Meet the Team

Kevin O’Brien

Prior to forming the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project (PMDP), Kevin spent 12 years with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Honolulu, conducting and coordinating ship-based marine research missions across the Pacific. This work also included executing large-scale marine debris removal missions to the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, an activity that quickly became his passion. He led the NOAA's marine debris removal efforts in the Monument from 2016-2019 and saw the growing need for a different mechanism to conduct that important work. This realization eventually led to the creation of PMDP, a nonprofit focused solely on working with federal and state management agencies to execute more frequent collaborative marine debris removal efforts in Papahānaumokuākea. In this capacity, Kevin prioritizes building community and hopes to create more grassroots interest in helping to care for the Papahānaumokuākea among the people of Hawaii and the nation. In addition to his marine pursuits, he has a passion for tinkering, and runs an after-school program teaching construction for windward high school students. He lives in Kailua with his wife Christina and daughter Scout.

Ken Bwy

I was born and raised in Kailua. Graduated from Iolani School and decided to get off the island and landed in Moscow, Idaho at the University of Idaho. Long story short, met Kevin O’Brien, got cold, missed the sun and ocean, and ended up coming back to finish at UH Mānoa.

I was scheduled to be going on a NOAA Marine Debris cruise back in 2014 when I was working with the CRED Marine Debris Team, but alas, the timing did not work out and I joined the Honolulu Fire Department instead. Six years later, and I am super excited to be joining this project as a field tech.

In my free time, I enjoy pup SUPing, sailing, surfing, diving, kayaking, hiking, building things, and happy hour.

Jon Schneiderman

After studying environmental science at the University of Vermont, Jon spent several years on a research project studying habitat use and reproductive biology of Fishers in the Sierra Mountains of California. In the spring of 2017, he spent a few months assisting with the management of Koalas and Glossy black Cockatoos on Kangaroo Island (an actual real island) in South Australia. This experience sparked a lingering interest in the vulnerability of island ecosystems, and following a season studying spotted owls back in California, he found himself on the remote pacific atoll of French Frigate Shoals helping to manage a critically endangered population of Hawaiian Monk Seals. When not doing research, he enjoys long walks on the beach and playing blues guitar. As a volunteer on this cleanup effort He is excited to help make Tern island a better place.

Jan-Willem Staman

Jan Willem is originally from the Netherlands and has spent much of his life living on tiny islands around the world. After becoming a U.S. citizen, he played professional soccer for the Guam National Team and played in several FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches. When he isn't conducting marine research on sea turtles, manta rays, or corals, he enjoys hiking and is an avid diver and underwater photographer. He also enjoys taking their cat Mickey for walks on his leash

Rhonda Suka

Rhonda Suka is a volunteer with PMDP. When she is not helping to remove debris from the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, she monitors coral reefs throughout the Pacific. While keeping a close eye on the corals, Rhonda has been pioneering the use of emerging imaging technology to capture and quantify the condition of these vital ecosystems.

With a long career pursuing a diverse range of interests from monitoring sea turtles to wrangling derelict fishing nets and from creating 3-D coral reefs to recreating the ancient coastlines of Greece, Rhonda has aspired to shed new light and understanding on a few of her favorite corners of the underwater world. Through her work and her passion she hopes to inspire people to appreciate and protect these treasured places.

Her adventurous spirit has earned her opportunities to work on projects working alongside Jean-Michel Cousteau with the Ocean Futures Society in the remote Tokelau Islands of the South Pacific, diving off islands in the Aegean Sea in support of archeologists from the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece and surveying coral lagoons in Tahiti at UC Berkeley's Gump Station. Whenever she comes out of the water, her work includes mentoring students, driving ROV’s and publishing scientific papers.

Rhonda holds the distinction of being the oldest participant in marine debris removal operations in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. She is based in Kāne‘ohe, Hawai‘i and is happiest when freediving and long distance hiking with her husband Gary, and traveling with her two daughters, Taylor and Megan.

Danny Braun

I grew up in Kailua and work full time as a welder/fabricator in Kaneohe. I am excited to use my metalworking skills with PMDP to help preserve and protect Papahānaumokuākea.

Māhie Wilhelm

Māhie Wilhelm, born and raised on the moku of Oʻahu in the ahupuaʻa of Kailua, is currently a junior studying at Stanford University located in Palo Alto, California. Her primary academic interests include sustainable food systems management, impact of land occurrences on coastal ecology, and indigenous social justice. These

subject areas have driven her to pursue a major in Ocean, Atmosphere and Climate at the Stanford School of Earth, Energy and Environmental Sciences. Due to circumstances caused by COVID-19, Māhie will be home on Oʻahu for the fall semester remotely interning with National Geographic Society, annotating footage for The Deep Sea Research Project of the Exploration Technology Lab. Māhie is fortunate to have the opportunity of being a volunteer crew member with the Papahānamokuākea Marine Debris Project on their 2020 French Frigate Shoals cleanup operation.

James Morioka

James is an avid ocean enthusiast, conservationist, and steward with a marine biology background from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He has been active in conservation efforts in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument since 2011, and marine debris removal efforts since 2013. When he’s not actively engaged in conservation efforts, he is spending his time with his daughter Kelia (age 2), family, pets and friends at the beach and in the ocean, surfing, diving, or cooking.

Kaʻehukai Goin

Aloha mai, my name is Kaʻehukai. I am from Makakilo, Oʻahu but now reside in Makiki. I am a student at UH Mānoa, my major is Hawaiian Studies Mālama ʻĀina track, also pursuing my certificate in the Marine Option Program. I grew up on and around the water my whole life, for me I hope to make my kūpuna proud and to help protect, and perpetuate our oceans resources for the future generations to come. He pūkoʻa kani ʻāina.