Our Story
Our Mission
Understory Alliance is cultivating a resilient planet and people by honoring the connection of people and place.
We achieve this by enhancing ecosystem vitality, community well-being, and individual health through biocultural conservation, holistic education, and community landscape design.
Our Vision
At Understory Alliance, we believe in the power of collaboration between humans and the natural world. We're dedicated to creating thriving ecosystems that benefit both people and the environment.
What we do
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Māla Lāʻau (forest gardens) embody traditional land stewardship, providing food, medicine, and comfort while sustaining ʻāina. Like native forests, they thrive with minimal care, relying on layered plant systems rooted in native species. This approach offers a simple, sustainable way to nourish people and place.
Our Current Projects
New! Suggest a location. Click Here…
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Understory Alliance offers hands-on learning experiences that remind us we are nature—not separate from it. Learn More about Our Education Programs…
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Native Plant and Seed Sales coming soon! View Store
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Biocultural Conservation Landscape Design and Consultation. Our specialized team is passionate about creating and restoring landscapes that are not only ecologically sustainable but also culturally significant. Read More…
Who we are
Understory Alliance is a nonprofit organization with tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in Hawaii and adhere to Bylaws adopted in 2025, including oversight by a Board of Directors. Our funding comes mostly from individual donors, grants, and foundations, as well as from the sale of native plants, workshops and design consultation.
Our team, deeply rooted in the Kaua'i community, brings decades of experience in conservation, education, and community building. We strive to make a lasting, positive impact on our island by working closely with local residents, listening to their needs, and developing practical solutions that honor the values of people and place. For us, partnership and collaboration are key-ensuring every step forward is taken together.
Sari Pastore
Founder and Executive Director
With more than 20 years in education, Founder and Director Sari Pastore has served as a classroom teacher, nonprofit school director, and aloha ʻāina education coordinator. She works with communities both locally and globally to create programs grounded in conservation and cultural practice. Rooted in the belief that people and place care for one another, Sari is dedicated to building meaningful, lasting relationships that support thriving ecosystems and communities.
Community Partners
Building a sustainable and resilient future requires teamwork. Through collaboration with schools, environmental groups, and cultural practitioners, we maximize our impact and ensure each project thrives.
Working on a similar mission? Let’s see how we can work together to have the biggest impact on our community and ‘aina.
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Kaua'i Animal Education Farm
Home to our first Mala La'au, where our forest garden vision began.
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National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) Seed Lab
Generously donating native seeds to support biodiversity in our projects.
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Makauwahi Cave Reserve
Providing nursery benches and supplies, enhancing our ability to nurture native plants.
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Compost Kauai
Supporting us with donated compost, services, and plants to boost soil health and garden vitality.
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Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)
Supplying plants, seeds, and valuable guidance to help our projects thrive.
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Seascapes Nursery
Contributing plants to this projects across our island.
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Kaua'i Community College (KCC)
Supplying plants to our first Mala La'au location, enriching the garden's ecosystem. Facilitating internships and hands-on learning for students.
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Rice Street Business Association
Partnering with us to create green spaces on Rice Street through mini Mala La'au installations.
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Better Block Hawai'i
Partnering with us to create green spaces on Rice Street through mini Mala La'au installations.
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Brian Yamamoto
Supplying plants to our first Mala La'au location, enriching the garden's ecosystem.
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'Aina Akua Plants
Contributing plants to this projects across our island.
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Hawai'i Technology Academy (HTA)
Facilitating internships and hands-on learning for students.
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County of Kaua'i Parks and Recreation
A key partner in our efforts, providing support through a stewardship agreement for the Mala La'au project at Wailua Homesteads Park, including donations for fencing, planning assistance, and ongoing collaboration to meet community needs.
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County of Kaua'i Built Environment Task Force
Assisting with project outreach, event planning, and providing supplies and food for our Community Open House.
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County of Kaua'i Office of Economic Opportunity
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County of Kaua'i Long-Range Planning Division
Board of Directors
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Rhian Campbell
President
Rhian brings over two decades of hands-on experience growing plants on Kauaʻi. Her leadership spans native plant conservation, sustainable agriculture, community education, and disaster response. She holds an MBA in Environmental Management and believes that the health of people is tied to the health of the planet. Her approach is practical, generous, and deeply community-centered. -

