Hawaii State Director

The Hawaiʻi State Director is a relational executive leader with experience navigating complex stakeholder environments, a strong background in conservation, government, philanthropy, or land-related organizations, and the ability to build trust across Hawaiʻi’s public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting land and creating places that strengthen communities, preserve cultural and natural heritage, and connect people to the health, joy, and inspiration of the outdoors. Founded in 1972, TPL partners with communities to create parks, protect public lands, and conserve landscapes that sustain people and nature. Its distinctive approach is grounded in the belief that conservation should deliver tangible public benefits, including access to nature, recreation, cultural reconnection and preservation, and healthier, more resilient communities. By integrating land conservation, park development, public policy, conservation finance, and data-driven research, TPL turns community vision into lasting outcomes. Its national reach, federal relationships, and ability to mobilize public and private investment enable the organization to advance ambitious projects, navigate complex transactions, and protect irreplaceable natural and cultural resources.

In Hawaiʻi, TPL envisions thriving, healthy communities deeply connected to ʻāina, one another, and a vibrant living Hawaiian culture. Since beginning its work in Hawaiʻi in 1979, TPL has helped protect more than 79,000 acres and advance state and county conservation funding mechanisms. TPL Hawaiʻi occupies a distinctive role as a trusted intermediary, bringing national expertise, conservation finance, and complex transaction capabilities to locally driven conservation efforts. Working alongside Native Hawaiian organizations, community nonprofits, landowners, public agencies, and other partners, TPL acquires and protects land before transferring it to public or community ownership or stewardship. This model strengthens rather than competes with local land trusts and community organizations, helping partners overcome barriers to protecting lands central to Hawaiʻi’s cultural heritage and community priorities. Its work advances three interconnected programs: Aloha ʻĀina, reconnecting people to ancestors, culture, and each other by protecting and returning ʻāina to Native Hawaiian organizations; Sustainable Hawaiʻi, protecting resources essential to food security, forests, water, and resilient communities; and Parks for People, expanding access to parks, trails, and natural areas close to home.

Guided by its FY 2026–2030 strategic plan, TPL Hawaiʻi is building on decades of conservation leadership to expand its impact across the islands and contribute to a broader regional vision for resilient communities and landscapes. Priorities include protecting culturally significant lands, agricultural resources, and watersheds; advancing equitable access to nature; mobilizing public and private investment; and strengthening community-led stewardship. Emerging opportunities include expanding conservation efforts on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island, advancing climate resilience and green infrastructure, addressing challenges such as sea-level rise, and elevating the role of land as essential community infrastructure. TPL is also positioned to strengthen regional collaboration, share lessons across the Pacific and the mainland, and develop innovative policy and funding approaches that connect conservation with disaster recovery and long-term resilience. With a supportive national network and a strong foundation of local relationships, TPL Hawaiʻi is poised to expand its influence, deepen its partnerships, and shape the future of conservation in Hawaiʻi.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Hawaiʻi State Director will lead TPL Hawaiʻi through a pivotal period of strategic growth, building on decades of conservation impact and trusted partnerships to advance the organization’s next chapter. Reporting to TPL’s Vice President Pacific Region, the State Director will provide the vision, judgment, and relationship-centered leadership needed to translate TPL Hawaiʻi’s FY 2026–2030 strategic plan into measurable results across Aloha ʻĀina, Sustainable Hawaiʻi, and Parks for People. The State Director will strengthen TPL’s position as an essential partner in Hawaiʻi’s conservation landscape, advancing priorities that connect land protection with cultural continuity, public access, climate resilience, food and water security, and community well-being. This is an opportunity to expand the organization’s reach across the islands, pursue innovative approaches to conservation and public investment, and elevate TPL Hawaiʻi’s influence as a thought leader on the role of land in sustaining healthy, resilient communities. A central priority will be to advance TPL’s distinctive intermediary model, leveraging national expertise, federal relationships, conservation finance, and complex transaction capabilities to help communities protect land for public benefit and secure lasting conservation outcomes.

