O Christopher Allan Mateo Fast kou inoa

No Mount Pinatubo & Great Lakes mai au

Noho au I “Kealakaha I Hamakua”

Topher Fast is a science teacher at Laupāhoehoe Community Public Charter School, a farmer, and a trail runner. Topher also serves as vice president for the E Mau Na Ala Hele organization. Joining LAC has helped his path to keep alive the island's historic infrastructure of trails and the local economy that had come from it.

Topher can be reached at ChristopherAllanMateoFast@gmail.com.

Richard “Dicky” West is a perpetual student of forest ecology, having grown up receiving the numerous vital benefits which forested communities provide.  After working over a decade as a forestry technician with the US Forest Service, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service he turned his attention to community forestry and has participated in numerous reforestation, ecosystem restoration, and agroforestry projects with various non-government and private organizations.  As a biologist by training, his greatest desire with LAC is to share his passion to help facilitate a better understanding of the abundant priceless resources and sacred refuge offered by healthy forests, and spread awareness throughout the community about the research and lessons our once-vast forests still offer.

Bio coming soon!

Bio coming soon!

Nicholas Koch, forester, is President of Forest Solutions, Inc, a forestry consulting and services company based in Hāmākua and has been practicing forestry in Hawaii for 20 years. Nick has served as past President of the Hawaiʻi Forest Industry Association, past chair for the State of Hawaiʻi Forest Stewardship Committee (2019) as well as finance chair for his local faith organization. 

Nicholas joined the LAC to give back to the community in which he lives and the forest on which we depend for our water supply. Hoping to use my professional expertise to help guide forest management. 

Nicholas can be reached at acaciaforestry@gmail.com.

Ashley is currently taking a break from her time at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, studying Tropical Ecology. Ashley is a property manager in Pāpa‘aloa. She is a lifelong resident of Hawaiʻi Island and has joined the LAC because she is interested in sharing opportunities for stewardship and getting more young people involved in caring for the forests on the island. She would also like to help the council create a safe space for novice naturalists.