docent programs, visitor industry programs, events/meetings/retreats and internships.

2023 IMPACT

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8,288

$ 76,700

total people reached in 2023

in scholarships for schools and families to access environmental education

WAYS THAT WE REACH

Nature Adventure Camps

Our weekday and weekend programs welcome children and families to nature and environmental science.

School Programs Homeschool Science Series Weekend Family Programs

57,008

1,358

6,930

388

HOURS

ADULTS

KEIKI

MEMBERS

total time spent outdoors

connected to nature in 2023

engaged in programs

2023 A year of growth Aloha ‘ohana & friends of HNC, Mahalo for your continued support and interest to Connecting Children and Families to Nature! 2023 was another successful year filled with stream exploration, wetland bird investigations, weekly deep dives in environmental science concepts via our Home School Science Series, nature walks and reflections.

I often muse what HNC experiences have the most impact. Is it early-childhood introduction to nature, environmental science concepts, linking outdoor education to classroom learning or sustainability literacy? Certainly, each one of these is, in their own right, an important aspect of HNC. I have also spent much time reflecting recently on the concept of place, and what it means to connect to an area of high significance—a forest, stream, wetland or coastal environments. My hope is the places we introduce to the keiki, become familiar, a place that provides repeated positive memories. I hope the thousands of keiki that engage in our programs return to hike Makiki Valley or use binoculars at Hamakua Marsh to observe endemic waterfowl.

I hope they physically visit these places on the weekends with their parents and guardians, later in life with friends, continue to explore when they return from college breaks and again in the future with their own keiki.

I am certain when they do, they will know the place well enough see the changes in the landscape and have strong memories of the large tree along the trail or the calm pool in the stream.

The root word of familiar is family, or in ‘olelo Hawai‘i, ‘ohana. I trust our programs provide a profound connection to nature, and returning to a special place is returning to the familiar, much like returning home to family or ‘ohana.

I hope too they visit these places in the abstract.

Reflect and recall the memories of the trails, the boulder they could barely crawl over as a budding naturalist, the smell of the wet vegetation following a mauka shower; or the sounds of trees swaying as the winds race down the leeward side of the Ko‘olau Mountains. I believe once a landscape occupies that level of affinity in one’s life, through seeing, touching, feeling and engaging in a place, they are more likely to protect the space for future generations.

Because of ‘ohana like you, HNC continues our impact after 42 years. Your support allows families to return to the familiar locations and keiki to find comfort in knowing the once unexplored is now understood and familiar.

Mahalo again for the monetary gifts, attending events at HNC and supporting the journey of our keiki in outdoor exploration.

Todd Cullison Executive Director

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SCHOOL PROGRAMS School Programs, a core Hawai‘i Nature Center offering, began to return from suppressed pandemic levels in 2023.

A total of 4,405 keiki were educated through this program of which 40 percent attended Title 1* schools. The center

5,441 students (of which 4,405 keiki attended 42 Title 1 & in-need schools)

59 school partners

provided $61,700 in subsidies to Title I schools for bus transportation and enrollment for students who otherwise

134 total field trips

may not be able to attend environmental education programs.

*A Title I schools is reported as schools that have a minimum poverty threshold of 47.2%. Poverty is determined via family enrollment in two federal programs — Community Eligibility Provision and the Free & Reduced Lunch Program — during the prior school year.

A partnership with Patagonia Honolulu brings environmental education to urban centers.

21,584 total hours in nature

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NATURE ADVENTURE CAMPS Nature Adventure Camps are weeklong day camps during spring, summer, fall and winter school intersession. Each week celebrated a theme that included Hawaiiana, Wayfinding, Ahupua‘a Stewardship to Nature Inspiration.

Each week, keiki explored different Hawaiian ecosystems while hiking, learning about stream ecology, and taking field trips to various natural resource locations while ending each day constructing crafts using recycled materials.

Through philanthropic support, Hawai‘i Nature Center awarded $15,000 in financial aid for enrollment in Nature Adventure Camps to families in need.

Art, nature and experiential learning converge.

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830 campers 29,050 total hours in nature

HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE SERIES 42 students Developed for homeschool students, ages 6 to 11, the weekly 6-hour sessions were led by Environmental Educators oncampus and on field trips that incorporate State of Hawai‘i Next Generation Science Standards. The curricula explores a broad range of topics such as climate change, native and

3,792 total hours in nature

invasive species, habitats, sustainability and more.

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BIRTHDAY EVENTS

WEEKEND FAMILY PROGRAMS

experiences to a child’s community

Weekend programs in 2023 engaged keiki, ages 3 to 5,

of family and friends with guided

and their ‘ohana with programs such as Stream

hikes, outdoor exploration and

'Splorations, Daring Decomposers and Incredible Insects.

Twelve programs were held in 2023.

55 keiki 57 adults 224 total hours in nature

Birthday parties bring nature

lessons in sustainability. All are led by educators.

550 keiki 575 adults 2,250 total hours in nature

Making genki balls for the Ala Wai Canal.

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gratitude

With aloha and deep appreciation, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your generous support. As a single mother, your scholarship enabled my son to experience the beauty of nature at the Hawaii nature camp, fostering a sense of community and belonging.

Your contribution not only provided him with valuable learning opportunities but also strengthened our bond with the community. Mahalo for your kindness and for embodying the spirit of aloha.” Parent of NAC scholarship recipient

VOLUNTEERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE A total of 157 volunteers expanded the organization’s impact across O‘ahu and Maui. They contributed 3,853 hours of support. Volunteers serve as junior leaders, perform administrative functions, help with maintenance, and conduct field work. Volunteers helped at our centers and in the community including caring for protected areas such as wetlands.