As TPL Hawaiʻi’s principal ambassador and convener, the State Director will cultivate trusted relationships with Native Hawaiian communities and organizations, elected leaders, government agencies, major landowners, cultural practitioners, community nonprofits, and philanthropic partners. They will listen deeply, navigate competing interests, and bring stakeholders together around solutions that reflect local priorities and respect for ʻāina. Knowledge of Hawaiʻi land law, title, land-use entitlements, jurisdictional authorities, public funding mechanisms, and the historical context of kuleana lands, the Great Māhele, and ceded and unceded lands will be especially valuable. The State Director will also strengthen TPL Hawaiʻi’s visibility and thought leadership, communicating the organization’s impact and demonstrating how conservation can advance public access, cultural preservation, climate adaptation, and green infrastructure. Working closely with TPL’s philanthropy leadership and Hawaiʻi Advisory Board, the State Director will help cultivate donors and foundations and advance public policy and conservation finance strategies. A willingness to champion the mission with funders, develop new sources of investment, and engage confidently in fundraising will be essential to sustaining and expanding TPL Hawaiʻi’s impact.

The State Director will lead the Hawaiʻi program, hold ultimate responsibility for its annual budget and financial performance, and collaborate across TPL’s national and regional matrixed structure. In close partnership with the Conservation Director, the Director of Philanthropy, philanthropy team, and experienced local project management staff, the State Director will align strategic priorities, program delivery, fundraising, and organizational resources. The role requires both independent leadership, team building, and strong collaboration with colleagues across TPL, to advance Hawaiʻi’s priorities while contributing to broader organizational goals. The State Director will foster accountability, professional growth, cultural competency, and cross-program collaboration, building on the expertise and relationships already established within the team. Success will require perseverance, disciplined financial stewardship, creative problem-solving, and the ability to balance long-term land transactions with near-term opportunities, while identifying new partnerships and funding sources in a changing conservation and public policy environment.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished, mission-driven leader with a deep connection to Hawaiʻi, its communities, and the ʻāina. They will bring strategic vision, executive presence, cultural humility, and credibility to work across community, government, philanthropy, real estate, and conservation settings. The ability to understand Hawaiʻi’s land systems and cultural history will be particularly valuable, as will experience in land conservation, real estate, planning, public policy, climate resilience, community development, or another mission-driven field. TPL Hawaiʻi is looking for a leader who can see opportunities across disciplines, connect local priorities to broader regional and national resources, and translate community needs into practical, lasting outcomes. The ideal candidate will be a patient facilitator, skilled negotiator, curious lifelong learner, and collaborative colleague who develops people, communicates candidly, and remains persistent through complex challenges. They will be comfortable exercising independent judgment, navigating ambiguity, and building alignment across a matrixed organization. Above all, they will bring the ambition to take TPL Hawaiʻi to its next level of impact and the commitment to mobilize the relationships, resources, and collective expertise needed to safeguard Hawaiʻi’s natural and cultural legacy for generations to come.

Target Annual Salary: $156,000 - $170,000

TPL is a hybrid work environment; the State Director will ideally be in the Honolulu area. As a full-time exempt employee, you will be eligible for TPL’s comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, vacation, sick pay plus holidays, a year end office closure, and a 403(b)-retirement plan, currently with up to a 7% company match.

THE SEARCH PROCESS

The TPL Search Committee welcomes your comments, inquiries, applications, and nominations / referrals for the Hawaiʻi Director opportunity.

In accordance with state and federal laws, Trust for Public Land does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, color, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, or other grounds protected under state or federal equal employment opportunity laws or regulations.

TPL has retained Inkinen Executive Search to support their search for the Hawaiʻi State Director. For detailed information, please visit www.inkinen.com/featured-opportunities/tpl-hawaii-director

HOW TO APPLY

Please submit the following, addressed to TPL Search Committee, c/o Inkinen Executive Search, via email to executives@inkinen.com by December 7, 2026:

• Cover Letter – expressing the reason for your interest in Trust for Public Land, and how your skills and experiences match the Hawaiʻi State Director role.
• Resume