Linda holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology, with over fifteen years as a Wildlife Rehabilitator, Certified Oiled Wildlife Responder, and International Wildlife Responder. She has earned 40-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) certification, and has accumulated over two decades of experience as an educator, supervisor and emergency response manager.  Linda has been and continues to be a leading member of an international wildlife emergency response team participating in eighteen international rescue operations to date and is also the only oiled-wildlife rehabilitation manager in the State of Hawai‘i.  Linda works on wildlife recovery and conservation projects in partnerships with Hawai‘i government agencies and nonprofits and has participated in a half-dozen Hawai‘i wildlife conservation projects in 2010 that included teaching wildlife response courses to the Wildlife Agencies throughout Hawai‘i, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

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Juan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences with a Minor in Animal Sciences from Cornell University and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree, also from Cornell University. While at Cornell University he was awarded the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists’ Award and the Colonel Floyd C. Sager Equine Obstetrics and Pediatrics Award. In addition to experience from multiple externships, veterinary conferences, and wildlife and exotics symposiums, Dr. Juan was also a volunteer with us at HWC starting in 2013 and was HWC’s primary care veterinarian from 2016-2018 before leaving the island to serve as a clinical fellow and clinical instructor at Oregon State University. While in Oregon, Dr. Juan gained additional wildlife experience as a volunteer at the Chintimini Wildlife Center.

Heidi moved to Hawai‘i from Southern California in 2015 to finish her Marine Science degree at the University of Hawai‘i Hilo. While at UH Hilo, she interned at the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center as a part of her degree program. After graduating, and before coming back to work at HWC, she worked in the Pu‘u Maka‘ala Natural Area Reserve System (NARS) with the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) collecting samples and data.

Rachael has been passionate about wildlife conservation since she was a child. She knew she wanted to become a zookeeper in order to help endangered animals while also having the opportunity to educate and inspire others to support conservation efforts. She attended Delaware Valley College and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoo Science in 2014. She completed internships at several AZA-accredited zoos then worked for five years as a zookeeper at her local zoo in New Jersey, the Turtle Back Zoo. Rachael worked with all groups of wild and exotic animals, but birds grew on her and became a special interest over time. In 2019 she moved to Maui to work at the Maui Bird Conservation Center. Before joining HWC, she worked there for three years helping maintain captive breeding populations of critically endangered Hawaiian birds in order to prevent their extinction. Rachael cares greatly about animal welfare and she is constantly striving to maintain high standards of care and develop new techniques when there are challenges. Recently she became interested in the medical care of birds, which helped inspire her to join HWC. She is currently in the process of obtaining a veterinary technician degree in order to maximize her ability to provide the best care possible to injured wildlife at HWC.

Graduating from the University of Colorado, Madison felt animal welfare was most inspiring from her course work. She found enthusiasm working with avian species from her farm experience with chickens and turkeys. Her interest for wildlife conservation sparked as an intern with HWC, and since has rehabbed all kinds of birds from raptors, passerines, and her favorite, seabirds on the mainland. Returning to Hawai’i she hopes to provide great care to her patients for rehab and release.

‘Auli‘i was born in Waimea and raised in both Waimea and Waipi‘o valley. She had a strong cultural upbringing and has always felt the desire to preserve and protect native habitats and species. She has been involved in conservation since childhood. A few of these efforts include the restoration of Lālākea stream flow into Waipi‘o valley, reforestation at Ka‘ūpulehu Dryland Forest, Kohala watershed. She also helped start-up a new outdoor learning lab in Waipi‘o valley, and has worked with the Legacy Reforestation Initiative to plant over 2,000 koa trees last planting season. ʻAuli‘i was also involved in writing the Declaration of Indigenous Youth, which affirms the rights of indigenous youths/peoples in six different sections. This declaration is recognized by the United Nations and Ocean Elders as a legitimate document. ʻAuliʻi presented the declaration to the Hōkūle’a crew in Aotearoa on their Mālama Honua voyage for their first journey outside of Pacific seas. ‘Auli‘i attended Pacific University in Oregon and took courses towards a degree in Cultural and Religious Anthropology and Environmental Studies. Due to unforeseen circumstances she was unable to finish university but believes her niche has always been hands-on experience. She has volunteered with the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center since July of 2020 and recently became a Wildlife Care Assistant!

Rae was born and raised on O‘ahu where she developed a passion for native birds early on.  Rae holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Cornell University and a Masters of Environmental Studies degree from the University of Pennsylvania.  She is also a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Aloha Chapter and the National Association of Charitable Gift Planners. She has been with HWC since 2012 and is in charge of all areas of fund development, PR, outreach, and our social media accounts (Facebook, Instagram). She is also passionate about art and graphic design and has designed most of HWC’s collateral materials as well as the logo gear in our store and the various fun stuff on our Activities page. During her school years, she was especially inspired by her work with the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the Nature Conservancy of Hawai‘i.  She is a self-proclaimed “bird nerd” and is extremely happy to be back home in Hawai‘i. If you see anyone in a bird costume at HWC, it’s probably Rae.

Delivering outstanding customer service has been an essential part of a day’s work for Marie. As Administrative Manager, she handles all financial matters such as client billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll. Marie holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of San Carlos in the Philippines. As a long-time Kohala community member, she loves spending her free time connecting with family and friends and living here in Hawai‘i. 

Maka‘io was rescued in Kona in late September 2019 with a torn pupil and a wing injury. His wing injury healed, but his eye injury prevented him from surviving on his own in the wild. His name was given to him by Kumu Keala Ching and his favorite foods are rodents and quail. He gets grumpy when it’s raining.

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