157 volunteers | 3,853 hours $118,672 of in-kind contributions Bug Auwe

Todd & Cate Cullison

Keoni & Jacque Vaughn

Zippy‘s

VOLUNTEER GROUPS AHL

PBR HAWAII & ASSOCIATES, INC.

International Market Place

Par Hawaii Refining

Kaiser High School Key Club

Sierra Club

Mid-Pacific

COMMUNITY PARTNERS Chaminade University of Honolulu: I am a Scientist Chaminade University of Honolulu: 'Inana Innovators Program Department of Land & Natural Resources: State Parks Department of Land & Natural Resources: Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) Kokua Hawai‘i Foundation Susannah Wesley Community Center U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) University of Hawai‘i: College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Human Development and Family Studies Program Center Patagonia Honolulu

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Caring for the ʻāina with native plants.

Mahalo to our donors

Hawai‘i Nature Center donors provide sustaining support that has helped it grow in 2023. HNC is an independent nonprofit, homegrown in Makiki Valley in 1981. It is not part of a national organization. It relies on friends like you for support.

Koa $100,000+ Anonymous Hau‘oli Mau Loa Foundation State of Hawai‘i

Wiliwili $10,000 to $99,999

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City and County of Honolulu - ARPA Estate of Jennie Ella Peterson Brennan Foundation

Hawai‘i Community Foundation: Benjamin Parker Fischlowitz Fund Par Hawaii Refining

Mahalo to our donors ‘Ōhi‘a

Hala

$2,500 to $9,999

$1,000 to $2,499

Signe Chambers Guy Churchill Jan Sullivan Steve & Stephanie Tom Eric & Jill Wright Alexander & Baldwin, INC D.R. Horton First Hawaiian Bank Hawaiian Electric Jhamandas Watumull Fund Kalaeloa Partners, L.P. Kualoa Ranch Foundation Locations Foundation Prince Waikiki ALTRES, INC The Cades Foundation The RMR Group

James Davis - Lilikoi Ranch LLC James Geiger Robert Mist Sheree Moffat Lacey Nakaguma George Norcross Jerry & Cheri Rauckhorst Kim Coco Iwamoto Bob Johnston Madhu Lundquist & Chelsea Jackson AHL HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union Foundation International Market Place Optimist Club of Honolulu PBR HAWAII & ASSOCIATES, INC. Transcendence Pacific

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Learning about the aquatic ecosystem at Makiki Stream.

Mahalo to our donors Ti $250 TO $999 Tim Anderson

Josh & Jennie Hargrove

Vincent Shigekuni

Tara Bryan

Eric Kajioka

Amy Takahashi

Jeff Case

Bonita Kealoha

Ina Wong

Tran Chinery

Sumako Kumabe

Cades Schutte LLP

Clint Churchill

Kenneth Kupchak

Driscoll's

Todd & Cate Cullison

C. Gavin Moffat

EnviroServices & Training Center, LLC

Stan Duncan

Caitlin Moon

Benjamin Godsey

Wes & Suanne Nagata

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Mahalo to our donors Pili UP TO $249 Janice Brown

Miki Kurokawa

Dawn Taniguchi

Lydia Chase

Beau Leyvand

Tannis Thorlakson Sullivan

Nathan Chong

Cheryl Low Karimoto

Susan Wong

Lourdes Clark

Erin Mitsuyoshi

John Wright

Jodie Cordero

Sandy Oshiro

Vanessa Yanagawa

Vaitiare Drost

Nicholas & Naomi Paslay

Boeing

Mark Heckman

Moriah Salter

Macy’s

Lea & H. John Heide

Alexander Shor

Soccer Shots Oahu

Peter Jaquette

Barbara Smith

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Hawai‘i Nature Center

2023 ANNUAL OPERATING FINANCIAL REPORT January 1 to December 31, 2023

EXPENSES

REVENUE

Facilities Related Expenses

Salaries & Related Expenses

Program Revenue

Private Grants

Outside Contracted Services

Office & Administration

Donations & Contributions

Other Revenue

Other Program Expenses

Fishing at Hāmākua Marsh with Wilson Elementary School -one of many school partnerships in 2023.

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Government Grants

2023 LEADERSHIP TEAM

Todd Cullison Executive Director

Pauline Kawamata Operations & Volunteer Program Director

Emma Shelly Education Programs Manager

Gavin Moffat Fund Development Coordinator

2023 Board of Directors President

Vice President

Secretary

Treasurer

President Emeritus

Lacey Nakaguma Bank of Hawai‘i

Nicholas Paslay Hawaiian Electric

Tran Chinery Alexander & Baldwin

Guy Churchill Bank of Hawai‘i

Eric Wright Par Hawaii Refining

James Geiger, ESQ. Mancini, Welch & Geiger LLP

Jerry Rauckhourst (retired) Catholic Charities Hawai‘i

Josh Hargrove The Westin Maui Resort & Spa

Tannis Thorlakson Sullivan, PhD Driscoll’s Director of Sustainability

Hawai‘i Nature Center has a dedicated staff of 10 educators and administrators.

Along with our newest Environment Educators, Hawai‘i Nature Center’s staff

G. Robert Johnston Hawaii Pacific Solar

Michael Vachio JL Capital

tenure ranges 6 to 29 years in environmental education. Success is also driven by a diverse and dedicated Board

McKibbin Mist D.R. Horton

Ina Wong AHL

of Directors that ensures Hawai‘i Nature Center is fiscally sound, develops and follows best practices and consistently

Caitlin Moon Cades Schutte LLP

pushes leadership to expand our impact and maintain high-quality programs.

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Hiking through the rainforests Oʻahu to learn 2131of Makiki Heights Drive about nature.

Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822 (808) 955-0100

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