About Us

Welcome

Hawai‛i Forest Tracks was created by Deborah Griffiths and Steve Smith to provide  information and news relevant  to Hawaii’s forests and to the numerous (environmental, recreational and commercial endeavors) industries connected to the forests.

As well, we explore ongoing efforts to study and improve Hawaii’s forest environments and the eco-services they provide. Join us !

About Us

Deborah Griffiths

Deb Griffiths is an author and curator. Most recently, she co-authored Watershed Moments-A Pictorial History of Courtenay and District, published by Harbour Publishing and third prize winner for the British Columbia Historical Writing Lieutenant Governor’s Award. She has been a museum curator and director in the central Okanagan and Vancouver Island BC for over 25 years. On April 4, 2017, Self-Counsel Press Int. released her new book The Grant Writing and Funding Coach, listed as a BC publisher’s top seller. She’s also written numerous historic storylines for exhibitions, newspaper articles, a non-fiction children’s book on fossil discoveries and two novels. 

In 2001, she became an independent contractor and began GNG Communications.

Endlessly curious about natural and social history, she has focused on Vancouver Island and the Hawai’i Islands as places to explore, research and be with family over the past twenty five years. Her interest in co-creating this blog is to contribute to the advancement of information about Hawaii’s forests and forest industries. She has an MA from Royal Roads University.

Steve Smith

Stephen E.S. Smith, or “Steve”, as his friends and colleagues call him—is a fourth generation resident of Hawai‛i. Steve has a long family history in Hawai‛i and a lifelong interest, appreciation and dedication to the forests and forest industry of Hawai‛i. He has been involved in the planning, development, implementation and management of both large and small-scale agricultural and silvicultural projects in Hawai‛i, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific for nearly 35 years.

Steve attended Hawai’i Preparatory Academy in Kamuela, Wesleyan University-C0nnecticut, University of the Americas-Mexico, University of California-Berkeley, and graduated from the University of Hawaii-Manoa with a BA in Psychology.  He has completed a variety of advanced business management training programs focusing on public relations, marketing, accounting and finance.

Steve began the forestry portion of his career in 1982 working in harvesting, milling, sales and management for a family owned Hawaiian hardwood, salvage logging operation on Kaua’i.  In 1994,  he became owner/principal of “Forestry Management Consultants -Hawai’i” (FMCH), a sole proprietorship.

FMCH has provided consulting  and operational services to numerous private clients including, but not limited to, Timber Investment Management Organizations (TIMOs) such as PruTimber, Hancock Timber Resource Group, and GMO Renewable Resources;  major forestry advisory firms such as Hawaii Agricultural Research Center, Forest Solutions, Inc., Jaakko Poyry Consulting (North America), and Jaakko Poyry Consulting (Asia Pacific) Pty Ltd.;  as well as operating entities such as AAction Tree Farm, Cleaves and Company Biomass, EuroStar Group and Menasha Corporation - Forest Products Group.

He is a founding Board Member of the Hawai’i Forest Industry Association and served on its Board of Directors from 1989 through 2007. He served five terms as President.