Charlton Kūpa‘a Hee

Kanaka. Conservationist. Artist. Coach.
Hahai no ka ua i ka ululā‘au.
‘Ōlelo No‘eau #405
The rains are attracted to forest trees. Knowing this,
​Hawaiians hewed only the trees that were needed.
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Aloha. Welina mai!
‘O Charlton Eolakoakūpa‘aikeonekulaiwi Hee no wau. No Ke‘elepulu ma Kailua mai au. Noho au i Kāne‘ohe ma Ko‘olaupoko. 

Hello. Welcome!
My name is Charlton Eolakoakūpa‘aikeonekulaiwi Hee.

​As a Kanaka, through science and art, I work to support the vitality of the native ecosystems that sustain Hawai‘i.
Education
2008-2012 
Santa Clara University
College of Arts and Sciences
Bachelors of Science - Environmental Science
Bachelors of Art - Studio Art
2022-2024
​University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources
Masters in Environmental Management - Natural Resources and Environmental Management (NREM)
Kanaka.
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Early morning moon setting over the pā at Hakioawa, Kaho‘olawe.
As a Kanaka, I was brought up with an understanding that the land, sky, sea and everything therein is my kin. I was taught to mālama ‘āina (serve and cherish the land) is to serve and cherish your family. I began to develop the skills needed for conservation work while volunteering at Paepae O He‘eia. Through huaka‘i opportunities, such as traveling to Kaho‘olawe with the Protect Kaho‘olawe ‘Ohana, I continue to learn and grow as a Kanaka in my journey back to pō.
Conservationist.
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Poster session at the Hawaii Conservation Conference 2023. Photo Credit - Hawaii Conservation Alliance
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Rigging a time-lapse infrared camera to observe night-time Kāhuli dispersal. Photo Credit - Philip Kitamura
Prior to becoming a Kāhuli researcher in Dr. Melissa Price’s Hawaii Wildlife Ecology Lab, I began building pilina with Kāhuli as a field technician in the Division of Forestry and Wildlife Snail Extinction Prevention Program (SEPP). To better care for Kāhuli, invaluable contributors to native forest health, my graduate project aims to identify factors influencing their dispersal in the wild. My education and research is made possible with support from SEPP and the collaboration between NREM and the Hauoli Mau Loa foundation.
Artist.
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Working on a slab constructed piece. Circa 2014.
As an active member of the contemporary Hawaiian art community, my ancestry allows for a seamless transition between the seemingly disparate perspectives of art and science. My artwork contrasts mālama ‘āina with modern Hawai‘i’s relationship to the land, often juxtaposing elements of contemporary society into the visual narrative of traditional mo‘olelo (Hawaiian stories and histories). I have had the good fortune of having my works included in the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts Art in Public Places Collection.
Coach.
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One of my mentors, Coach Paul Oshiro (far left), and I preparing our middle school athletes for their race.
Returning to my high school alma mater as a volunteer coach, I became involved with the Kamehameha Schools Athletic Department in 2013. Since then, I have had the privilege of coaching alongside my mentors and in turn have had the opportunity to kāko‘o (support) hundreds of young athletes as they work together to achieve greatness in both athletics and life. I am now the Kamehameha Kapālama Boys Head Cross Country coach as well as the Distance Events coach for the Girls and Boys Track team.