Phyllis Robinson, Ed.D brings 50 years of organizational development experience and 17 years of managing the educational needs of our farmers and businesses in climate change, regenerative agriculture and food production in Maui County to our project. She holds a doctorate in Educational Policy, Research and Administration from UMass Amherst and has designed certificate programs in sustainability for OCET and was a lecturer in Climate Change related courses at UH-Maui College. She was on the Maui County Board of Water Supply (2007-2012) and its Chair in 2012. As the co-founder and co-designer of the Hawaii Farmers Union United Farm Apprentice Mentoring (FAM) Program, she helped to create the curriculum for FAM’s Certificate of Professional Development at the Office of Continuing Education and Training (OCET), UH-Maui College. With the assistance of Georgia Pinksy, HFUU staff, the extended community of resources, the farmers themselves and FAM’s illustrious farmer mentors, Dr. Robinson helped graduate 82 apprentices from FAM’s Program as its director for five years. The Maui Farmer Support Network was their co-creation in 2021 and 57 farmers are now being coached including farmers on Lana’i and Moloka’i.

Aloha e FARM-ily. I am committed to improving our local access to good, clean food. I am focused on working with and for organizations that are working to improve our community, and our planet. I am reliable, enthusiastic, and motivated.

I hold a BA from UH Hilo, and I was born, raised, and homeschooled here on Maui.

I will help connect you to the resources you need to meet your goals. My Coaching is focused on you and YOUR FARM and I can connect you with resources you need to move forward on your goals.

Allison Chaney is a successful entrepreneur, experienced digital marketer, entertaining speaker, and inspiring leader. Since 1999, Allison has helped thousands of organizations grow and thrive, from small business to Fortune 500 companies. Throughout her career, Allison built and sold a successful digital marketing agency, co-authored the book “Digital Marketing That Actually Works”, was CEO of a business accelerator, and has created accredited digital marketing training courses. As a professional speaker and trainer, Allison inspires her audiences with her engaging style and makes complex topics easy to understand and fun to learn. She has a passion for social responsibility and creating a better world while turning every experience into an exciting adventure.

Maui Family Farmer Training Network, helping build stronger foundations for their businesses.

Lani Thur-Fine, Self Employed Taxes & Business Consulting is providing tax and basic business coaching to our farmers.

Gratefully resided full time on Maui since 1986 (born in London England; raised in Ontario Canada). I lived for 20 years in the Los Angeles area where I became a Divorce Attorney and then the busiest Divorce Mediator in west L.A. at that time. I’ve been a licensed Maui Realtor-Salesperson for over 35 years.  Now I am thankfully living in Maui Meadows so I can swim in our pristine ocean at least 3 mornings each week.  I’ve sung all my long life: professionally (classical and Opera) when I was younger; here at Unity Church over 33 years as well as Temple of Peace and the Beit Shalom Synagogue; and many diverse places just for Fun; plus a high soprano member of Maui Choral Arts choir! I am pleased and proud to be a new member of this esteemed Board.

Dr. Janine Holstein is the owner and founder of the farm at Maui Majesty, www.MauiMajesty.com. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology, a Masters degree in Sociology, and a Master of Social Work degree. She is a professor in the social sciences at several universities. She has worked in many areas of psychology and social work including as therapist, clinical supervisor, clinical director, policy director, and in executive management for non-profit behavioral health agencies. Her farming background includes 2 certificates as Master Gardener, one in Los Angeles, CA, through UCLA, and one on Maui, in HI through UH. She also completed the Go Farm Hawaii program on Kauai through UH. She also completed the Farm Apprentice Mentorship Program.

I have always loved being in nature. The great outdoors is a place of wonder, play, adventure, and communion with the greater forces of life. As a child, my father and grandparents fostered these affections with hikes and camping framed by protocols for being a responsible, considerate guest and recognizing the profound connection to “God’s Country.” As a young adult, my relationship with the natural world did not change, but my understanding of humanity’s role in environmental destruction and humanitarian crises grew. Through the years—the ups, downs, and detours, I realized that the most freedom, satisfaction, and security one could obtain is by creating a self-sufficient way of life tied to stewarding the land and nurturing the community. In 2011, I moved to Maui, Hawaii, which further sparked my imagination about growing food and sustainability. While living on the edge of a jungle in a subtropical paradise, I harvested apple bananas, lilikoi, avocados, inga, and star fruit, drank collected rainwater, and had just enough solar energy to charge my phone and plug in some Christmas lights at night–it was very romantic. In 2012, I participated in creating a permaculture-based farm community on a 7-acre property and Haiku, and in 2017, I co-created a farm and landscape business that focuses on regenerative permaculture practices. I am honored to support our agricultural community by serving on this board.

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