Annie Torio, M.Ed.
Vice President
Annie is an educator based in Kīlauea with nearly 20 years of experience working with students and families. She brings her love of native plants into the classroom and everyday life. A mother of two, Annie can often be found cheering her kids on at sports events. She shows up for her community with steady care, humor, and heart. -

Dr. Uma Nagendra
Treasurer
Uma is an ecologist and the Conservation Operations Manager at Limahuli Garden and Preserve, where she leads biocultural conservation work across 1,000 acres of storied land. As a land steward, she cares for the preserve’s plants, soil, and cultural landscapes, balancing ecological science with traditional Hawaiian practices. She holds a Ph.D. in disturbance ecology and is passionate about connecting modern research with ancestral knowledge. Uma brings both technical depth and cultural respect to her work in community and conservation. -

Morgan Luongo
Co-Secretary
Morgan is an environmental consultant with a focus on the relationship between built environments, climate, and human wellbeing. She has worked on a range of sustainability-focused projects and enjoys helping communities engage with environmental issues in thoughtful, hopeful ways. Morgan currently lives in Nevada at Naval Air Station Fallon with her husband, two dogs, and a cat, and stays connected to Hawaiʻi through ongoing service and conservation work. -

Kristin Chong
Co‑Secretary
Kristin is a photographer based in Waimea, Kauaʻi, specializing in family portraits, landscapes, and community events. As a master gardener, she brings a strong connection to ʻāina into her creative work, with images that reflect a sense of place and season. She’s also an active community volunteer and longtime island resident, with a steady, hands-on approach to both her photography and the spaces she stewards. -

Chelsey Contrades
Board Member Chelsey is a full-time educator at Kamehameha Schools and a board member for Kukulu Kumuhana O Anahola. Born and raised in Anahola, she is committed to growing youth programs that reflect local values and support the next generation. While raising three children of her own, Chelsey is also continuing her education. She brings a calm, grounded presence to her work, helping young people feel rooted and supported.
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Johanna Ventura
Board Member Johanna has spent over 20 years working with nonprofit and community-based projects on Kauaʻi. Her experience spans everything from volunteer coordination to leadership and consulting. She currently works with the Hanalei Initiative and Waipā Foundation and serves on the board of the Namahana Education Foundation. Her focus on self-direction, long-term thinking, and community resilience guides all that she does.
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Ipo Torio
Board Member Ipo is the founder and Executive Director of Kanuikapono Learning Center. Her work weaves together student development and native plant stewardship, helping both learners and landscapes thrive. With deep roots in education and aloha ʻāina practice, Ipo supports communities through leadership grounded in culture, connection, and care.
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Dr. Gordon LaBedz
Board Member Gordon is a retired family physician and longtime environmental advocate living on the West Side of Kauaʻi. He helped found the National Surfrider Foundation and has served in leadership roles with the Sierra Club at local, state, and national levels. A lifelong environmentalist since the first Earth Day parade in New York City, Gordon brings perspective, dedication, and a deep love for the planet he serves.
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Hali Dexter‑Smith
Board Member Hali is a freelance writer and communications specialist based in Kīlauea, Kauaʻi. She earned her degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and brings her storytelling skills to everything from local businesses to nonprofits, helping connect community with culture and place. Whether she's crafting narratives or supporting community projects, she’s driven by curiosity and an appreciation for the everyday moments that shape our shared home.
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Niki Kunioka‑Volz
Board Member Niki comes from a long line of Kauaʻi farmers and educators, with family roots stretching back to the 1890s. She brings a deep sense of aloha ʻāina and community care to everything she does. In her role with the County of Kauaʻi’s Office of Economic Development, Niki helps support local farmers and strengthen food systems on the island. She’s committed to growing opportunities that honor both people and place.
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Ana Española
Board Member Ana was born in the Philippines, where growing up with frequent flooding shaped her lifelong commitment to climate resilience. She now serves Kauaʻi through her work in economic development, supporting sustainable agriculture, clean energy, transportation, and inter-sector partnerships. With a background in urban planning, public service, and legislative policy, Ana brings steady leadership, humility, and a deep commitment to lifelong learning. Her work is driven by respect for community and a desire to build a more resilient future.
Join the team
Whether through volunteering, donating, advocating, or the small everyday choices you make, you help grow a safer, healthier, and more resilient world.
Want to get involved? We’re always looking for people who care about community, culture, and connection. Reach out, we’d love to hear from you.