Trust for Public Land Welcomes First Maui Project Manager
Alyse Takayesu Parker joins the land conservation nonprofit to support efforts on Maui in a newly created position
MAUI, Hawai‘i — Trust for Public Land (TPL) recently named Alyse Takayesu Parker as its new Project Manager for Maui. Takayesu Parker will oversee land conservation projects that align with TPL’s mission to protect natural and cultural landscapes for public benefit. Born and raised in Kula, Takayesu Parker has both a deep personal connection to the land and extensive academic and professional experience in community support and environmental advocacy.
“Alyse brings a unique combination of academic expertise and hands-on project management experience that will strengthen our efforts on Maui,” said Trust for Public Land’s Associate VP and Hawai‘i State Director Lea Hong. “Alyse’s deep roots on Maui and her decades of experience will be invaluable in her work with the community to expand Trust for Public Land’s impact and preservation of public lands for everyone to enjoy.”
As the first dedicated TPL project manager based on Maui, Takayesu Parker will lead conservation efforts to protect critical lands and natural resources across the island. TPL has safeguarded nearly 80,000 acres across Hawai‘i, including significant projects on Maui such as Kamehamenui and Pōhākea (Māʿalaea Mauka). Takayesu Parker will collaborate with local communities, government agencies and conservation partners to advance land protection projects that balance natural resource values with cultural and recreational access. Her role will focus on securing funding, strengthening relationships with landowners and policymakers, and ensuring that conservation efforts support climate resilience, protect watersheds and preserve vital farmlands and cultural sites for future generations.
Takayesu Parker has spent more than a decade researching environmental anthropology, focusing on the intersection of conservation, land use, and cultural heritage. She holds a PhD in Anthropology from New York University, where her dissertation included fieldwork with conservation scientists and land managers statewide, exploring how historical narratives influence modern stewardship practices. Most recently, as board president at Haleakalā Waldorf School, she led efforts to acquire a 25-acre site for campus expansion, navigating regulatory requirements, securing $2 million in funding, and engaging with local stakeholders to ensure long-term community benefits.
“Maui has always been home, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to dedicate my work to protecting the places that shape our island community,” said Alyse Takayesu Parker, Maui Project Manager at Trust for Public Land. “TPL has made a tremendous impact across Hawai‘i, and I’m excited to help expand that work on Maui by protecting lands that are not only ecologically and culturally significant but also critical to the island’s future resilience.”
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About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,504 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $110 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. In Hawaiʿi, TPL has protected 52 special places throughout the islands totaling over 77,000 acres. To learn more, visit tpl.org/hawaii.
