About Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association

Established in 1989, the Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association (HFIA) is a not-for-profit corporation founded by and for people committed to managing and maintaining healthy and productive forests.

HFIA Quick Facts

Established in 1989
Promotes a balance of forest land uses
Recognized trade association
Ensures health of Hawaii's forests
Involved in training, marketing, science and legislation

As Hawaii’s recognized forest industry trade association, HFIA, through education, planning, information exchange, marketing, and advocacy, encourages the responsible expansion of Hawaii’s $29 million annual forest industry. HFIA’s programs promote healthier forests, increased business, and more jobs (currently numbered at more than 1,000) within the sector.

HFIA’s diverse membership includes woodworkers, landowners, sawyers, foresters, growers, environmentalists, entrepreneurs, government officials and others interested in the organization’s goals. The association promotes a balance of forest land uses ranging from protecting and restoring native forests to managing commercial tree farms.

Among HFIA’s many projects are: an annual WoodShow; regular newsletters; restoring an endangered dryland forest in North Kona; promotion of the Hawaii’s Wood brand and providing other marketing assistance to woodworkers; sponsoring symposia and workshops; and offering professional training.

HFIA’s purposes are:

to manage and encourage sound forestry practices for the benefit of our forests and the forest products industry of Hawai‘i;
to promote the health of Hawaii’s forests;
to promote public relations for the Hawai‘i forest industry and to stimulate interest, use and involvement in the forest products industry in Hawai‘i;
to provide members and others with opportunities for dialog, education, advancement, and improvement in all aspects of the Hawai‘i forest industry;
to promote, foster and develop industry standards, research and develop-ment, quality control and industry integrity in the State of Hawai‘i;
to articulate and advocate as a focused voice the needs and interests of the forest industry before local, state and federal governments; and
to operate as an official trade association of the Hawai‘i forest industry for the purpose of promoting a common business interest.

Staff and directors.

Officers

Tai Lake, President

Aileen Yeh, Vice President

Mats Fogelvik, Secretary

Peter Simmons, Treasurer

Directors

Kauai

William Cowern

Donald Riedel

Oahu

Nick Dudley

Diana Tusher

Maui

Kip Dunbar

Mats Fogelvik

Hawai`i

Mike Robinson

Peter Simmons

At-Large

Don Bryan

Nicholas Koch

Tai Lake

Bob Osgood

James Quinn

Bill Stormont

Elin Walburn

Jay Warner

Aileen Yeh

Staff and Contractors

Executive Director
Heather Gallo
Ka'upulehu Site Manager
Wilds Pihanui Brawner
Ka'upulehu Weed Control
Midge Casuga
Ka'upulehu Biological Services
Jill Wagner
Marketing Consultant
Denise Hayashi
Ka'upulehu Education and Outreach Coordinator
Yvonne Yarber-Carter
Hawaii's Woodshow™ Consultant
Marian Yasuda

GENERAL DISCLAIMER
Hawaii Forest Industry Association endorses, advocates and supports healthy and productive forests in Hawaii. We welcome membership from anyone interested in our mission. Membership does not imply that the Association endorses the actions of individual members.

INVESTMENT RISKS
All investments are subject to risk. Knowledgeable and active investors have increasingly chosen forestry and associated natural resource investment opportunities to provide diversity, alternate, contra cyclical and longer term stability to a portfolio.

Investments in forests are inherently long term commitments subject, but not limited to, assorted variables including market fluctuation of timber and timberland prices; unpredictability of production costs; relative illiquidity compared to stocks and other financial assets; environmental hazards such as fire, storms, pest infestation, disease, animal damage, and theft as well as regulatory risk such as legislation related to land use and threatened or endangered species.

While established, world renowned timber species are being grown in Hawaii, investments in all Hawaiian timber species do not yet have the experience of a life cycle investment and, as such, have additional unique risks.