Meet Our Founder
Captain Tara
From the time I was a young girl, I always loved the water! I was never a top athlete, never extremely strong, but in the water I was the champion of gymnastics— weightless and free. The decision to study Marine Biology and become a SCUBA Instructor to examine the wonder of God’s creation was a no brainer!
After 40 years of Oceania living in Hawaii, I have a BA in Zoology/Marine Options Program from University of Hawaii. Continuing to follow my passion, I became a SCUBA instructor in 1980.
After arduous training, I was the first woman to become a civilian commercial hardhat diver in Hawaii and have also worked as an underwater welder. Then, in 1984, I became a licensed boat captain. I professionally maintained the first eco-charter on Kaua’i which continued for 17 years. I am proud to have cultivated environmental awareness in locals and visitors from around the world.
I have raised a family with strong, pono, Hawaiian values here on Kauai. And after 40 years of living in Hawaii, I am proud to continue my love of the sea by providing the NOAA sanctioned large animal response vessel for Kauai.
In order to have conservation, we need to have conversations! I am so grateful and happy to continue the legacy of ocean healing solutions through this non-profit. Let’s continue to connect the kupuna wisdom and values with current citizen science!
Meet Our Team
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Tim of Ho’omalu Ke Kai
Partner
Leader of the coral reef survey team at Hoʻomalu Ke Kai, Tim Leichliter, holds a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration from Hawaiʻi Pacific University and is currently a Hatchery Technician under the NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant for Native Hawaiian Sea Cucumber Restorative Aquaculture at Kauaʻi Sea Farm, a UH Marine Option Program student, and an ASNS Biological Sciences student.
He serves as the President and Director of Operations of Hoʻomalu Ke Kai, which he helped to establish in 2021. Tim is an active waterman, PADI Dive Instructor, and USCG OUPV Boat Captain.
He is also AAUS certified Scientific Diver and assists Kauaʻi DAR with their coral reef ecosystem surveys and monitoring program as a volunteer.
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Meghan Tracey
Secretary
Meghan moved from the Garden State of New Jersey to the Garden Island of Kauai in 2019.
She is a superhero by day, as a middle school teacher! She specializes in physical education, health, and special education.
In addition to her passion in sports, she has a passion for the ocean and all marine animals!
She loves scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming. When she’s not in the ocean, she’s on the ocean paddling outrigger canoes for Kukuiula Canoe Club!
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Briana Smith
Mentor
Introducing Briana Smith, she is a PADI open water scuba instructor pursuing her passion for the ocean by creating awareness about marine debris. While growing up off the coast of southern California she was immediately connected to the ocean.
As an avid waterwoman she found herself educating her guests as a kayak, snorkel and dive guide in the kelp forests off the California coast. Briana wanted to explore new waters and made her way to Kauai where she has lived for the past three years. Education outreach is important to Briana so she teamed up with a non-profit guiding kids on snorkel tours and introducing them to her Sea Plastic Art program.
Among being a scuba instructor, she has helped out as an education specialist by inspiring Kauai’s youth to make less waste and pick up plastic from the beach and turn it into art. Her artwork is a message for the voiceless wildlife from the sea, she hopes to create awareness about plastic pollution and marine debris through her Sea Plastic Art.
Our partners
