Who We Are
Co-Founders
Ilima Ho-Lastimosa
Ilima is a proud third-generation, Native Hawaiian resident of Waimanalo, Hawaii. A strong proponent of food sovereignty and sustainability, she is passionate about giving her community the tools, knowledge and skills needed to grow food in their backyards. Towards that goal, Ilima became a certified Master Gardener and an aquaponics expert and has spent the last four years teaching aquaponics in Waimanalo. Ilima has raised nearly $300,000 for programs benefitting Native Hawaiians in Waimanalo via a non-profit she founded in 2005. Ilima will graduate from the University of Hawaii with a degree in Hawaiian Studies in May 2013. She co-founded Ho'oulu Pacific in the hopes that the organization will bring food sovereignty and holistic health to Waimanalo and other native communities throughout the Pacific and the world.
Ilima is a proud third-generation, Native Hawaiian resident of Waimanalo, Hawaii. A strong proponent of food sovereignty and sustainability, she is passionate about giving her community the tools, knowledge and skills needed to grow food in their backyards. Towards that goal, Ilima became a certified Master Gardener and an aquaponics expert and has spent the last four years teaching aquaponics in Waimanalo. Ilima has raised nearly $300,000 for programs benefitting Native Hawaiians in Waimanalo via a non-profit she founded in 2005. Ilima will graduate from the University of Hawaii with a degree in Hawaiian Studies in May 2013. She co-founded Ho'oulu Pacific in the hopes that the organization will bring food sovereignty and holistic health to Waimanalo and other native communities throughout the Pacific and the world.
David Walfish
Born and raised in Hawaii, David has over 16 years of experience leading teams in non-profit and for-profit work. He has been working in aquaculture and aquaponics for over nine years and has designed, constructed, and operated aquaculture and aquaponic systems throughout the Pacific. He is the youngest member ever elected to the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association Board of Directors. He is passionate about finding solutions to health, food production, and food sovereignty problems in the Pacific and throughout the world. David designs Ho'oulu Pacific's aquaponics systems to fit the communities in which they are deployed. David has a B.A. in Biology from Williams College. He co-founded Ho'oulu Pacific to promote aquponics and healthy living in his home state and beyond.
Born and raised in Hawaii, David has over 16 years of experience leading teams in non-profit and for-profit work. He has been working in aquaculture and aquaponics for over nine years and has designed, constructed, and operated aquaculture and aquaponic systems throughout the Pacific. He is the youngest member ever elected to the Hawaii Aquaculture and Aquaponics Association Board of Directors. He is passionate about finding solutions to health, food production, and food sovereignty problems in the Pacific and throughout the world. David designs Ho'oulu Pacific's aquaponics systems to fit the communities in which they are deployed. David has a B.A. in Biology from Williams College. He co-founded Ho'oulu Pacific to promote aquponics and healthy living in his home state and beyond.
Eric Martinson
Eric has 13 years of experience in aquaponics and aquaculture and their application in developing communities. He has designed, operated, and deployed technologies in countries throughout South America and the Pacific. He has worked as a researcher at the Oceanic Institute in Waimanalo, Hawaii, one of the premiere aquaculture facilities in the world, for eight years. Eric is experienced in plumbing, carpentry, and masonry. He holds an M.A. in Marine and Coastal Management from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science of the University of Miami and a B.A. in Marine Biology from the University of Miami. Eric co-founded Ho'oulu Pacific to help friends who have adopted him into their 'ohana (families) in Waimanalo.
Eric has 13 years of experience in aquaponics and aquaculture and their application in developing communities. He has designed, operated, and deployed technologies in countries throughout South America and the Pacific. He has worked as a researcher at the Oceanic Institute in Waimanalo, Hawaii, one of the premiere aquaculture facilities in the world, for eight years. Eric is experienced in plumbing, carpentry, and masonry. He holds an M.A. in Marine and Coastal Management from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science of the University of Miami and a B.A. in Marine Biology from the University of Miami. Eric co-founded Ho'oulu Pacific to help friends who have adopted him into their 'ohana (families) in Waimanalo.
Scott Shibata
Scott has over ten years of experience working with start-ups in the Pacific. He has worked in management, research and development, and marketing. Scott is a co-founder of Diagenetix, Inc. a Hawaii company that provides mobile real time molecular diagnostic equipment for Hawaii farmers. He is also a Program Manager with Hawai'i BioEnergy, a renewable energy company and a co-founder of Diagenetix, Inc. Scott has an M.S. from University of California, Santa Barbara and a B.S. from the University of California, San Diego. He co-founded Ho'oulu Pacific to bring aquaponics technology designed and developed in Hawaii to native communities around the world.
Scott has over ten years of experience working with start-ups in the Pacific. He has worked in management, research and development, and marketing. Scott is a co-founder of Diagenetix, Inc. a Hawaii company that provides mobile real time molecular diagnostic equipment for Hawaii farmers. He is also a Program Manager with Hawai'i BioEnergy, a renewable energy company and a co-founder of Diagenetix, Inc. Scott has an M.S. from University of California, Santa Barbara and a B.S. from the University of California, San Diego. He co-founded Ho'oulu Pacific to bring aquaponics technology designed and developed in Hawaii to native communities around the world.
Community Advisors and Partners
Dr. Harry Ako, Professor of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii/Aquaponics Researcher
Dr. Bruce Anderson, CEO/President of Hawaii Health Systems/Former Director of Hawaii State Department of Health
Dr. Jane Chung-Do, Assistant Professor, Social & Behavioral Health Sciences, University of Hawaii
Dr. Jim Hollyer, Professor at the University of Hawaii, Food Safety Coach
Dr. Bernard Kratky, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii/Hydroponics Expert
Mr. Fred Lau, Owner and Operator, Mari's Gardens (Largest aquaponic farm in Hawaii)
Dr. Palama Lee, Director, Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program
Dr. Jodi Leslie, Nutrition Studies Hawaii
Dr. PingSun Leung, Professor of Aquaculture and Fisheries Economics, University of Hawaii
Mr. Glenn Martinez, Owner and Director, Olomana Gardens
Dr. Jill Oliveira-Gray, Behavioral Health Specialist (I Ola Lahui/Waimanalo Health Center)
Dr. Mary Oneha, Director, Waimanalo Health Center
Ms. Kehau, Padilla, Director, Waimanalo Market
Dr. Keith Sakuda, Assistant Professor of Management, University of Hawaii
Ms. Claire Sullivan, Director of Purchasing and Public Affairs, Whole Foods Hawaii
Mr. Todd Watanabe, Principal, Blanche Pope Elementary School (Waimanalo, Hawaii)
Dr. Bruce Anderson, CEO/President of Hawaii Health Systems/Former Director of Hawaii State Department of Health
Dr. Jane Chung-Do, Assistant Professor, Social & Behavioral Health Sciences, University of Hawaii
Dr. Jim Hollyer, Professor at the University of Hawaii, Food Safety Coach
Dr. Bernard Kratky, Professor Emeritus, University of Hawaii/Hydroponics Expert
Mr. Fred Lau, Owner and Operator, Mari's Gardens (Largest aquaponic farm in Hawaii)
Dr. Palama Lee, Director, Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program
Dr. Jodi Leslie, Nutrition Studies Hawaii
Dr. PingSun Leung, Professor of Aquaculture and Fisheries Economics, University of Hawaii
Mr. Glenn Martinez, Owner and Director, Olomana Gardens
Dr. Jill Oliveira-Gray, Behavioral Health Specialist (I Ola Lahui/Waimanalo Health Center)
Dr. Mary Oneha, Director, Waimanalo Health Center
Ms. Kehau, Padilla, Director, Waimanalo Market
Dr. Keith Sakuda, Assistant Professor of Management, University of Hawaii
Ms. Claire Sullivan, Director of Purchasing and Public Affairs, Whole Foods Hawaii
Mr. Todd Watanabe, Principal, Blanche Pope Elementary School (Waimanalo, Hawaii)